Easy bass riffs
1. “Another One Bites The Dust” by Queen
BPM: 112
Ability Level: Beginner
Just try and avoid bopping your head to this infectious beat. An all-time classic, “Another One Bites The Dust” is a bassline that’s simple, powerful, and utterly addictive.
It might take a little time to perfect the rhythm, but its simple note progression allows you to focus on the groove as the riff develops. A helpful tip to get your timings tighter is to simply pluck a string in unison with the beat over and over until the cadence of the riff is memorised.
When it comes time to translate that beat to the notes, you’ll have a much easier time getting a cohesive riff put together. It’s deceptive in that the tempo rapidly speeds up for the second half of the riff, but just take it slow and you’ll get the notes locked into your muscle memory.
It’s a John Deacon masterclass, and this riff is essentially the entire song – a great start to your riff repertoire!
2. “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes
BPM: 124
Ability Level: Complete Beginner
DUNNN… DUN DUN DUN DUNNN DUNNNN … DUNNNN. Ahem. Any bass riff simple and catchy enough to be sung by thousands of people at sporting events around the globe is worth learning – even if it’s only for simple and catchy nature!
It’s playable almost entirely in one position, meaning your fretting hand won’t have to adjust too much, so you can focus on the notes and rhythm. The only slight stretch you might have trouble with is using your pinky to hit the 8th fret of the E string. You don’t have to use your pinky if you’re still building strength in that finger, but it’ll help keep the flow of the riff by not moving your playing hand too much.
Crafted by Jack White, this irresistible hook wasn’t actually played on a bass, but rather on Jack’s guitar while using an octave pedal. That won’t matter one jot when playing it on a real bass though!
3. “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
BPM: 116
Ability Level: Complete Beginner
Timeless. “Billie Jean” is one of those songs where every single element is iconic – the vocals (of course!) the drums, the synth, and most importantly to us, the bass.
It’s mostly a repetitive riff that’s a breeze to pick up, the only difficulty comes from its pacy tempo. For the riff, you’ll stay around the 2nd and 4th frets on the A and D strings, before jumping up to the D and G strings (same frets) for the higher-pitched segment.
That higher-pitched segment adopts a slightly different tempo with an abrupt pause in the middle – so listen out for that. The rest of the song isn’t really that complex, so don’t worry about trying your hand(s) at the rest of it!
4. “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish
BPM: 135 (up until the breakdown)
Ability Level: Beginner
Endlessly hummable, “Bad Guy” features an addictive bassline that kicks off the song and draws in the listener. It won’t take long to pick up the essentials of the riff, which is using your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the E string and index finger on the 1st fret of the A string.
Once you’ve got the start memorised, you can practice the transition to the 5th fret for the higher-pitched segment. This jump up in frets will feel natural to a more experienced player, but if you’re just starting out you’ll want to take it slow and just keep repeating it in cycles – with each go around, you’ll get faster and faster.
Like all these riffs, the crucial part is the timing, it’s what makes this line in particular so funky and flowing. Practice hitting the strings exactly in time with the song to help you master the beat… and it goes without saying that the main melody section (after the “DUH!” part) should be hummed or sung in your most ridiculous voice possible.
5. “Dance, Dance” by Fall Out Boy
BPM: 114
Ability Level: Complete Beginner (for the main riff and chorus)
Mid-2000s emo pop rarely comes as catchy as “Dance, Dance” from Fall Out Boy. Starting with a punchy, attention-grabbing bassline, it’s a song that’s remained in the emo/pop/punk conscience for many years. And the great news is that the majority of the song is super simple!
The main riff involves just the 2nd and 5th frets of the A string and the 5th and 3rd frets of the E string. To play it fluidly you might have to use your pinky finger for that 2nd to 5th fret reach, but it’ll be a good exercise in building finger stretch for harder riffs.
The pre-chorus is simply the same notes as the riff, just played repeatedly in a steady rhythm. The chorus is also very similar, just at a higher tempo and features an open E note and the 1st fret of the E string, too. That’s basically the entire song… however, the bridge section features some enormously tricky solo-style playing that will be good to revisit once you’ve progressed in your skills!
6. “Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream
BPM: 112
Ability Level: Beginner
“Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream is one of those iconic bass riffs that any beginner should learn. Played by none other than the magnificent Jack Bruce, this riff is all about the rhythm. The groove is slow and heavy, giving beginners ample time to get their fingers around the fretboard.
However, while it may seem simple, it requires precision and a good sense of timing, making it a deceptively challenging exercise for a complete novice.
The riff is filled with a bluesy feel that sets the tone for the entire song, making it a satisfying piece to play. Plus, its status as a classic rock staple guarantees it’s a crowd-pleaser at any jam session!
7. “Love Shack” by The B-52’s
BPM: 134
Ability Level: Beginner
Super simple. Super groovy. “Love Shack” mostly takes place down at the 1st and 3rd frets and features a simple progression of notes and a rhythm that’s not too difficult to pick up. It’ll also get you using your index, ring, and pinky fingers in the same riff, helping build your coordination on your fretting hand.
