Instantly recognisable 4 bar bass line suggestions

[bloke_zero]

I'm doing a weird project where I'm transcribing, or taking transcriptions of classic bass lines and programming them into a TB-303.

For those who don't know, a 303 is the classic acid house synth of the 90's, but was created in 1982 as a bass accompaniment, like the old rythym machines, but for you to program a bass line in and play along. So I'm taking it back to it's original use case.

So far I have "Good Times", "For the love of money" and "Come Down" by Anderson .Paak.

I was wondering what anyone else might suggest?

The criteria is:

• Stone cold classic instantly reconisable (if you know the song) bass line
• 4 bars (anymore and it's a beast to program into the 303 as you have to brave 'song mode', any fewer and it's less of a challenge)

 

You can see where I'm tending (70's funk and disco & hip-hop), but I'm wondering about more recent lines I've missed.

I've got a couple of tentative first passes up on instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoQA0ZWI7ui/

https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cn9aFtgIWdu/

Thanks for any suggestions!

[Nail Soup]

Good luck with the project.

I suspect I'm not the only one here with no access to Instagram... any chance of sharing a different way?

[Nail Soup]

I was going to suggest 2I want you back" by the Jackson 5, but I think it lasts 8 bars.

If you care to step outside of disco, please try Peaches by The Stranglers (there's two parts)

[asingardenof]

How about Move On Up by Curtis Mayfield?

[bass_dinger]

Four bars that work for the whole song (or almost the whole song)?

 

Sweet Dreams are made of this

Seven Nation Army 

Tainted Love 

 

The above three have the same relative chords, and one can play the bassline to seven Nation Army to Tainted Love.  Same for Stray Cat Strut.    

 

Anything short that works with a looper should work with a programmed TRB303. 

 

 

I started up with a list of songs that had an iconic first four bars - which is not what you requested!  

 

Billy Jean - Michael Jackson  

Beat it - Michael Jackson  

Cars - Gary Numan 

Don't you want me baby - Human League 

Peaches - Stranglers 

Rescue Me - Fontella Bass 

Hit me with your Rhythm Stick - Ian Dury 

Oh what a night - 

Silly Love Songs  - Wings 

 

[pete.young]

Under Pressure.  Although that's only one bar!

Get Lucky

Treasure

Papa Don't Preach

[nige1968]

The Chain?

[SamIAm]

Stand by me

 

S’manth x

[Mykesbass]

Mantronix Got To Have Your Love - not a bass guitar line but an absolute classic (two bar repeat).

[paul_5]

Bring down the birds/ groove is in the heart - herbie Hancock and dee-lite respectively.

 

chameleon - herbie Hancock’s headhunters.

[miles'tone]

 

[JoeEvans]

Another one bites the dust? Funky President? And loads of other James Brown tunes too...

[bass_dinger]

The Pina Collada song - two chords!

Dance the Night Away - the Mavericks

 

[Matt P]

Little Green Bag - George Baker Selection

[skilamalink]

I Wanna Be Adored by The Stone Roses.

 

 

[paul_5]

Express yourself -NWA is another stellar 2 bar loop

[asingardenof]

1 hour ago, nige1968 said:

The Chain?

Does that count if the last two bars are just two tied semibreves (or a breve, I suppose)?  

Edited February 8, 2023 by asingardenof

[Paul S]

Livin on a prayer, Bon Jovi. 

[Paul S]

Psycho killer, Talking Heads. 

Pump it up, Elvis Costello 

Boogie oogie oogie A Taste of Honey

[bass_dinger]

I'll take you there, the Staple Singers.

[paul_5]

Not exactly a floor -filler, but 'Army of Me' by Björk is an obstinate strong enough to hang your hat on...

 

 

 

Probably done on a 303 originally by the sound of it too.

[bloke_zero]

2 hours ago, Nail Soup said:

Good luck with the project.

I suspect I'm not the only one here with no access to Instagram... any chance of sharing a different way?

Sure thing - I don't really like it either!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u75zod1zry7gxlk/good_times.mov?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gumuu1rjyukqfk8/come_down.mov?dl=0

 

I tried them in FF and they didn't work but did work in Chrome and Safari

[miles'tone]

If You Want Me To Stay

 

Or a variation on the theme...

 

Edited February 8, 2023 by miles'tone

[Nail Soup]

15 minutes ago, bloke_zero said:

Sure thing - I don't really like it either!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u75zod1zry7gxlk/good_times.mov?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gumuu1rjyukqfk8/come_down.mov?dl=0

 

I tried them in FF and they didn't work but did work in Chrome and Safari

Anything that anyone can access like you YouTube or SoundCloud?

[Buddster]

Filthy/Gorgeous by Scissor Sisters