What should I play next on the bass?

Question:I can play sunshine of your love but I don't know what to play next. Any suggestions would be very helpful. Thanks a lot.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I can play sunshine of your love but I don't know what to play next. Any suggestions would be very helpful. Thanks a lot.

That's the first thing I learned on bass too!

Jack Bruce's bass lines are a good place to start, because he's a bit good (i.e. he's a great bass player). Spoonful is superficially easier than Sunshine, but there's so much silence that it's actually more challenging. Listen to the original studio version on 'Fresh Cream', especially during the guitar solo - he's really playing that thing. The live version on 'Wheels of Fire' is a.) very long and b.) not as intense.

If you want to try playing some virtuoso 60s rock, have a go at 'My Generation' by The Who. John Entwistle plays a hellacious bass solo on that song.

For holding down a great bass line, learn 'Stone Free' by Jimi Hendrix. Noel Redding plays a great bottom line on this.

If you want a masterclass in great bass playing, get a few really good Motown compilations (the first four or five volumes of 'Motown Chartbusters' would be good) and listen to players like James Jamerson and Carol Kaye on those songs. Jamerson's line on 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' makes the whole song. Likewise, Donald 'Duck' Dunn plays fabulous bass on the majority of Stax singles, as part of the house band Booker T & the MG's.

If you feel like going back in time and getting jazzy, get the Duke Ellington compilaton called 'Never No Lament' and listen to the daddy of all bass players, the late Jimmy Blanton. He was the first great bass player in all of popular music. Ellington wrote tunes just in order to showcase his playing. 'Jack the Bear' is the most famous one.

Then there's Jaco Pastorius, Rick Laird, Mike Watt, Kira Roessler, Paul McCartney, Sara Lee, Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, Charles Mingus, Scott LaFaro...

Enjoy!

Daytripper by the Beatles has a bass line a bit more complicated, but repetitious, like Sunshine of...

A famous, in my day, drummer was asked what was the secret of his tremendous skill? His answer? "If you can sing it, you can play it."

Sing a drum line? You bet! "If you can sing your bass line, you can play it." If you can't sing, then you may need to read notes.

you should learn how play a real instrument retard.