“When someone wants to rehearse before the session, that’s the kiss of death”: Watch Lee Sklar’s playthrough of Steve Lukather’s Stab in the Back By Chris Jisi published 4 January 24 Bass legend Lee Sklar used his “Frankenstein 4-string” on Lukather’s 2008 nod to Donald Fagen
“I've always played with a pick, but up until the fifth Foo Fighters record, I never played downstrokes”: How Nate Mendel changed the way he played bass to “support Dave’s songs as best as possible” By Brian Fox published 4 January 24 From the Bass Player Archive: An interview with Foo Fighters bassist Nate Mendel
Tired? Bored? Small hands? These are the top 8 excuses for avoiding guitar practice – and how to beat them By Pauline France published 4 January 24 A revealing (and possibly triggering) compilation of excuses for not practicing guitar
Best gifts for bass players 2024: the ultimate gift guide for the lovers of low-end By Daryl Robertson last updated 4 January 24 Show your bass-playing buddy, parent, or partner some love with these brilliant gift ideas for bass players
The 20 greatest bass solos of all time – from the fastest ‘lead bass guitarist’ to the only bass solo James Jamerson ever recorded By Nick Wells published 2 January 24 We count down moments of bass guitar genius from Tal Wilkenfeld, Flea, Victor Wooten, John Myung and many more
“Bass players seem to like that feeling of the sound pushing against their legs, but if you stand too close to your amp, you’re never sure what it sounds like”: Mike Watt offers his advice for putting some teeth into your live sound By Karl Coryat published 28 December 23 The patriarch of punk has influenced a generation of rockers. Here he talks through his live gear setup
“There was bass before Jaco and after Jaco; his playing turned my whole life around”: How Norman Watt-Roy brought a bit of Jaco to Ian Dury’s Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick By Chris Jisi published 19 December 23 Just a few weeks after seeing Weather Report at London’s Hammersmith Odeon, Norman Watt-Roy found himself in the studio with Ian Dury and the Blockheads
“The smallest element can be the basis of a cool riff. That’s pretty much how I wrote Sweet Emotion”: Tom Hamilton reveals the inspiration behind one of the most iconic bass riffs in rock By Nick Wells published 19 December 23 How Sweet Emotion, from Aerosmith’s Toys in the Attic, was inspired by Jeff Beck’s Rough and Ready
“I got a call: 'Peter Frampton needs a bass player. Can you do it?' This was Tuesday. By Friday, I was playing my first show”: Bass legend John Regan reflects on his career with Frampton and Frehley in his final interview By Andrew Daly published 19 December 23 The Frehley's Comet bassist died in April 2023. Just three days before his untimely passing, he spoke to Bass Player about his remarkable career, including the highs and lows of working with Ace Frehley and his lifelong musical friendship with Frampton
“I would never play a bass that has brand-new strings. My strings only leave the bass when they break”: How George Porter Jr. helped put funk on the musical map with The Meters By Nick Wells published 13 December 23 Formed in 1965, The Meters became the measure of funk to come with their 1969 instrumental anthem Cissy Strut
“Even John Paul Jones, Geddy Lee, Sting, and Steve Harris dig this guy”: Cordell Crockett of Ugly Kid Joe reels off 5 albums that shaped his sound By Joel McIver published 12 December 23 Ugly Kid Joe’s long-term bassist reflects on Sgt. Pepper, and why Michael Anthony had the “hardest gig” supporting Eddie Van Halen
“Bass players can solo through changes just like a horn player or a guitarist”: Watch Nathan East raise the bar as a soloist on Al Jarreau’s Our Love By Chris Jisi published 12 December 23 Recorded live at Wembley Arena, Nathan East’s melodic 16-bar solo was played on a Yamaha BB3000 5-string
“When Jimmy Page first saw my 8-string rig, he said, ‘I’m not playing to that!’” John Paul Jones on his 10 greatest Led Zeppelin moments By Nick Wells published 8 December 23 From the pounding riffs of Black Dog to the monomania of Achilles Last Stand, we check out some Led Zeppelin history
“McCartney was fantastic. Mind you, I tried one of those Hofner basses and I thought it was crap”: Judas Priest’s heavy metal veteran Ian Hill picks his top 5 bass albums By Joel McIver published 5 December 23 From the Beatles to the Bluesbreakers, we asked Ian Hill to name five albums that helped him along the righteous path to metal glory with Judas Priest
“Paul McCartney was one of my favorite bass players. I didn’t do him justice”: Paying tribute to the Beatles turned out to be a humbling experience for Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn By Nick Wells published 4 December 23 As a member of Booker T. and the MGs, Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn cut an instrumental version of the Beatles’ Abbey Road. But the experience wasn't all that satisfying...
“We had it in about two takes. The funk was there as soon as we hit it”: Watch Louis 'thunder thumbs' Johnson slap a classic bass solo on the Brothers Johnson’s Stomp! By Chris Jisi published 1 December 23 Johnson used a Music Man StingRay (which he helped design), and strung it with new D’Addario roundwounds
“I introduced Sting to Miles Davis, and that blew Sting’s mind!” Darryl Jones on providing the punch for Sting, Madonna, and the Rolling Stones By Chris Jisi published 29 November 23 After stints with Miles Davis, Madonna, and Sting, Darryl Jones found a home on The Rolling Stones’ Voodoo Lounge
“My playing was a response to whoever said, ‘Bass should be felt and not heard’. To me, bass should be like warfare!” Derek Forbes, founder member of Simple Minds, on his five best basslines By Joel McIver published 28 November 23 Derek Forbes was Simple Minds’ bassist from 1978 to 1985. Here he explains how he was inspired by Andy Fraser and Stanley Clarke, why he prefers Precision to Jazz, and the influence of magic mushrooms...
“I really liked the concept, but it was a bit impractical. My bass playing tends to rely more on my hands than any kind of trick”: Listen to Paul Jackson’s double-stop funk on Herbie Hancock’s Watermelon Man By Nick Wells published 27 November 23 Paul Jackson’s big-bottomed stank came courtesy of his modified Fender Telecaster Bass, Geraldine
“The higher up you wear your bass, the more it makes you think about what you’re playing. I don’t want to think that much”: Tim Lefebvre explains the belt-level placement of his low-slung P-Bass By Chris Jisi published 27 November 23 From Tedeschi Trucks to Knower to Saturday Night Live, how Tim Lefebvre became the bass player everyone wants to work with