NT10: Top 10 Bass Transcriptions
In celebration of our 10 year anniversary this month, we’re taking a look back at some of the most popular features in our history.
We’re lucky to have a number of contributors who put together some excellent bass transcription and analysis posts, covering a variety of styles and genres. Here are the top 10 all-time reader favorite transcriptions we’ve shared over our first 10 years.
1. Bass Transcription: Tal Wilkenfeld’s “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers” Solo
Tal Wilkenfeld’s fantastic solo on the Jeff Beck classic “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers” has been watched countless times. There are several live recordings of this track, but the one transcribed here is from the Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2007.
2. Bass Transcription: Miki Santamaria’s “Thinking Out Loud” Solo Bass Arrangement
This bass transcription was suggested to me by No Treble founder Corey Brown, serving to remind me of Miki Santamaria’s fantastic solo arrangements of pop songs for bass guitar.
3. Bass Transcription: Joe Dart’s Bass Line on Vulfpeck’s “Beastly”
“Beastly” is the opening track from Vulfpeck’s first EP Mit Peck. I’ve loved this piece since I first heard it and it’s been on my “transcribe list” for a while now. Fortunately, the isolated bass track cropped a while back, making the task of transcribing it a little easier.
4. Bass Transcription: Michael League’s “Continuum”
“Continuum” is one of the most well known songs for bass players, and I’d argue it is one of the greatest tunes on Jaco Pastorius’s self-titled debut album. After listening to this performance of Michael League three times in a row, I decided to transcribe his version.
5. Bass Transcription: Federico Malaman’s “Speed Demon”
Like many bassists of my generation, I grew up loving the grooves on Michael Jackson’s records. The track we all wanted to be able to play was “Speed Demon” from “Bad,” a hyperactive little number with a bass part that was just too ridiculous to be real. Federico Malaman – one of the bass world’s most inventive players – is one of the few who cracked it, making it perfect for this month’s transcription.
6. Bass Transcription: “Overjoyed” by Victor Wooten
Victor Wooten’s version of “Overjoyed” is a superb arrangement of Stevie Wonder’s classic song and the subject of this month’s transcription. Good luck with this piece. It’s a tough one to play well but you’ll be pleased with yourself once you have it down.
7. Transcription: Cliff Burton’s “Orion”
“Orion”, the classic Metallica track that features bassist Cliff Burton in a lead role, was an obvious choice for this month’s transcription. To this day – nearly thirty years after it was recorded – it’s a track that is studied and dissected by metal-loving bass players all over the world.
8. Transcription: “No Woman, No Cry” Solo Bass Arrangement
This great version of the Bob Marley classic “No Woman, No Cry” was arranged by popular YouTube bassist Viaceslav Svedov, a talented young musician known for his hard-hitting covers of popular bass-driven songs.
9. Transcription: Periphery’s “Make Total Destroy”
Bass transcriptions are cool. They're even cooler when they're written by the bassist who played on the track. Adam “Nolly” Getgood shares this transcription and breakdown of his work on Periphery’s “Make Total Destroy.”
10. Transcription: Jaco Pastorius’ Solo on “(Used To Be a) Cha Cha”
Among the great tunes on Jaco Pastorius’ self-titled solo debut was “(Used to Be A) Cha-Cha”. His solo is a tricky one, at an upbeat tempo and with Jaco’s trademark melodic and syncopated lines. Here is Jukka Haavisto’s take on his wonderful solo on this track.
Be sure to check out our complete Bass Transcription archives as well.