After the main riff, you can add in the fun pre-chorus section, which is simply a few bars that ascend in pitch. It goes from the 3rd to the 6th to the 8th and 11th frets before sliding back down to the 3rd on the A string.
Bonus points if you know what cheesy film “Love Shack” was featured in!
8. “Without Me” by Eminem
BPM: 112
Ability Level: Beginner
Fancy working on your rapping? “Without Me” is deceptively simple in that it’s literally the same riff on repeat throughout the entire song. That said, it’s more of an endurance test than a normal riff as your fingers won’t get much of a break while playing it.
The piece involves the 3rd fret of the E string and the 5th fret of the D string played alternately. At the end of the bar, you can play 5-6-5 on the A string to match the song. To get the proper rhythm you’ll want to bend the string on the 5th fret, rather than play the 6th fret – good practice for building that technique.
It’s really that simple, but don’t get overconfident as the song features a few pauses throughout to keep you on your toes. So pay attention to avoid losing your place!
9. “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” by Yes
BPM: 125
Ability Level: Complete Beginner
Another ’80s pop earworm that’s almost impossible to stop yourself from singing. While the bassline isn’t the focal point of the song, it’s a catchy and groovy tune that’s quick to pick up.
The main verse riff is super simple, played at a steady tempo on the A and E strings with plenty of pauses. Things get interesting in the chorus riff – this is a much higher tempo and requires a swift transition to the 5th to 9th frets.
The chorus isn’t too complex, but you’ll have to use your pinky finger for the 9th fret stretch and practise it continually to get the tempo correct. Once you’ve got it memorised you can work on the transition from the verse to chorus riff – where the true difficulty lies!
10. “Feel Good Inc” by Gorillaz
BPM: 138
Ability Level: Beginner
If you’re not sure what “Feel Good Inc”by Gorillaz is, chances are you’ve been living under a rock. The boppy bassline in this iconic tune comes courtesy of the fictional Murdoc Niccals, the band’s cartoon bassist.
It’s a fairly basic riff and easy to play for beginners, but it features some quick little movements between frets that take a bit of practice to get fluidly. Most of the tune is played at the 2nd and 3rd fret positions, with the occasionally glissando-like slide up to the 12th fret of the E string.
The riff is almost entirely the same throughout, save for a small (and similarly easy) segment on the 7th and 5th frets just before the song’s breakdown. Though be warned, once you start playing this riff, it’s going to be hard to stop!
11. “No One Knows” by Queens of the Stone Age
BPM: 171
Ability Level: Advanced Beginner
As catchy today as it was when first released, “No One Knows” is mainly famous for its ripping distorted guitar parts, but underneath that is an enormously fun bass section that’ll keep you coming back for more. It’s a relatively easy riff to play, but it takes some practice to get the rhythm and tempo spot on.
We’ve included this song as the alternate tuning (standard C, two steps down). The hammer-on and pull-off technique and length of the riff will take some learning but will act as a great challenge to those who want to stretch their skills. Most importantly – there’s a solo bass section!
The bassline consists of the 5th fret of the A string and an open E string in quick succession before executing the tricky hammer-on pull-off fill, and then doing a divebomb-style slide down from the 12th fret. Again, it’s simple but requires fast and precise playing to match the quick beat of the song.
12. “Killing In The Name” by Rage Against The Machine
BPM: 89
Ability Level: Beginner
If you’re in the mood to get political and fight the system, this headbanger and unlikely Christmas no. 1 will certainly do the job. The intro and main riff of “Killing in the Name” are quite simple, with the entire intro involving one chord shape and then an open E string and 6th fret of the A string. Its simplicity will help you nail the tempo and rhythm.
After the intro, the main riff takes place at the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th fret positions. It’s fairly simple, with the only part that will take some practice being the hammer-ons – but this is a great opportunity to get that technique polished.
The rest of the song continues at a similar difficulty level – so it shouldn’t be too much trouble if you want to perfect it. There’s a small lead fill that matches the lead guitar part which might be tricky, but it’s a great party piece to show off to your friends!
13. “Come Together” by The Beatles
BPM: 82
Ability Level: Beginner
The lead single from The Beatles’ iconic Abbey Road album, “Come Together” boasts a simple but catchy bassline that’s ideal for beginners. The rhythm is slow and steady, allowing you to focus on your playing technique.
It features the 5th fret on the A string before sliding all the way up to the 12th fret and hitting the 10th fret of the G string. It’s a great song to practise your hand movements along the fretboard and get those string slides nice and smooth.
There’s a small hammer-on pull-off section at the end of the riff which you can add to get it sounding exactly like the record, and use it as an opportunity to build your confidence in those techniques.
14. “Stand By Me” by Ben E King
BPM: 118
Ability Level: Complete Beginner
The beautiful, soulful bassline in Ben E King’s “Stand By Me” is enough to get any room of people to start singing “When the night…” – try it. It’s an excellent choice for novice bassists thanks to its very simple progression and lack of advanced techniques.
