Latest articles by Nick Wells
Before Robert Trujillo and Jason Newsted, Cliff Burton set the musical bar for Metallica and established an indelible legacy
Cliff Burton’s playing style may have been an offbeat fit for the cutting-edge thrash of Metallica, but it worked perfectly
Thunderstruck on bass? With slapping and tapping? Bass hero Toby Peterson-Stewart flexes his chops in tribute to AC/DC
From parallel distortion to cutting-edge tapping, Toby Peterson-Stewart breaks down some of the highlights from his latest cover
Jack Bruce’s final encounter with Jaco Pastorius
According to his brother, Rory Pastorius, Jaco was influenced by the late Cream bassist’s midrange sound and aggressive lead style
Joe Satriani’s best basslines (Yes, he plays bass, too)
The phenomenal guitar playing of Joe Satriani needs no introduction, but he also handled bass duties on his first two albums
Alex ‘V-Man’ Venturella on the secret to metal’s heaviest bass tone and nailing his Slipknot audition
Slipknot's low-end specialist discusses his epic amp collection, the brilliance of Eloy Casagrande and how James Hetfield shaped his technique
Iron Maiden remain one of most domineering forces in heavy metal – and bassist Steve Harris has led the charge
Steve Harris has always pushed beyond the conventions of rock bass guitar, but in his mind, he’s no bass hero
He was Zappa’s bassist and remains a low-end enigma – but Scott Thunes has never held back on his opinions
Scott Thunes blazed a unique trail with Frank Zappa – but maintains solo bass is a complete no-no
Carol Kaye on why it is not who you are but how and what you play that defines you as a musician
As one of L.A.’s top studio musicians during the ‘60s, Carol Kaye’s credits rival anyone's. In this classic 2009 interview, she talks influences, teaching, and how she feels about being a role model
“This bass has plenty of cutting power, and it's versatile enough to handle just about any gig”: Cort GB-Fusion 4 review
A new entry to the wallet-friendly bass market, the Cort GB-Fusion 4 combines impressive pickups and hardware with classic J-Bass style
David Hood on Aretha, what Otis Redding taught him, and tales from Muscle Shoals' golden age
In this interview from the Bass Player archive, Hood reflects on his career as a ‘Swamper’, playing on hits by Paul Simon, the Staple Singers Aretha Franklin and more
Alice in Chains’ Mike Inez on Paul McCartney, why Cliff Burton ruled and what John Entwistle told him
Inez is a rock bass powerhouse, holding it down with AIC, Ozzy, Heart, guesting with Slash. Here he discusses a life in low-end and the evolution of his style
How Joni Mitchell formed an unlikely partnership with Jaco Pastorius
Although much of his fame stems from his time with Weather Report, Jaco’s recordings with Joni Mitchell yielded some of the finest bass playing of his career
Why Prince removed the bassline from When Doves Cry
From the beginning, Prince had an inkling that Purple Rain’s landmark single would be better without bass guitar
How to play slap bass: an essential guide to slapping and popping
Also known as thumpin’ and pluckin’, slap bass is one of the mainstays of funk bass
Bass chords: shapes that work on bass guitar – and go beyond the power chord
Learning how to play chords on the bass is an absolute must if you want to develop your musicianship
20 metal bassists who took heavy bass playing in new directions
Featuring metal’s leading low-enders – from old-school thrash to modern metal
Legendary sideman Lee Sklar reveals the studio secrets behind his incredible career
The legendary bassist looks back at five decades of studio work on hit songs by James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Phil Collins, and many more
John Myung on how the return of Mike Portnoy has changed the band – and his bass playing
Parasomnia is Dream Theater's first new album with drummer Mike Portnoy for 16 years
21 slap bass legends who made thumpin’ and pluckin’ their own
From the godfather of thumpin’ and pluckin’ to Victor Wooten’s game-changing slap technique, we bring you the players that you must know if you want to call yourself a true bass aficionado
How Nicole Row went from a wild ride in Panic! at the Disco to laying down the low-end in Incubus – and rerecording their biggest album
The former Panic! At The Disco bassist on the challenges she faced when replacing Ben Kenney in the alt-rock institution – and why she’s finally come around to using a pick…
20 funk bass legends who took low-end groove to new heights
A rundown of the best funk bass players of all time, featuring the trailblazers, the early innovators, and the monster groovers around today
“There’s an art to simplicity, and Jason Newsted brought that art”: The bassists of Metallica
From Ron McGovney to Robert Trujillo, we trace the evolution of Metallica’s low-end sound
“If Leo Fender could come back today I think he would approve”: 10 6-string bassists you need to know
From John Myung to Felix Pastorius to Thundercat, we follow their historic quest for the ultimate extended-range axe
