Bass Part 1: The instrument and its function (first part) Blog Post
Updated: May 11
The backbone of your band. The running current of your song. The base...
1. Michael Jackson – Billie Jean - 1983
2. Scorpions – Rock You Like a Hurricane - 1984
3. Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke - 1977
4. A Taste of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie - 1978
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Can’t Stop - 2003
6. Pacha Massive – Don’t Let Go - 2007
7. Brand New – Sic Transit Gloria ... Glory Fades - 2003
8. Fall Out Boy – Dance, Dance - 2005
9. South Arcade - Supermodels - 2025
10. ilysm – Toy - 2026
Personally, I’ve always loved the kind of people who choose bass as their first instrument of choice. It tells me a lot about you. Dependable, loyal, and strong. They constantly, for every track they are writing, must think, “What is the function of the song?” Then fill that function. Even if it's for the sake of the music only that function and because of that this instrument is not for everybody. For every melody (as previously discussed), there needs to be a support. A frame to be built on. Bonus points if you as a bass player can lock in with the drummer and make it groove. Check out this music video from 2007 by Spanish rock band Pacha Massive.
Songs written this way allow for just about an infinite number of combinations to go on top of them. Reggae, country, EDM, and many kinds of Spanish music instrumentalists build their songs this way here in the US and in other parts of the world.
Though simplicity was built as the cornerstone of bass, some minds have taken the instrument to its limits and beyond... More on this next week.
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