Western songs with cool bass lines: classic and popular tracks recommended for bassists
Among the roles in a band, the bass is the unsung hero that supports a song and gives it conviction.
It plays a crucial part across a wide range of music, from rock to dance music.
Not only in the latest hits and trending tracks—there are also timeless classics that feature incredibly cool bass!
So we’ve selected some must-hear Western classics for low-end lovers, spanning genres and eras.
Enjoy not just the flashy bass solos, but also the jaw-dropping techniques subtly showcased behind the vocals and the many uniquely characterful basslines.
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Songs with cool bass lines in Western music: classic and popular tracks recommended for bassists (21–30)
SeptemberEarth, Wind & Fire
The role that the bass plays in soul and funk music is truly essential, and you can clearly understand why by listening to the massive hit “September.” This classic, with its unforgettable falsetto-led melody in the chorus that everyone has heard at least once, was released by Earth, Wind & Fire in 1978.
It’s one of the group’s signature songs and arguably the most famous disco track of all.
The bass line by Verdine White, the younger brother of the band’s central figure Maurice White, revolves around disco-style octave playing, with rhythmically lively phrases that are fun to follow by ear.
It’s also highly recommended as a practice piece for funk bass!
Higher GroundRed Hot Chili Peppers
This is Red Hot Chili Peppers’ cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.” When talking about the Chili Peppers, you can’t forget their bassist, Flea! From that small frame, he produces an unbelievably funky, groovy bass.
Songs with awesome bass in Western music: classic and popular tracks recommended for bassists (31–40)
Hit MeDIRTY LOOPS
Dirty Loops is a powerhouse fusion band whose members all possess monstrous technique.
Featured here is their debut track, “Hit Me.” While a standard bass has four strings, the band’s bassist, Henrik Linder, plays a six-string.
The groove of the song is driven by the bass, but one misstep could throw the entire rhythm off.
On the other hand, playing it too simply won’t create a groove either.
Henrik Linder’s bass lines hold the music right on the edge—just before things might start to unravel—where the most exquisite and satisfying groove emerges.
Highly recommended for listeners who want to savor a bass line packed with countless techniques.
RumorsTHE DRIVER ERA & Ross Lynch
A brisk dance number born from the combined talents of Ross Lynch and Rocky Lynch, Rumors was released on October 23, 2023.
As a comfortable bass sets the rhythm, sharp insights into everyday rumors and gossip unfold over a buoyant beat.
The determined, confident lyrics are sure to energize listeners.
Ross’s own words—saying they kept at it until they were fully satisfied—convey the passion embedded in the tasteful bassline.
Even if you’re not a bass aficionado, be sure to feel the song’s uplifting sense of positive empowerment.
Higher GroundStevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder produced countless timeless masterpieces that transcend the boundaries of soul music.
Not only a singer-songwriter but also a multi-instrumentalist who can handle most instruments, he truly deserves to be called a genius.
The song featured here, “Higher Ground,” was a hit that reached No.
4 on the U.
S.
charts and is included on the 1973 masterpiece album Innervisions.
The thick funkiness of the pulsing synth-bass groove, played by Wonder himself, is always unbelievably cool whenever you listen to it.
It’s only natural that the Red Hot Chili Peppers would go on to cover it.
Shit, Damn, MotherfuckerD’Angelo
Are you familiar with neo-soul, a genre of soul music that blends elements of hip-hop, jazz, and funk? D’Angelo is said to have created this neo-soul genre and possesses an exceptionally high level of songwriting ability.
His classic “Shit, Damn, Motherfucker” features a subdued track on the studio recording, but the live version is turned into something intense, driven by a powerful bassline and kick drum.
SchismTool
Tool is a rare band that, in the early 1990s at the height of alternative rock and grunge, played a singular, unclassifiable brand of heavy rock and also achieved major commercial success.
They’re known for having a relatively small discography, and it’s still fresh in our minds that they released Fear Inoculum in 2019, their first new album in 13 years.
Among the members with distinctive and highly sophisticated musicianship, bassist Justin Chancellor—who joined as the second bassist in 1995—stands out for his melodious, effect-heavy lines that often step outside the traditional role of a rhythm instrument.
It’s said that Justin’s contributions to the band are immense, and nothing showcases his playing style better than Schism.
Hear the bass line leading the song from the intro, and your whole notion of what the bass can be might change.