My Top Bassists, Pt. 3

#6
Name: Christopher Wolstenholme
Associated Bands: Muse

Wolstenholme is without a doubt the flashiest bassist on this list, but he also shares many similarities to the others. For starters, he plays very riff-orientated basslines, which is something true of virtually all ten individuals I’m writing about. What makes Wolstenholme stand out, however, is the staggering complexity and length of the riffs he plays. A typical bassline in his hands won’t just be a simple eight-note pattern repeated over and over again. It will stretch out, snaking its way along the fretboard for about eight bars of music before it finally starts to repeat again. Wolstenholme also plays these immensely complicated lines with blinding speed, which can make Muse one of the most intimidating bands for a novice bass player to listen to. However, when you break the songs down, Muse basslines are much simpler than they appear, requiring only substantial muscle memory and repetition to master. These are valuable lessons to learn about bass playing and I thank Chris Wolstenholme and his lunatic bass parts for helping me learn them.

Required Listening:
“Cave”, “Plug In Baby”, “Hysteria”

#5
Name: Sting
Associated Bands: The Police

I’ve already written about the Police in a previous article, but I feel Sting deserves some special recognition. No matter what you think of Sting as a lyricist, singer or even just generally as a person, you can’t deny that he’s an absolutely stellar bass player. Whether it’s the reggae/dub style of the first two Police records or his round, warm sound from their later work, Sting provides exactly what the Police’s songs need. He combines various strains of bass styles into one big mix, dabbling with funky rhythms on one song, then switching to a more nervous, post-punk style on another. All the while, he plays with a distinctive, fluid quality, creating basslines that are smooth and sleek while still being interesting and cutting edge. The parts Sting plays on Police records aren’t complicated by any means, but they’re well-crafted and deeply catchy. Plus, Sting is a rare singing bassist. That alone deserves some credit, if you ask me.

Required Listening:
“Can’t Stand Losing You”, “Driven To Tears”, “Synchronicity II”