Simple riffs that repeat through whole song

[Ant1972]

Does anyone have any suggestions of tunes that have simple (i.e. very easy to play for a beginner) riffs that repeat through the whole song?

Thinking like "National Anthem" by Radiohead

All suggestions gratefully received 😀

[AdrianP]

"Glory Box" by Portishead is one which particularly comes to mind. We do this with one of my bands and it's actually quite difficult to keep from tripping out when playing the same repeating riff for an entire song. 

[BrunoBass]

The epitome of simple and repetitive... 

 

[Stofferson]

She Sells Sanctuary - The Cult

Only as i was "forced" to learn this in the covers band

[Woodinblack]

Teenage kicks. In fact a lot from that period, but teenage kicks is one of those songs that many bands do (many many bands), and any beginning band can easily master, so it is a good start.

[bartelby]

Any track by Ataxia (Joe Lally from Fugazi, John Frusciante and Josh Klinghoffer).

Simple, but repeating basslines that fit the tracks.

 

[kendall]

the Sisters of Mercy - Lucretia My Reflection

[jacko]

The Animals.  We Gotta get outa this place. Although it does move a bit for the chorus.  (best cover is Blue Oyster Cult)  

[Oopsdabassist]

U2 With or Without You, must the one of the easiest bass lines ever surely?

[Crawford13]

Waterfront - Simple Minds. This song is basically the same note through out the same song.

[kendall]

16 minutes ago, Oopsdabassist said:

U2 With or Without You, must the one of the easiest bass lines ever surely?

Which is the first bass line I ever learned.  To this day, I still detest it and hate my tutor for making me learn it.

[jacko]

16 minutes ago, Oopsdabassist said:

U2 With or Without You, must the one of the easiest bass lines ever surely?

The OP was after Riffs though.  Plodding single notes throughout the entire song doesn't shout 'RIFF' to me. 

Not a Bass per se but how about  7 nation army as a simple riff that takes up most of the song. 

[chris_b]

Time Is Tight, Green Onions - Booket T and the MG's

Cocaine, Same Old Blues - JJ Cale

Higher and Higher - Jackie Wilson

Papa Was A Rolling Stone, Ball Of Confusion, My Girl - The Temptations

 

[Paul S]

Chant #1 Spandau Ballet springs to mind.

[PaulWarning]

Warhead - Uk Subs, an example of a song being about the bass line but fairly easy to play

[lemmywinks]

Louie Louie

Higher and Higher

[Chiliwailer]

Death Disco (or other Jah classics) - PIL 

[Cato]

Just about every Ramones tune is made up of two or three simple riffs that repeat in each section of the song.

Edited November 14, 2019 by Cato

[paul_c2]

Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love

[miles'tone]

 

[MacDaddy]

Creep - The Radio Head.

 

[Daz39]

TBD - Live, from Throwing Copper. Ok - one verse riff, one chorus riff. Still pretty hypnotic.

[NoRhino]

Higher and Higher - Jackie Wilson

A Girl Like You - Edwyn Collins

Walking In The Rain - Grace Jones

 

 

 

[Lozz196]

Once In a Lifetime by Talking Heads, the bass stays pretty much the same riff/2 notes throughout, whereas the guitars/vocals/drums make the verses & choruses different.

[Rexel Matador]

"Didn't we deserve a look at you the way you really are?" by Shellac. It doesn't get any more simple and repetitive. 12 minutes, two notes.

"Runnin' with the Devil" by Van Halen - doesn't exactly fit the bill as the single note you play for the verse is not the same single note you play for the chorus, but again, it really doesn't get much simpler!