Playing rock and hard rock on the bass guitar can be a very rewarding and fun experience – it is one of the most common genres of popular music and just about every musician will need to learn a few rock songs if they want to play at the bar, pub, or local community hall or event. Rock music affords a great opportunity to improve timing and rhythm while learning a bit about hammer-on's, slurring, and other techniques.
As a note, all tablature for bass is best found at bassmasta.net or 911tabs.com. On the latter site, the reader should remember to check that they are viewing bass tabs, and not guitar tabs.
Long Live the 80's, Some Canadian Flavour
One of the easiest songs to learn, yet one of the most fun to jam with in a band is most likely “New Orleans Is Sinking” by The Tragically Hip, a Canadian rock band with iconic status in their home country. Originally released in 1989 on their debut album “Up to Here”, the song features a simple bassline with a few variations completed by a very simple break.
- To see the tablature for “New Orleans is Sinking”, please click here.
Another well known rock anthem that is fun to pick up on the electric bass is “Rock You Like a Hurricane”, by Scorpions (that's right, it's not The Scorpions!). Most likely their most famous song alongside the likes of Winds of Change and No One Like You, the Scorpions' catalogue is filled with catchy hooks and simple but driving riffs.
- To see the tablature for “Rock You Like a Hurricane”, please click here.
Finally, a great melodic song to play with a few other musicians is Def Leppard's “Foolin'”, from the Pyromania album as released in 1983. With a simple but unique intro that features a long slide, a neat rhythmic open A string, and catchy chorus - “Foolin'” is a great hard rock tune that is fairly simple to learn and easy to play in time with others during a jam.
- To see the tablature for “Foolin'”, please click here.
Have Some Fun, Be Patient
In order to be a successful bassist it is supremely important that you truly enjoy time spent practicing.
Certainly it can be frustrating, but the rush of being able to play through an entire song – or even just the hook or chorus – should be more than reward enough. Gathering up a few friends who are open minded and just looking to learn a few things together can be infinitely rewarding – playing with others expands the player's experience a great deal and will teach more about tone and rhythm than any amount of playing alongside a CD player or iPod ever will.
Patience and perfection go hand in hand, it is key to remember this when trying to better your skills as a bassist. Rock on, have fun, and learn a few new things each day.
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Nicholas Morine - Nicholas Morine Bachelor of Arts, English Language & Literature Master of Philosophy, Humanities (Candidate) Memorial University ...
