Top 10: The Most Watched Bass Videos (August 2012)

Of all the awesome bass videos we shared in August (all 31 of them), 10 of them ruled supreme, based on No Treble reader views.

August included our popular “isolated bass week”, and many of those made the list.

Enjoy!

Red Hot Chili Peppers: Flea’s Isolated Bass on “Scar Tissue”

1. Red Hot Chili Peppers: Flea’s Isolated Bass on “Scar Tissue”

Flea can be a crazy funk-rock bassist, but here we get a look into the mellower side of the bassist with his isolated bass track from “Scar Tissue” from the 1999 Red Hot Chili Peppers album Californication. He sets a steady groove with some nice higher melodic content…

Cliff Burton: Metallica’s “Orion” Isolated Bass

2. Cliff Burton: Metallica’s “Orion” Isolated Bass

“Orion” is a heavy metal masterpiece, mostly due to the incredible bass work by the late Cliff Burton. Released on the groundbreaking 1986 album Master of Puppets, the instrumental track is the band’s most progressive work up to that point. Burton plays “lead bass” throughout, with in-your-face distortion and wicked solos…

Victor Wooten: “The Lesson”, Live

3. Victor Wooten: “The Lesson”, Live

EMG has shared an excellent video by the one and only Victor Wooten, performing his tune, “The Lesson” live in studio. The tune was written as a companion for his book, The Music Lesson, and appeared on the soundtrack released last year. Is there anything Victor can’t do?

Nothing but Bass: Nico Abondolo Plays the Octobass

4. Nothing but Bass: Nico Abondolo Plays the Octobass

Now this is a bass. The Octobass is an enormous, three-string instrument that tunes an octave below a standard double bass. It’s so large that the player has to use special keys on its side to change pitches on each string. The Musical Instrument Museum – which now seems to be the coolest museum ever…

Won’t Get Fooled Again: John Entwistle’s Isolated Bass (Live, 1978)

5. Won’t Get Fooled Again: John Entwistle’s Isolated Bass (Live, 1978)

Has there ever been anyone cooler than John Entwistle? I don’t think so, and here’s Exhibit A – the Ox’s isolated bass from “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, performed live in Shepparton, UK in 1978:…

Adam Stevens: Solo Bass Arrangement of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under The Bridge”

6. Adam Stevens: Solo Bass Arrangement of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under The Bridge”

Bassist Adam Stevens sent us this great solo bass version of the popular Red Hot Chili Peppers tune “Under the Bridge.” Utilizing some fingerpicking style and strumming, the Toronto-based low-ender captures the song’s mood to a tee. It probably also helps that he’s literally under a bridge…

The Police: Sting’s Isolated Bass on “Next To You”

7. The Police: Sting’s Isolated Bass on “Next To You”

In 1978, the Police debuted with the release of Outlandos d’Amour, an album dominated by punk influences. The opening track, “Next To You,” is a perfect example of this, especially when you hear the isolated bass line from Sting. The muted notes really act like a train engine, and gives greater impact to the end…

Jayme Lewis Band: Sedagive

8. Jayme Lewis Band: Sedagive

Here’s another one of those “make-sure-you’re-sitting-down” videos. Bassist and band leader Jayme Lewis takes us on a musical trip starting with some blazing unison melodies and a ridiculous solo spot before mellowing things out texturally, only to return to the face-melting licks…

James Jamerson: “Bernadette” Isolated Bass

9. James Jamerson: “Bernadette” Isolated Bass

This wouldn’t be much of an “isolated bass week” without including the legend, James Jamerson. So here’s a (mostly) isolated bass track from the 1967 Four Tops hit, “Bernadette”. There’s some disagreement about whether this is the bass on the actually released single, or if it is an out-take from the Motown vault. Doesn’t matter…

Franck Hermanny: The Quickening

10. Franck Hermanny: The Quickening

Bassist Franck Hermanny‘s demo videos are legendary. Here’s Franck tapping, finger picking, chording, soloing, playing fretless – all in one video…

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