Music · Bass work

Melodic bass

The bass guitar carries a distinct melodic line that functions independently of the harmony

songs

21 recordings have it, for nearly the whole run, 1963 to 1969. It sits thickest on Rubber Soul, four of its fourteen tracks. 'From Me to You' opens the run and 'She Came in Through the Bathroom Window' closes it. More of them come from 1965 or earlier than from 1967 on, eleven against five. The lead vocals go Paul on nine, John on four, George on three and Ringo on one. On 'Drive My Car', the bass line is lifted from Otis Redding's 'Respect'. On 'I'm Looking Through You': descending counterpoint under I-IV-ii rise.

#	Title	Year	Album	Lead Vocal(s)	Notes
1	From Me to You	1963	Past Masters	John, Paul	Dotted-quarter/eighth-note bass figure
2	All I've Got to Do	1963	With The Beatles	John	Bass plays double-stops/chord tones
3	All My Loving	1963	With The Beatles	Paul	-
4	I Want to Hold Your Hand	1963	Past Masters	John, Paul	McCartney's bass-led arrangement
5	Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand	1964	Past Masters	John, Paul	McCartney's bass-led arrangement
6	Things We Said Today	1964	A Hard Day's Night	Paul	Walking bass figures under verses
7	She's a Woman	1964	Past Masters	Paul	Bass and piano countermelody

8	Think for Yourself	1965	Rubber Soul	George	Fuzz bass functions as lead line
9	Drive My Car	1965	Rubber Soul	Paul, John	The bass line is lifted from Otis Redding's 'Respect'
10	You Won't See Me	1965	Rubber Soul	Paul	-
11	I'm Looking Through You	1965	Rubber Soul	Paul	Descending counterpoint under I-IV-ii rise
12	Rain	1966	Past Masters	John	Highly active McCartney bass line
13	Paperback Writer	1966	Past Masters	Paul	-
14	I'm Only Sleeping	1966	Revolver	John	Walking-bass passing notes in the bridge
15	Taxman	1966	Revolver	George	Bass line is a co-equal melodic voice
16	Got to Get You into My Life	1966	Revolver	Paul	-
17	With a Little Help from My Friends	1967	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	Ringo	Prominent meandering bassline
18	I Will	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	Paul	Scat-sung bass line
19	She Came in Through the Bathroom Window	1969	Abbey Road	Paul	-
20	Something	1969	Abbey Road	George	-
21	Come Together	1969	Abbey Road	John	-

Analysis