Bass Player Features

From Fender to Gibson, Gretsch to Spector, here are our top picks for the best short-scale basses on the market right now

Five top low-enders with links to the bass great dissect the James Jamerson style

You may or may not know Squarepusher (aka Tom Jenkinson), but chances are he doesn’t care to know you

With no experience of the extra string until her successful audition with Chesney, Kelley’s taken her P Bass attitude and hard rock roots for longterm stroll down Music Row

How Justin Meldal-Johnsen anchored Beck’s postmodern pop classic by breaking all of the rules

Nathan East looks back at some of his biggest tracks, and why he’d love to have a career like Pat Metheny or Marcus Miller

Every would-be metalhead should learn from the best: Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris

Whether you're writing songs or woodshedding solos, using a loop pedal will make you a better guitarist – these are the best looper pedals from Boss, TC Electronic, Line 6 and more

From Dee Dee Ramone to Eric Avery, fretless to 12-string bassists, Jeff Ament believes all his influences can all be heard on the latest Pearl Jam album Dark Matter

Geddy Lee’s signature sounds abound on Snakes and Arrows, but was there a new twist in his bass playing?

The German musician and artist was John Lennon's bass guitarist of choice for two decades

John Deacon’s bass playing on Killer Queen is guaranteed to blow your mind

Vomit and blood may be punk rock, but it’s not what you might expect from longtime Bad Religion bassist Jay Bentley

Earth, Wind and Fire’s pocket-perfect bassist names his best basslines

The Emmy and Grammy winner has led the musical charge for everyone from Rihanna to Eminem and Justin Timberlake. He explains why he went for Jackson over Fender for his signature bass, what makes five strings essential to his style, and how he leads the band while laying down the groove

When it comes to influential metal bands, few can hold a candle to Black Sabbath. These are Geezer Butler’s 10 heaviest rock riffs

Recorded a year before he was discovered by Blood Sweat and Tears drummer Bobby Colomby, I Can Dig It Baby finds Jaco Pastorius in his prime

Armed with years of experience as a session bassist and arranger – having worked with the Yardbirds, Jeff Beck and the Rolling Stones – John Paul Jones could do it all

The Berklee grad on what drew him to six-string basses over fours and fives, why sometimes it’s important to compromise on tone, and modern playing techniques versus the joy of “a simple melody you can’t stop humming”

Think you can play a bit like Sir Paul? It’s not as easy as you think, says Bootleg Beatles bassist Steve White