I’m talking about unaccompanied, just sit down and play that bass line and you love it every time.
I’m talking about that bass line you keep coming back to just because you love the way it sounds.
This isn’t about technical difficulty (although, it can be) it’s about that song that just feels so good to play.
The one that makes you think, “This is the feeling I was after when I decided to start playing.”
Also, for some of our more experienced players, is there a song you come back to year after year? One you have never gotten tired of playing?
Part of what inspired this question was seeing an interview with Neil Peart where he said he always enjoyed playing Tom Sawyer, even though, he had played it thousands of times.
I really struggle remembering any full bass lines and keeping good time so I tend to play bits of songs that I do remember. The Scorpions “Wind of Change” , Stone Temple Pilots “Plush” , and “ Interstate Love Song “ get regularly ruined but never in their entirety
A goal of mine is to sit down with the bass and just start playing something like that on the spot made up in my head, if only my head would cooperate.
The big riff in New Born by Muse after the first minute and a half of build up, its one of my all time favourite songs and when I eventually got that riff down I was over the moon. I keep playing it over and over and get that feeling every time
Since OP didn’t specify that I have to play it well, I’d say I really enjoy the bass line of “Don’t say lazy” by Sakurakou K-ON Bu, even if I trip all over myself and I’m still working on timing.
edit: I swear spellcheck is to blame for “base” instead of “bass” Fixed now.
I always warm up by playing four different songs…. I always play them in order before I begin to work on anything else. All are some of my favorites, but each have different elements that I like to stay fresh on.
“Paint It Black” - Not many notes, but mostly all 8th notes that warms me up fairly quick. I always start my practice sessions with this one. Focus on timing and attack.
“Drift Away” - Slides, slides, and more slides up and down the fretboard. Timing and slides.
“King Of The Road” - Has me up and down the fretboard and plucking tons of notes. Works both my plucking and fretting hands.
“Sweet Home Alabama” - Lets me practice hammer on’s and pull offs.
Bob Seger’s Main Street
David Hood of the Muscle Shoals rhythm section delivers a masterclass in taste and laid back timing
Edited to add: this is my go-to warm up and the song I play when feeling frazzled from trying to learn something tricky (Madness - Our House is kicking my butt at the moment). Some people meditate. I play Main Street.
