Greatest Bass Players of All Time

Wonderful bass player and great singer in a great band. Folk-jazz-rock!

Well known in the punk scene but has amazing speed for all the riffs he plays. Just listen to any song!!!

Great Bass skills, carrys all the songs, great mix of punk, funk, and ska!

This guy is an amazing Bass player, it is sadening to not see him on this list

He kicks ass live and made some of the grooviest bass lines ever

Cause he is awesome. Look up Alain Caron d code on you tube and you'll see why.

Underated Bass Player with amazing harmony to go along.

Fantastic polyrhythmic grooves that the man could keep up seemingly indefinitely. Genius !

I don't care how many concerts you go to-o. You will never hear a better bass guitar than Paul Goddard.

Founding member of Status Quo; the record's speak for themselves.

He can sing and play WICKED Bass lines at the same time.

Although most well known for his work with Queens of the Stone Age, Nick Oliveri has played with several other bands as well, and alwarys contributes his own unique style to everything he's involved with. He's also extremely talented. In a nutshell, Nick is an extremely underrated bassist who can really kick some ass.

Steve is a god of the bass. C'mon, playing a fretless bass and dominating the metal scene? This guy is legendary.

Loved The Specials back in the day. DK, too, plus Pat Travers Band (Mars Cowling[?]); good, fun, wholesome bass playing. The Specials rocked with Nightclub, though. =Lance in SD

Is one of the best bass players in punk :D, listen "Chick Magnet", "The Theme Fiasco" and "GSF"

Just watch him perform once....then you will understand

64 charted hits in 18 months at American Studios in Memphis Tn.Memphis Soul Stew,Skinny Legs,Suspicious Minds,Memphis Underground,Funky Broadway,Son of a Preacher Man,The Letter,Sweet Caroline,Dark END of the Street and this is just the tip of the iceburgThese bass lines are incredible..They both did it on the same bass guitar, a 59 precision.My guess would be that that bass played on more charted hits than any other one musical insrument in history.Although Tommy passed in 82 Mike continues to be an A-list player in Nashville having played on numerous hits the last three decades as well as a member of the Highwaymen,Merle Haggard and other Nashville luminaries.Both of these guys had taste coming out their ears.The whole world was influenced by their creativity in the studio.I would list them seperately but they were so entwined as the heart and soul of the"Memphis Boys"(American Studio House Band) it just seemed wrong to seperate them.Pop,Rock,Funk,these guys invented alot of what you hear today. Simply the best at what they did! Put em in the top tier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anybody who knows Rory Gallagher knows Gerry McAvoy. They played together for 20 years. Go to YouTube and check out Rory's live stuff and you will find McAvoy. TOP NOTCH!!

Sadly died in 1991. If Alan was still with us today, he would simply be ranked highly among the best in the bussiness. A true profffesional and full of natural talent and ability which has been rarely bettered. R.I.P Legend

What blew me away when i Heard Ten Years After in '68, was the interplay Between Alvin Lee and Leo Lyons. Never heard anything like that ! He should be on this list. Your welcome

Bass player of Santana. Fantastic groove, and a very emotional presence on the stage.

First bass player with Jethro Tull. Listen to the Stand Up album and the memorable bass line to 'Living in the Past'. Should definitely be on this list.

Wonderful melodic bass lines. "801 Live" contains some fantastic playing - particularly the solo on "Rongwrong".

Creativity.

Song Writer and driving bass of the best band from the 70s

listen to 'GETTING TO THIS' album by Blodwyn Pig' ..... if you love bass - this prog/jazz/rock will blow your mind! ...AMAZING.....LEGEND....still got it

Simple. Pulsing. Dub. Groove.

Just listen to Trivium and see why

He is simply, technically and stylistically one of the most accurate, innovative, brilliant bass players of all time. There's a lot of people in this list who are only there because their bands are popular, there's not enough people who can actually play!! (well done on Paul McCartney, Flea, Pino Palledino and Mark King)

A real groove master. Can be as simple as needed and kill it on a slap bass line (listen to "Forget Me Nots" by Patrice Rushen, or "Just around the corner" by Herbie Hancock). This fella has been credited on so many recordings and is still an awesome in demand session musician. To not see him mentioned in this list is simply scandalous...!

Best bassist the Doobies ever had.

He is the best

It's a shame he didn't stick around longer than the 2 albums he did with little River Band.

Simply Awesome

Dark, brooding jazz bass driving Magma's monumental rock-opera pieces. Check it out, rock/metal puppies !

Another relative new comer from the J.P. school of bass playing. This dude is unbelievable! Just wish he had more music out.

no other bassist does the complicated songs that he does!

Here's all you need to know: He played with Dizzy Gillespie, Art Tatum, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Frank Sinatra, Billy Eckstine, Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, and Qunicy Jones. (and he mentored Diana Krall).

Anyone who thinks playing with Take That means he's not much good doesn't know what a good bass player is. Watch him play with Rick Wakeman, Steve Hackett, Focus, It Bites etc etc. An amazing bass player and catching up Pino Palladino as the UK's busiest session bassist. And all upside down!

Although foremost an inventor, he was the originator of the electric bass. Deserves honorable mention.

the little man makes it look so easy!....simply perfect ... watch him live (great vocal harmonies aswell) currently touring with 'the zombies' (rod argent & colin bluntstone)

Hey "tard", all of the bass players you mentioned either borrowed from or were influenced by Jamerson! If he is not number one on your list, you are stupid!

