Who’s the World’s Best!? A Roundup of Famous Bassists from Around the Globe
If you’re a bassist—or simply someone who loves the bass—you probably research various bass players and study their performances, don’t you?
From bassists who have established their own unique playing styles to those who excel at laying down groove, each has a distinct appeal that captivates us.
In this article, we’ll introduce bassists from around the world that you absolutely need to know.
We’ll feature them alongside performance videos, so be sure to enjoy their playing with both your eyes and ears.
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- Love at first sight with a bass girl! The female bassist of a popular band
- A compilation of bassists who use StingRays
- [Low End] A collection of Japanese songs with high-difficulty bass parts [Cool]
- Who’s the World’s Best!? A Roundup of Famous Bassists from Around the Globe
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- [Western Music] Classic Jazz Fusion Masterpieces: Recommended Albums You Should Listen to at Least Once [2026]
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Who’s the Best in the World!? A Roundup of Famous Bassists Overseas (1–10)
The FishChris Squire（Yes）
When it comes to rock bassists who favor Rickenbackers, you can’t leave out Chris Squire.
He was the bassist for Yes, one of the quintessential progressive rock bands.
His technically intense playing style, delivered with the distinctive, hard-edged Rickenbacker tone, influenced many rock bassists.
The video of The Fish captures a live performance in Montreux in 2003, just before the band went on hiatus, and true to form, Chris absolutely shreds on the bass.
RoxanneSting（Police）
Sting, who served as the bassist and lead vocalist for The Police—a British rock band that fused reggae and rock—is one of the UK’s most iconic artists, with numerous classic songs as a solo performer and multiple Grammy Awards to his name.
He’s also a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, piano, and more in addition to bass.
The video of “Roxanne” is a song from The Police era, where you can see Sting singing while playing the bass.
The Number Of The BeastSteve Harris（IRON MAIDEN）
Steve Harris is the bassist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden and also serves as the band’s leader.
He’s a songwriter who handles much of the band’s lyrics and composition.
His distinctive technique of aggressively plucking the strings produces a powerful, percussive sound despite being fingerstyle.
This playing style is popular among bassists, and he has been crowned champion multiple times in best bassist rankings by metal magazines.
You can fully enjoy Steve’s performance in the music video for the band’s signature song, “The Number of the Beast.”
[Who’s the best in the world!?] Roundup of Famous Overseas Bassists (11–20)
What’s Going OnJames Jamerson
In Rolling Stone’s 2020 list of the “50 Greatest Bassists of All Time,” the top spot went to James Jamerson, the bassist of Motown’s golden era.
It’s no exaggeration to say he’s a legend who has influenced every bassist since.
He played on countless artists’ recordings and left many outstanding performances, but his bass playing on Marvin Gaye’s classic “What’s Going On” is especially breathtaking.
Jamerson, who created those undulating, flowing bass lines, is truly one of a kind.
My GenerationJohn Entwistle（THE WHO）
John Entwistle was the bassist for The Who, one of the United Kingdom’s most iconic rock bands.
Hailed as one of the greatest bassists in rock history, he released numerous solo albums while still a member of The Who.
John established a playing style known as “lead bass,” characterized by highly technical, nonstop bass work, and he influenced many rock bassists, including Geddy Lee.
You can hear his unrestrained, dynamic bass playing in The Who’s signature song, “My Generation.”
Black DogJohn Paul Jones（Led Zeppelin）
When it comes to the bassist of the legendary hard rock band Led Zeppelin, it’s John Paul Jones.
He’s not only a bassist but a multi-instrumentalist who can play over 25 instruments, and his high musicianship—such as contributing to the arrangement of the masterpiece “Kashmir”—is one of his many strengths.
In the performance of “Black Dog” at their 1973 Madison Square Garden concert, you can savor the powerful groove he created with drummer John Bonham.
POWERMarcus Miller
Speaking of the bassist who rose to prominence in Miles Davis’s band, that would be Marcus Miller.
He’s a virtuoso bassist active at the forefront of jazz, R&B, and funk.
Marcus is known for his actively modified 1977 Fender Jazz Bass, and his tone—often called the New York sound—has become his signature.
On his signature track “Power,” he showcases slap bass that makes full use of that sound.