When you’re just starting out on bass, it can be tough to figure out where to start. Luckily for us, there are plenty of tracks that are easy enough for beginners but still fun and exciting enough for more advanced players. In this article, we’ll go over some of the best beginner bass songs.
The Beatles’ “Come Together” is one of the best and easy songs to learn on bass guitar. It has a moderate speed and requires only basic techniques that can help beginners ramp up their skills.
But there’s definitely a lot more!
Now let’s talk about our favorite easy bass guitar songs, as well as a few tips on how you can learn them yourself.
Let’s go!
1. Come Together by The Beatles
“Come Together” is one of the most iconic Beatles songs, and it’s also one of the easiest songs to learn on bass guitar.
It was a popular choice for music stores to include in their demo collections.
The song starts with a simple repeating riff by the left-handed Paul McCartney that works up to a chord-based chorus that moves quickly but isn’t too difficult for beginners.
The verse sections are made up of single notes, making them easier to play than some other songs in this list.
2. Another One Bites The Dust by Queen
“Another One Bites The Dust” is a classic 1980 song by Queen that has been covered by many musicians.
It was written by Freddie Mercury and released on the album The Game. The song is widely known for its iconic bass line, featuring staccato notes played in a funky syncopated rhythm.
This makes it an easy song to learn for beginners who want to improve their bass-playing technique!
3. Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes
“Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes is a good song to play.
Why? Because it has a great bass line by Jack White that you can learn easily, and it sounds cool when played on the bass guitar.
The song is easy to learn because it only requires a 7-note phrase, mostly on just a single string. You’ll also enjoy playing this song because it’s enjoyable to learn and play!
4. Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash
This song is a classic by The Clash. It’s been covered by numerous artists and bands over the years and even gave the Netflix series Stranger Things its name.
It’s a great tune to learn if you’re just starting out since it has an easy 4/4 rhythm that flows throughout and a few easy chords. Plus, there are only two sections to this one: Verse 1 and Verse 2.
The song itself was written by Joe Strummer & Mick Jones in 1982 when they were still with The Clash.
5. Otherside by The Red Hot Chili Peppers
If you like The Red Hot Chili Peppers and want to try something a little bit different, this song is definitely worth checking out.
The band is known for owning the stage with its powerful stage presence and high energy levels. This song has many different good techniques that will help you learn new things, such as sliding and string skipping.
It’s ideal for those who already know the basics but may be quite fast for a beginner, so feel free to slow it down as you learn!
6. Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne
The song, which was released in 1980, features Osbourne’s first solo single.
It’s a hard rock tune that falls into the genre of heavy metal music and is considered one of her most popular songs.
He wanted to write something that would be similar to their earlier songs but had more energy than anything they had done before. The simple riff you hear throughout this track is very catchy and fun to play on bass guitar!
7. All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor
This is one of the more popular songs on this list, and with good reason.
It was nominated for Song of the Year at the 57th Grammy Awards, and it has a great rhythm to play along to. This song can definitely give you more energy just by playing it—which is always a great thing!
In terms of difficulty, I would say that “All About That Bass” is an intermediate-level song because there are some tricky sections, but overall, this is an easy bass guitar piece that you can learn quickly. It’s also fun to play!
8. I Got You (I Feel Good) by James Brown
James Brown was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He ranked 7th on Rolling Stone Magazine’s 100 Greatest Musicians of All Time.
Everyone sure is familiar with this tune due to its commercial success. In fact, it’s considered one of the best songs ever!
This is a 12-bar blues song, so beginners can learn some string skipping techniques as well as how to play in 4/4 time signatures at a fast tempo of 168 bpm.
9. Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People
This song is a good one to start with because it’s a catchy tune, and its repetitive beats make it easy to learn.
The song garnered popularity in 2010, and it’s the song that put the band on the map.
It has an upbeat tempo, but precision is key since there are fast rhythms.
10. Yellow by Coldplay
“Yellow” is a song by the British rock band Coldplay. It was released as their third single from their debut album “Parachutes” in 2000.
This song is about someone who has been in love with someone for so long but they just can’t seem to get together because of certain circumstances.
It’s a great tune that highlights what makes you want to play bass: it has an amazing melody line with minimalistic accompaniment, which allows you to really dig into those grooves!
11. Three Little Birds by Bob Marley
The legendary reggae icon is known for his uplifting and positive messages conveyed through melodic songs that people can sing along to.
“Three Little Birds” has become one of the most perennial favorite songs of young bass players because it’s an easy song with an upbeat feel.
Even though this song is mostly up-tempo and doesn’t require any tricky fills or complicated rhythm changes, it still requires a solid sense of timing from the player.
The melody is very catchy and easy to follow (especially if you listen to the original recording), so even beginners will find themselves singing along after playing this tune just once or twice!
12. Money by Pink Floyd
“Money” by Pink Floyd is a great song for beginners. It’s a classic rock tune that has been covered by many bands, and it’s quite easy to play.
Although it can be challenging at first because of its odd time signatures of 7/4 and 3/4, you can expect to produce a really unique sound once you get it right.
The main riff is pretty straightforward, so you’ll be able to get started quickly while learning how to use your fingers on different frets effectively.
13. Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana is another great example for beginners to start with.
The band’s biggest hit from their Nirvana album was released in 1991 and became a huge success. The song has an energetic main riff and is a perfect song for beginners who enjoy rock music.
The main riff of this song consists of two chords that are played in eighth notes, meaning there are eight notes per beat instead of the typical four or six notes per beat (in 4/4 time).
14. Come As You Are by Nirvana
This is one of Nirvana’s most famous songs, and it’s no wonder why.
Written by Kurt Cobain, this grunge song offers a lot of what made the genre so popular: powerful lyrics and vocals that are both melancholic and uplifting at the same time.
The tune uses passing notes, giving it its melancholic feel. It’s such a powerful song without being too complex to learn for beginners!
15. Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson
This is a classic Michael Jackson song that everyone knows.
It’s in a 4/4 time signature with a moderate tempo, and it will require a bit of right-hand dexterity than usual, but it’s worth it.
You are free to reduce the tempo as you start to learn and increase it as you master the song.
Everyone knows this song, and is always a fun song to listen to. You’ll never go wrong with this!
16. Longview by Greenday
The band Greenday is an icon in the punk rock world. They’ve won five Grammy Awards and have sold over 60 million records worldwide.
This song is great for beginners because it’s fairly easy to play, having only four chords and a simple song structure.
It’s also fun to learn with interesting bass parts that help players learn to pick two notes simultaneously.
17. La Grange by ZZ Top
As one of the most popular blues songs of all time, “La Grange” by ZZ Top is often enjoyed by