Funk (and Reggae and Rock) Basslines
These Bass Transcriptions inculde:
Funk Bass Transcriptions of Bootsy Collins
Transcriptions of Basslines by other James Brown Bassists such as Tim Drummond, Charles Sherrell, and Bernard Odum
Bass Transcriptions of Billy Cox, the funky bassist with Jimi Hendrix on “Dolly Dagger” and “Izabella”
Complete Transcriptions of Paul McCartney's Bass Parts on Abbey Road
Reggae Bass Transcriptions of Robbie Shakespeare
Bass Transcriptions of Mike Watt of the Minutemen
Bass Transcription of the “Barney Miller Theme”
Some of the more fun and funky basslines, I’ve played over the years, transcribed to share out for educational use only (not for sale). If you see mistakes, and there may be many, please email me and let me know. Just say something like – “in measure 29 of such-and-such a tune the c-sharp should be a c-natural.” I will take a listen and correct it. More Transcriptions loaded each summer, when I’m not swamped with reading and translating the classics. New - Jamaican Bass Lines, Added April 4th, 2015
Abbey Road (Complete Album) – The Beatles 1969, Bass: Paul McCartney
Side One
“Come Together”
“Something”
“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”
“Oh! Darling”
“Octopus’s Garden”
“I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”
Side Two
“Here Comes the Sun”
“Because”
“You Never Give Me Your Money”
“Sun King”
“Mean Mr. Mustard/Polythene Pam”
“She Came in through the Bathroom Window”
“Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End”
“Her Majesty”
“Another One Bites the Dust” – Queen 1980, Bass: John Deacon.
Bass line Inspired by “Good Times.”
“Anxious Mofo” – The Minutemen 1984, Bass: Mike Watt.
“Barney Miller Theme” – Jack Elliot 1975, Bass: Chuck Berghofer. Slightly Revised, April 4th, 2015
“Bring Down the Birds” – Herbie Hancock 1966, Bass: Ron Carter.
Bass line used in Deee-Lite’s “Groove is in the Heart”
“Body Heat” – James Brown 1976.
“Bourée” (Baed on “Bourrée in E minor” by J. S. Bach) – Jethro Tull (1969) Bassist: Glenn Cornick. New, Added May 1st, 2015
“Cold Sweat” – James Brown 1967, Bass: Bernard Odum.
“Doin’ It To Death” – James Brown (Fred Wesley & the J.B.’s) 1973, Bass: Fred Thomas.
“Dolly Dagger”
– Jimi Hendrix 1970/71, Bass: Billy Cox.Rechecked, April 4th, 2015
“Express Yourself” – Charles Wright 1970/71, Bass: Melvin Dunlap. Found an Ugly ass typo - Slightly Revised, May 31st, 2019
“Funky President” – James Brown 1974, Bass: Gordon Edwards.
“Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine” – James Brown 1970, Bass: William ‘Bootsy” Collins.
“Get Up Offa That Thing” – James Brown 1976.
“The Ghetto” – by Donny Hathaway 1970, Bass: Marshall Hawkins.New, Added June 29th, 2017
“Give It Up or Turn It Loose” – James Brown 1968/69, Bass: Charles Sherrell.
“Give It Up or Turn It a Loose” (Jungle Groove) – James Brown 1970, Bass: William ‘Bootsy” Collins.
“Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)” - Parliament 1976, Bass: William ‘Bootsy” Collins.
“Good Times” – Chic 1979, Bass: Bernard Edwards.
Bass line used in “Rapper’s Delight”
Influenced “Another One Bites the Dust” and “Wot”
“Green Onions” – Booker T. and the MGs. 1962, Bass: Lewis Steinberg.
“Groove is in the Heart” – Deee-Lite 1990, Bass Line from “Bring Down the Birds”.
“Groove Me” – King Floyd 1970, Bass: Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn.
“The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)” – They Might Be Giants 1992.New, Added June 29th, 2017
“Hit It and Quit It” – Funkadelic (1971) Bass: Billy “Bass” Nelson. New, Added May 1st, 2015
“Hollywood Swinging” – Kool & the Gang 1974, Bass: Robert ‘Kool’ Bell.
Maybe the inspiration for the bassline to "Good Times"
“Hot Pants” – James Brown 1971, Bass: Fred Thomas.
“Iko Iko” – Dixie Cups. New, Added June 2nd, 2019
“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” – Iron Butterfly (1968) Bassist: Lee Dorman. New, Added May 1st, 2015
“Knock on Wood” – Eddie Floyd 1967, Bass: Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn.
“I” 『私のすべて』 – Pizzicato Five ピチカート・ファイヴ 1991.
“I Can’t Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)” – James Brown 1968, Bass: Tim Drummond.
“I Can’t Turn You Loose” – Blues Brothers version 1978/80), Bass: Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn.
Originally by Otis Redding 1965.
“I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing” – James Brown 1969, Bass: Charles Sherrell.
“I Got You (I Feel Good)” – James Brown 1965, Bass: David “Hook” Williams.
“I’ll Take You There” – The Staple Singers 1972, Bass: David Hood.
“Izabella” – Jimi Hendrix 1970/71, Bass: Billy Cox. Revised, April 2nd, 2015
“Jesus and Tequila” – The Minutemen 1984, Bass: Mike Watt.
“Jungle Boogie” – Kool & the Gang 1973, Bass: Robert ‘Kool’ Bell.
“Licking Stick – Licking Stick” – James Brown 1968, Bass: Tim Drummond.
“Make It Funky” – James Brown 1971, Bass: Fred Thomas.
