The Songs That Taught Me Bass

[Huw Foster]

 

The Songs That Taught Me Bass Ep1: Sunshine of Your Love

 

I’ve been planning on doing something like this for a while. Essentially, I’ll be going through some of the songs I learnt, in a rough chronological order. I’ll also talk about the concepts and techniques I would have picked up from them.

 

Enjoy this breakdown of Jack Bruce’s bassline on ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ by Cream. Officially, the first song I learnt on 4 strings, thanks to my Dad playing it a lot around the time I got a bass.

 

Transcription, backing track and isolated bass available on Patreon.

 

0:00 Demo
1:10 Intro
2:44 Why learn this first?
3:14 Intro riff
4:55 Verse
6:53 Chorus
8:15 Summary
9:02 Outro

Edited October 7, 2023 by Huw Foster

[Huw Foster]

 

 

The Songs That Taught Me Bass Ep2: Hey Joe

 

 

Transcription, backing track and isolated bass available on Patreon.

 

0:00 Demo
1:37 Story
3:14 Context
4:38 Main bassline
9:05 Unison riff
11:48 Intro riff
13:30 Outro

[Huw Foster]

 

The Songs That Taught Me Bass Ep3: One Armed Scissor

 

Transcription of the whole song (tab & notation) available here. 

 

Track, full playthrough and isolated bass available on Patreon. 

 

0:00 Demo
1:18 Intro
2:13 Key takeaways
5:08 Other references (and how to bamboozle Robbie Williams)
6:55 Verse 1
8:15 Chorus
10:10 Interlude & Verse 2
13:18 Bridge
16:06 Outro

[Huw Foster]

 

The Songs That Taught Me Bass Ep4: Take The Power Back

 

Slap bass! Drop D! Awesome pentatonic riffs! This song opened up multiple possibilities for 13-year-old Huw.

 

What was the first bit of slap bass (or thumpin’ & pluckin’) that you learned?

 

PDF, track, full playthrough and isolated bass available on Patreon.

 

0:00 Introduction
1:11 What did I learn from this?
3:27 Intro riff
7:14 Verse
10:07 Chorus
12:04 Breakdown
12:56 Guitar solo (bass fills)
17:54 Bridge
19:25 Outro pt 1
21:46 Outro pt 2
24:36 Final thoughts & signal chain