The only difficulty you might encounter is a pinky stretch between the 4th and 7th frets – a considerable distance on many 34″-scale basses that have large frets. It will feel uncomfortable at first, but keep at it and those fret gaps will steadily become more manageable.
The bassline repeats throughout the song, providing the perfect opportunity to practise moving around the fretboard and building finger strength.
15. “Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads
BPM: 121
Ability Level: Beginner
The bassline in the Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer” is an enormous amount of fun, perfect for singing over the top. Renowned for its repetitive, driving rhythm. It’s simple but compelling, making it a great bassline for beginners to practice and perfect.
It mainly involves the open A and E strings, and the 2nd and 3rd fret positions. It’s at a steady tempo that’s easy to pick up and not too demanding to keep pace with.
The rest of the song is at a similar difficulty level and position on the fretboard, so it’s a great choice to learn fully for your expanding arsenal of tunes.
16. “My Girl” by The Temptations
BPM: 104
Ability Level: Complete Beginner
“My Girl” by The Temptations is one of those songs that everyone knows. The bassline, while simple, carries the melody beautifully and provides an excellent foundation for the song. It’s easy to pick up and provides great practice for beginners.
It’s certainly not a stand-out riff in terms of flashiness, but its simplicity allows you to focus on one crucial thing: Timing! The main riff features small pauses in each bar that aren’t exactly in sync with the guitar riff. And for the pre-chorus, your bass rhythm will change yet again, with longer pauses between each note.
17. “Money” by Pink Floyd
BPM: 120
Ability Level: Beginner
Too rewarding to ignore, “Money” by Pink Floyd features a distinct and catchy 7/4 time signature riff that’s great for those looking for a challenge. Its composition is pretty straightforward, but the fast pace is what might take some learning.
The main riff takes place down at the 2nd to 4th frets and will require you to use your pinky to get playing smooth and in time. Use your pinky on the 4th fret of the G string, then your ring finger to hit the 4th fret of the D string to simplify that fast-paced section of the riff.
The key change moves you further up the fretboard and will probably feel a bit more awkward to perfect as there are no open strings. Keep at it though and you’ll be well on your way to getting pro-level finger strength!
18. “Zombie” by The Cranberries
BPM: 84
Ability Level: Complete Beginner
“Zombie” by The Cranberries is a song with a powerful message and an equally powerful bassline. The bassline is pretty straightforward and repeats throughout the song, making it a great tune for beginners. The tempo is easy to pick up and slow enough that you can concentrate on playing the notes with accuracy.
The main riff starts at a relaxed pace, featuring an open E string and the 3rd, 2nd and 5th fret positions of the A and E strings. Everything is played in a very steady procession style, just watch out for some note doubles in a couple of bars.
The rest of the song is at a similar difficulty level, so once you’ve nailed that riff you can play along with the entire tune easily!
19. “With Or Without You” by U2
BPM: 110
Ability Level: Complete Beginner
One of U2’s most iconic songs, “With Or Without You” features a simple and repetitive bassline that’s perfect for beginners just getting used to their instrument. It’s a beautiful song that’s always enjoyable to play.
The main riff is played at a steady pace on the 5th frets of the A and E strings, before hopping up to the 7th fret of the E string, then down to the 3rd fret. Repeat ad nauseam while listening to Bono’s incessant wailing and The Edge’s reverb and delay-rich tone.
We joke, of course – it’s a great tune that’s perfect for those taking their first steps. Super simple, super easy to remember, any player can get this one under their belt in no time at all.
20. “Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer
BPM: 133
Ability Level: Complete Beginner
If you’re looking to add a little funk and hip-hop flair to your playing, then “Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer is the perfect bassline for you. It’s also very simple and very quick to learn – ideal for any level of player.
The only tricky element is right at the start, where you’ll hammer on from the 3rd fret of the A string to the 5th fret. The rest of the riff stays at the 3rd and 2nd frets and follows an easy pattern.
It shouldn’t take too long to get speedy at this piece. If you’re looking to push your skills further while staying within the same tune, consider trying out some improvised licks and fills while staying within the B minor key. Use this as inspiration!
21. “Hysteria” Muse
BPM: 94
Ability Level: Advanced Beginner
We thought we’d finish on a hard one – something to aim for! Known for their incredible live performances, Muse’s “Hysteria” features a bassline that’s both melodic and technically challenging. It’s played at a relatively fast pace, so it’s a great tune for advanced beginners to practise and perfect.
The main riff moves between the 9th, 10th, and 12th fret positions to the 5th and 7th. If you slow it right down and just play the notes in sequence, you’ll see that it isn’t too complex – what makes it hard is the marathon-level repetition throughout the song.
This song is ideal for building your speed as the riff loops perfectly and doesn’t require any extra playing techniques – and don’t worry – nobody is expecting you to get it at tempo straight away! Start by memorising the notes, then see if you can manage quarter tempo before moving to half tempo and eventually full speed!