"Beck, Bogert & Appice", "Cactus", "Vanila Fudge", "Blues Mobile Band"

Played bass for bee gees a very goooooood band

Frank Zappa's longest tenured bassist! Also played Mini Moog, when needed. Probably has more musical knowledge in his littlest finger than most on this list. Also played with Dweezil Zappa, Fear, Waterboys, Andy Prieboy, Young Republicans. If you've never heard Scott, go get an education. (PLEASE REMOVE THE DUPLICATES ON THIS LIST!)

I mean, listen to the bass tracks for Gods of War, Rock of Ages, and Women. Plus Leppard is awesome. No way Sav should be this low.

No Miroslav Vitous? Are you kidding me !!

The Fabulous Thunderbirds in their prime. Johnny Winter.The Tail Gators,Jr. Brown.This guy could play Texas blues like no other Had the pleasure of seeing him live on numerous occasions with the birds and he could just drive you through the back wall.Incredible grasp of tone and true understanding of playing the bottom One of my favorite roots rock/blues players.

If anyones in any doubt as to the reason why this awesome slap bass player should be on this list then watch this youtube video of him playing alongside Kenny G. Apart from Mark King, i've never seen anyone do it better.

Emma's compelling bass lines, her seamless switch from slap to picking, and the originality she brings to the music deserves acknowledgment.

Did a bunch or rappers create this list. Your all ****ed. Les is #1

Sick bassist!

His music is awsome and if you have never listened to it check it out your in for a treat r.i.p. Audie pitre 1970 to 1997..

One the minds behind Herbie Hancock's brilliant album “Headhunters.” Grooves better than any other bassist. If not the best, then surely the funkiest!

Cause he's Rick James, *****

A damn good bass player. I think he deserves to be on this list. A lot of people put players that are pretty ****ty. I'm a bass player, I haven't been playing for long and I don't say that I'm good but I think I can recognize a good bassist when I hear one and Dave LaRue is one of the best. And I don't see why players like Gene Simmons, Roger Waters, Duff McKagan or such are on this list. They are great bass players, but c'mon, anybody who has been playing 3 years or so can play that. They were good, but their time has passed, music evolves, people. ;)

Traa is a solid guy, and has added to an incredible metal/R & B band. He came from a jazz/funk background, and it has made P.O.D.'s sound what it is today. I've learned a little from Traa, and he is one awesome bass player. God bless ya, Traa!!!

Find a copy of this bands first album and listed to Louis' solo on "Bullet"

She was an inspiration for a whole generation of female bass players

Maybe not so technically flash, but pioneeringly inventive and extremely solid on Can's 20 minute+ epics (Yoo Doo Right, Halleluhwah....) Once heard, never forgotten.

Brazilian Heavy Metal Bass Player from the band Angra.

Bill Black appeared on most of Elvis fifties recordings. First on double bass & then on a Fender bass. In the sixties he had his own band which produced hits before he passed away in 1965.

That guy produced so many amazing riffs, yet his hand always stayed in the same fretboard position. PLUS, he had really groovy hair!!! Without a doubt the greastest bass god ever, ever, ever!!!!

A great bassplayer which played on all ABBA tours and recorded on most records. The baseline is the groundwork in all ABBA mixings together with the drums.

Just went through the whole 5 pages and can't believe this guy is not on the list.

Just listen to his work with Bill Evans. The way he plays with tempo is awesome and his short life only serves to justify this listing - what would jazz sound like if he had lived longer

One of THE BEST bass players of ALL TIME. He used to be a guitar player, and then went on to play in Adam Lambert's band. He is INCREDIBLY influential, and deserves at LEAST the top 20.

The harmonics this guy pulls out on his 6string fretless are impressive to say the least. even tops jaco for use of harmonics. should be top 10.

My goodness, Woody had chops for days. He re-invigorated the Allman Brothers Band, his work in Gov't Mule was amazing.

Mel’s unique bass delivery became a staple of Grand Funk recordings and concerts. His huge "lead bass" style helped create the signature Grand Funk sound and his muscular approach to music has inspired countless musicians to blend rock-solid support punctuated with fluid riffs. Grand Funk was wildly popular in the 70's and Mel's licks were a big part of the music that turned so many people on.

Ask any music journalist from the 1960s... The best live group of the era. Bass guitarist second to none. Massive influence.

Funky and tight as fu**.

Just listen to his playing with Pat Travers Band. He's a much stronger force to be reckoned with than most are aware.

sum 41....enough said

Pantera, Down, started as a jass bassist in NOLA and now one of the best metal bassists off all time. turned down a music schlorship to the UNiversity of Texas to join Pantera.

Upright bass player who was voted in 1994 as the number one Country bass player of all time. Played with Elvis, Dylan, Jerry Lee Lewis, Quincy Jones & many others.

Nashville session player who played with just anybody. (Elvis, Tony Joe White, joan Baez, John Hiatt, Jerry Reed & many others).

His fretless bass work is outstanding, as can be heard on the two The Firm albums.

Like any Uriah Heep bass player, he was very good.

Some Skunk Funk Barcelona

Played w/ rolling stones after Wyman's retirement/. Played with Brecker Brothers.