John Deacon
John Deacon was the quietest member of Queen, but certainly not the less talented! To me, he is THE teacher of "how a bass should be played". He possess an incredibly precise and sophisticated sense of timing and tone. He is a "song teller" : playing either root notes, either melodic lines but always in the sake of the song with a very subtle melodic counterpoint. Listen to his bassline in Millionaire Waltz or I'm Going Slightly Mad. And also, John Deacon is a killer songwriter with hits like I Want To Break Free or Another One Bites The Dust. Iconic bassline: Millionaire Waltz.
John Paul Johns
What if John Paul Johns was the true gem of Led Zeppelin? He's not only a bass player but an accomplished keyboard player, often improvising long pieces during concerts, including excerpts of classical music of Rachmaninov, for instance. He masters all arrangements. Yes, you can thank him for the massive sound of Kashmir. He's arguably the most influential bass player of the entire rock era. Jones brought a remarkable sensitivity and an intuitive understanding of dynamics to his playing. Iconic bassline: Black Dog.
Flea
Feal is the real force of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, a whirlwind of energy and musicality. His playing is characterized by a loose, funky groove with an incredible rhythmic precision. But Flea has a knack for creating dynamic and very harmonically rich lines, especially on the recent RHCP albums. Iconic bassline: Fake As Fu@k
Tim Commerford
Looking for a massive tone? Listen to Tim Commerford's work in Rage Against The Machine or Audioslave. Tim knows how to make his 5-string Stingray growl! He moved away from traditional, melodic basslines to embrace a more percussive, rhythmic approach, utilizing a variety of techniques like down-picking, slapping, and muted strings to create a powerful, tribal sound that heavily influenced both Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. Iconic bassline: Bring'Em Back Alive (Audioslave)
Alex James
Alex James brings a playful, almost whimsical approach to the bass in Blur. His style is rooted in funk and soul, known for his intricate, syncopated lines and his use of space and silence.. His iconic bassline in “Parklife” is a fantastic example of his rhythmic inventiveness. That’s both funky and undeniably catchy. Iconic bassline: Girls And Boys (of course!)
Paul Simonon
Paul Simonon’s bass playing was initially rooted in the punk tradition, but he consistently pushed the boundaries of what a bass could do. He developed a distinctive clear tone, an angular style and created a powerful foundation for The Clash’s politically charged lyrics and energetic rhythms. His bass "sings" like in the beginning of London Calling. Iconic bassline: The Magnificent Seven.