“Memphis Soul Stew” – King Curtis 1967, Bass: Jerry Jemmott or Tommy Cogbill.
Produced by Tommy Cogbill.
“Miss Funky Fox”
– Exit 9 1975. Rechecked, April 2nd, 2015
“Mommy, What's a Funkadelic” – Funkadelic (1970) Bass: Billy “Bass” Nelson. New, Added May 1st, 2015
“Mother Popcorn” – James Brown 1969, Bass: Charles Sherrell.
“Music for my Mother” – Funkadelic (1970) Bass: Billy “Bass” Nelson. New, Added May 1st, 2015
“My Thang” – James Brown 1974, Bass: Gordon Edwards.
“The Payback” – James Brown 1974, Bass: Fred Thomas.
“Peace Frog/ Blue Sunday” – The Doors 1970, Bass Ray Neapolitan.
“Peter Gunn” – Blues Brothers version 1980, Bass: Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn.
Originally by Henry Mancini -1959.
“Rapper’s Delight” – Sugar Hill Gang.
Bass line from “Good Times”.
“Respect” – Aretha Franklin 1967, Bass: Tommy Cogbill.
Otis Redding 1956.
“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” – Gil Scott Heron 1970, Bass: Ron Carter.
“Sanford and Son Theme (The Streetbeater)” – Quincy Jones 1973, Bass: Chuck Rainey.
“Soul Power” – James Brown 1971, Bass: William ‘Bootsy’ Collins.
“Super Bad” – James Brown 1970, Bass: William ‘Bootsy’ Collins.
“Shake a Tail Feather” – Ray Charles 1980, Bass: Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn.
Originally by The Five Du-Tones 1963.
“She Caught the Katy” – Blues Brothers version 1980, Bass: Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn.
Originally by Taj Mahal 1968.
“There It Is” – James Brown 1972, Bass: Fred Thomas.
“Three is a Magic Number (Schoolhouse Rock)” – Bob Dorough New, Added June 2nd, 2019
“Tighten Up” – Archie Bell & the Drells 1968, Bass: Jerry Jenkins.
Backing Band: T.S.U. Toronados.
“Two Sisters” – Royal Crescent Mob 1987, Bass: Harold ‘Happy’ Chichester.
“Wot” – Captain Sensible 1982.
Jamaican (Reggae, Ska, Rocksteady and Dancehall) Bass lines: New, Added April 4th, 2015
“007 (Shanty Town)” - Desmond Dekker (1969)
“African” (Live) - Peter Tosh (1977/1982) Bass: George “Fully” Fullwood
“Ba Ba Boom” - The Jamaicans
“Bush Doctor” (Live) - Peter Tosh (1978/1982) Bass: George “Fully” Fullwood
“Charlie Chaplin Credel” - Charlie Chaplin (1983) Bass: Robbie Shakespeare?
“Diseases” (“Flour Dumpling Kill A Man” Riddim) - Michigan & Smiley 1981
“Flour Dumpling Kill A Man” - Dillinger (1975)
“Full Up” - Jackie Mittoo & Sound Dimensions (1968)
“Get Up, Stand Up” - Bob Marley and Peter Tosh (1973) Bass: Aston “Family Man” Barrett
“Happy Go Lucky Girl” - The Paragons (1966)
“I Shot the Sheriff” - Bob Marley (1973) Bass: Aston “Family Man” Barrett
“The Israelites” - Desmond Dekker (1969)
“Ketchy Shuby” - Peter Tosh (1975) Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
“Legalize It” - Peter Tosh (1975) Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
“Mad Over Me” - Yellowman (1980)
“Maga Dog” - Peter Tosh (1983) Bass: Robbie Shakespeare or George “Fully” Fullwood
“Murder She Wrote” (Bam Bam Riddim) - Chaka Demus & Pliers (1992)
“Night Nurse” - Gregory Isaacs (1982)
“Oh Carolina” - Shaggy (1993)
“One Love/People Get Ready” - Bob Marley/Curtis Mayfield (1977)
“Pass the Dutchie” ("Full Up” Riddim) - Musical Youth (1982)
“Pass the Koutchie” ("Full Up” Riddim) - Mighty Diamonds (1981)
“One Foundation” - Written by Peter Tosh. Performed by The Wailers, 1973. Bass: Aston "Family Man" BarrettNew, Added June 29th, 2017
“Pass the Tu-Sheng-Peng” - Frankie Paul (1984)
“Punanny” - Admiral Bailey (1987)
“Reggaemylitis” - Peter Tosh (1981) Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
“Ring the Alarm” (Stalag Riddim) - Tenor Saw 1985
“Stab Out Mi Meat” - Lady Saw
“Stir It Up” - Bob Marley (1967/1972) Bass: Aston “Family Man” Barrett
“Sugar Sugar” - Bob Marley 1970 (Archies 1969)
“Take It Easy” - Hopeton Lewis (1966)
“Tempo” - Anthony Red Rose (1985)
“Three Little Birds” - Bob Marley (1977)
“Till Your Well Runs Dry” - Peter Tosh (1975) Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
“True Love” - Barrington Levy (1983) Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
“Under Me Sleng Teng” - Wayne Smith (1985)
“Waiting in Vain” - Bob Marley (1977) Bass: Aston “Family Man" Barrett
“What'cha Gonna Do” - Peter Tosh (1975) Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
“Zungguzungguguzungguzeng” - (“Flour Dumpling Kill A Man” Riddim) Yellowman (1983)
Email any corrections to me at benjamin@yokoiscool.com