Top 10 Easy Bass Songs For Beginners

Practicing notes, chords, and technique benefits your bass playing, but it may become tedious quickly. Knowing some easy bass songs that you can quickly learn is essential. This way, you’ll feel focused, maintain attention, and build an extensive library of riffs from which to draw at any moment.

We highly encourage these tracks if you want to go deeper into learning songs on your bass. They offer many lessons from renowned bass guitar players, and the emphasis on the natural rhythm is mostly on song memorization.

Let’s get started! Here are 10 easy bass songs for beginners to learn:

1) Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson

We guess everyone will accept that the bass in this song is truly seductive. It is an effort to suggest that “Smooth Criminal” is a great, jazzy music track. Its basslines have now been updated and reused in several modern tunes. This song is excellent for learning vital bass guitar rhythms.

The bassline of this song is not as simple as the other songs on this list. You have standard tuning, which is ideal for beginning players. The only problem is that the tempo is a little faster than usual. You’ll have to stretch the capabilities of your playing fingers at 118 beats per minute.

The good news is that starting slowly is always okay. The bass will still sound great even if the rhythm is reduced to a more manageable 80 bpm. When you play the intro and verse, the pattern is the same. It changes slightly when you get to the chorus and bridge. However, none of these will put a strain on your fingers.

Learning the bass, like learning anything new, will be easier for some people than others. Don’t be alarmed if you’re one of those who are having trouble. Be patient and learn the basics. You’ll get the hang of it sooner or later.

2) Another One Bites the Dust by Queen

Every aspiring guitarist should have at least one Queen song in their knowledge base of must-know songs. When it comes to music, this band has excellent taste. Most of their pieces are also one-of-a-kind. And if you want to be a bassist, John Deacon should be your idol, and this 1980 Queen song is a must-know.

The simplicity of the basslines in “Another One Bites the Dust” is very helpful in learning it. It follows the song’s chord progression. The 5th string is the one you’ll be playing most of the time. The rhythm is simple, and the song only requires a few fretting movements.

Learning the song’s basslines will help you prepare for other great songs with excellent bass. It’s more about establishing the song’s rhythm. Consider the bass guitar to be a complete replacement for the drums. However, you can master the basslines in as little as an hour, making it an excellent bass song for beginners.

3) Yellow by Coldplay

This alternative rock song is one of the best for any beginning bass guitarist to consider adding to their learning bag of tricks. The song’s bass range takes a straightforward approach. It is ideal for people who are brand new to the world of bass guitar playing.

The tempo is moderate, clocking in at around 88 beats per minute. This is ideal for those who are still practicing fretting and fingerpicking. The song is simplified further by using only three notes: E, B, and F#. The chorus contains a variety of chords, none of which will make the learner’s life difficult. One of my favourite aspects of this Coldplay song is the variety of variations available.

Learning to play “Yellow’s” basslines is essential for understanding the fundamentals of rhythm. It can also teach you the fundamentals of fingerstyle.

4) Ozzy Osbourne – Crazy Train

Learning to play “Crazy Train” is a great accomplishment for those who enjoy heavy metal music because everyone in the industry values and respects Ozzy Osbourne. However, it is regarded as a beginner song by aspiring bass players.

The only issue with “Crazy Train” is that it was initially performed at 138 BPM. You can begin slowly, as with “Smooth Criminal.” You can also begin with the easiest part, which is the groove. Take care with the silence between notes, and you’ll find yourself using the bassline to compose your own hits in the future!

5) Rick James – Superfreak

“Superfreak” was one of the biggest hits of the early 1980s. However, many people were first exposed to the bassline through MC Hammer’s cover, “U Can’t Touch This,” which was popular in the early 1990s. Rick James composed and performed the funk-infused bassline, which was used by thousands of beginners. This is because the bass is consistent throughout the song. Only minor changes are required.

While some problematic parts in the bridge and chorus all boil down to how you use chords and octaves. To learn more about slides and hammer-ons, play “Superfreak.”

6) The Police – Message In A Bottle

“Message In A Bottle” by The Police is another beginner-friendly bass song. The song was released in 1979 and quickly became one of the band’s most popular. “Message In A Bottle’s” bassline is repetitive but enjoyable to play.

This song begins with a simple base, followed by a doubled rhythm to loosen up your fingers and improve your fingering speed. Following that, you’ll have some excellent yet satisfying triplets to add to your sonic versatility. This hugely popular song will undoubtedly inspire you to continue playing and practicing!

7) Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music

It’s time to let loose and get funky! Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music,” released in 1976, is one of the most popular funk easy bass songs. The bassline in “Play That Funky Music” is straightforward but enjoyable to play. This song will put your chord knowledge and rhythm skills to the test. This song is perfect for beginners who want to spice up their playing with a funky beat that will get you moving.

The only real challenge here is determining whether or not you have the funk within you! This is a fantastic song to learn and will be a great motivator for any beginning bassist.

8) Red Hot Chili Peppers – Otherside

You were probably not expecting an RHCP song, but here it is. “Otherside,” one of the band’s most famous songs, was released in 1999. With this iconic piece, it’s time to build those calluses. This is a fun song to learn and is a little more complex than the others on this list because it requires some sliding up and down the bass. This will help you develop calluses and gain valuable experience for future learning.

“Otherside” is still beginner-friendly, with some simple and playful notes; the only challenge will be loosening your fingers along the way and getting those slides down without giving up.

9) Foster The People – Pumped Up Kicks

Foster The People’s “Pumped Up Kicks,” released in 2010, is one of the most popular songs of the last decade. The bassline in “Pumped Up Kicks” is simple to play and ideal for beginning musicians.

Most people will recognize this song within seconds. The bassline is very playful and will eventually test your ability to double your notes within a bar. Aside from that, it should be a straight shot from beginning to end.

10) The Offspring – Pretty Fly For A White Guy

Let’s spice things up with The Offspring. Their song “Pretty Fly For A White Guy,” released in 1998, is a great beginner song if you want to improve your playing skills gradually. To say the least, “Pretty Fly For A White Guy” is a lighthearted song. This is good practice for loosening your fingers and playing around the neck of the bass. The fills are well within the range of a beginner-friendly song, so it should be easy and enjoyable to learn.

With a fast-paced pace, there are a few challenges along the way, but nothing too tricky. With a few slides here and there, this song has everything you need to improve your skills.

The Benefits Of Bass Guitar Lessons

There are several reasons why people want to learn a new instrument.

a) Bass Guitar Learnings Can Improve Your IQ

Those who play guitars outperform their peers in a variety of academic areas. Playing music is also an excellent way to train the adult brain and keep it cognitively sharp.

b) It’s Simple To Start

The bass guitar is an excellent place to start if you’re not confident about your musical ability. With a standard guitar, players must frequently remember extended chords. However, you may perform more tunes using only single notes with a bass guitar. This simplifies things for new gamers.

c) Lower Stress And Anxiety

Tuning bass guitar can also benefit your mental health. A soothing activity might be a terrific method to divert your attention for a while. Putting your attention on gaining a new skill rather than your tensions and fears is a great distraction. Music has been shown in tests to help decrease blood pressure.

Last Thoughts

Whether you’re a beginner bassist, you might be glad to learn that some of the most famous bass riffs are really simple to play. We believe the above list covers some of the most remarkable easy bass songs for beginners. We recommend practicing these songs to improve your guitar playing skills.