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Practice songs for beginner electric bass players

A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

The bass is often described as the unsung hero, and it tends to be seen as a bit understated.

Some of you might have actually picked up an electric bass and gotten bored practicing root notes in an 8-beat pattern over and over.

In this article, we’ve researched songs that are relatively easy even for beginner bassists to play, while also letting you experience how fun and interesting the bass can be.

We’ve focused mainly on Japanese tracks across different eras, with a few classic Western songs included as well.

If you play bass while feeling the groove within a band ensemble, you’ll surely expand your toolkit as a player.

Give it a try!

Practice Songs for Beginner Electric Bassists (101–110)

Marigoldaimyon

Aimyon – Marigold [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Marigoldaimyon

Here’s a popular song by Aimyon released in 2018.

It’s a love song that overlays summer scenery with a romance between a man and a woman, and you hear it often—it’s been performed on the Kouhaku Uta Gassen and used in commercials.

The bass line is mostly an 8-beat built on repeating the same fundamental note, making it perfect for beginners.

That said, as the song builds in the latter half, the bass line starts moving more intensely.

If that feels challenging, you might tackle it step by step and, at first, keep playing it like the simpler first half.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Robinsonsupittsu

Spitz / Robinson

Robinsonsupittsu

Here’s one of Spitz’s signature hits, released in 1995.

It’s also popular at karaoke and gets sung a lot.

The guitar arpeggio phrase used in the intro is striking, but the bass line—though not flashy—isn’t a standard straight 8-beat; it has a slightly bouncy, stylish feel.

If you can nail that part, you’ll be able to play it really coolly, so try practicing by repeating the same pattern at a slow tempo to get it down.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Fluffy TimeSakurakou Keionbu

Fluffy Time (Film Version)

Fluffy TimeSakurakou Keionbu

I think it’s a fun punk-leaning pop tune to play, with a nicely dialed-in distortion.

The song structure doesn’t have any particularly difficult parts, but groove and momentum are crucial, so be careful not to drag—focus on performance and play it through with energy.

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silhouetteKANA-BOON

KANA-BOON “Silhouette” Music Video

silhouetteKANA-BOON

When people talk about Japanese rock bands that represent the 2010s, many will surely name KANA-BOON.

Since their major debut in 2013, they’ve produced many hit and fan-favorite songs.

Although they have faced a string of member departures, they now continue to work energetically as a duo.

Their upbeat tracks, which often feature a four-on-the-floor rhythm, are festival favorites, and there are surely many beginner bassists who want to cover them with their bands.

The song we’re introducing this time, “Silhouette,” is a smash hit with over 100 million views on YouTube.

Released in 2014, it was also used as a theme song for the hugely popular anime Naruto Shippuden.

The bass part is basically simple root-note playing; while briefly melodic phrases appear in the pre-chorus and chorus, overall it’s well within reach for beginner bassists.

It’s recommended for those who want to get used to fast tempos over BPM 180.

In the middle section, there’s a phrase where the rest falls on the downbeat of the bar, which may make the rhythm feel a bit tricky, but the only way is to practice repeatedly until you can play it smoothly!

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Thick As A BrickJethro Tull

Jethro Tull – Thick as a Brick full

Thick As A BrickJethro Tull

A lyrical band active since the ’60s.

This track is gentle as well, but the bass comes in abruptly at times, and the chorus features phrases that use a lot of tricky fingerings.

It has a unique atmosphere unlike anything else, yet it’s full of phrases that can be applied across various genres.

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