The best isolated bass lines to learn by ear include James Jamerson on Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” John Deacon on Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust,” Chris Squire on Yes’s “Roundabout” and Cliff Burton on Metallica’s “Orion.” Hearing the bass on its own, without guitars or vocals covering it, is the fastest way to work out every note, ghost note and slide, whatever your level.
Below are 12 classic bass lines that all have isolated tracks on MultitrackMaster, roughly ordered from Motown to modern rock. Each entry explains what makes the part worth learning and links to the full post.
How to use isolated bass tracks to learn songs
- Listen through once without your bass. Get the shape of the part in your head first.
- Slow it down. YouTube’s playback speed setting (0.75x or 0.5x) keeps the pitch while slowing the tempo.
- Loop small sections. Learn one phrase at a time, then string them together.
- Play along with the full song. Once you have it, go back to the original mix to hear how the bass locks with the drums.
1. Marvin Gaye – “What’s Going On” (James Jamerson)
Motown’s session bassist James Jamerson played on an enormous number of the label’s hits, and “What’s Going On” (1971) is one of his most celebrated performances. The line is loose, syncopated and constantly moving, more like a counter-melody than a root-note part. It’s a masterclass in chromatic passing notes. Full post: “What’s Going On” isolated bass.
2. The Four Tops – “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” (James Jamerson)
An earlier Jamerson classic from 1965. Compared with “What’s Going On,” it’s more driving and repetitive, which makes it a great first Motown line to learn. Focus on how the syncopation pushes the groove forward. Full post: Four Tops isolated bass.
3. Queen – “Another One Bites the Dust” (John Deacon)
Deacon wrote the song, and the bass riff is the song. It’s simple enough for beginners, but getting the muted, tight feel and the space between the notes right takes practice. From The Game (1980). Full post: bass, drums and guitar stems.
4. Led Zeppelin – “Whole Lotta Love” (John Paul Jones)
John Paul Jones doubles the famous riff with Jimmy Page’s guitar. The isolated bass shows how much weight that doubling adds and how Jones locks with John Bonham. From Led Zeppelin II (1969). Full post: bass only, and bass and drums.
5. The Guess Who – “American Woman” (Jim Kale)
A heavy, riff-based line from 1970 that sits right under the guitar. It’s a good one for working on a consistent, aggressive attack with the picking or plucking hand. Full post: “American Woman” bass only.
6. Yes – “Roundabout” (Chris Squire)
From Fragile (1971). Chris Squire’s bright, aggressive tone and busy, melodic playing put the bass at the front of the mix. This is an intermediate-to-advanced line with fast runs and plenty of movement, and it’s the best example here of bass as a lead instrument. Full post: “Roundabout” bass.
7. The Police – “Message in a Bottle” (Sting)
Sting sings and plays bass at the same time, so his lines tend to be economical. That makes “Message in a Bottle” (1979) a lesson in how much a few well-placed notes can do under a busy guitar figure. Full post: Sting isolated bass.
8. Duran Duran – “Rio” (John Taylor)
John Taylor’s busy, funky, melodic line drives the 1982 hit. It’s a great workout for finger stamina and for playing lots of notes without losing the groove. Full post: “Rio” bass, guitar and keyboards.
9. Metallica – “Orion” (Cliff Burton)
The instrumental from Master of Puppets (1986) gives Cliff Burton a melodic, featured section in the middle of the song. Hearing his bass alone shows his melodic sense and his use of effects. Full post: “Orion” bass only. Also see Burton on “Battery”.
10. R.E.M. – “Losing My Religion” (Mike Mills)
From Out of Time (1991). With Peter Buck’s mandolin carrying the main riff, Mike Mills’ bass gives the song its forward motion and fills in the harmony. It’s a great line for intermediate players learning to support a song melodically. Full post: “Losing My Religion” bass only.
11. Primus – “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver” (Les Claypool)
Les Claypool’s percussive, slap-heavy style is instantly recognizable, and this track from Sailing the Seas of Cheese (1991) is one of his best-known. It’s advanced, but hearing the bass on its own makes the technique far easier to understand. Full post: vocal only and bass only.
12. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Snow (Hey Oh)” (Flea)
Flea’s fast, flowing line on this Stadium Arcadium (2006) track is all about stamina and evenness. Every note needs to be the same volume and length at speed. Full post: instrumental and bass only.
Honorable mentions
- Marvin Gaye – “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (vocal and bass only)
- The Police – “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” (Sting vocal and bass)
- Soundgarden – “Rusty Cage” (bass only)
- The Cars – “Bye Bye Love” (Ben Orr vocal and bass)
Where these isolated tracks come from
Isolated bass tracks come from several sources: original studio multitracks released for remixes, documentaries or games; stems from music video games; and, more and more, AI stem separation applied to the finished song. The source affects sound quality, as AI-separated stems can have artifacts, especially where bass and kick drum overlap. Our guide to isolated tracks explains the differences.
FAQ
What is the easiest isolated bass line to learn?
Of the songs on this list, “Another One Bites the Dust” is the most approachable. It’s a short, repeating riff with plenty of space, and “I Can’t Help Myself” is a good next step.
What is the hardest bass line on this list?
“Roundabout,” “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver” and “Orion” are the most demanding, each for different reasons: speed and range, slap technique, and melodic soloing.
How do I hear the bass in a song more clearly?
Use an isolated bass track if one exists, listen on headphones or speakers with a good low end, or use an AI stem-separation tool to pull the bass out of the full mix.
