Opinion

Top 20 Bass Guitarists of All Time (Ranked)

Billy Sheehan playing bass on stage

The bass guitar might not always be in the spotlight, but the greatest bassists of all time have proven that this instrument can drive songs, shape genres, and redefine what’s possible in music. From jazz innovators to rock legends and funk pioneers, these bass players didn’t just keep time…they changed it.

Here’s our definitive list of the top 20 bass guitarists of all time, ranked.

The Best Bassists Ever

20. Carol Kaye

  • Genre: Session / Pop / Rock
  • Notable Work: The Beach Boys, Nancy Sinatra, Simon & Garfunkel

One of the most recorded bassists in history, Carol Kaye played on an estimated 10,000 recordings. A member of the legendary “Wrecking Crew,” her melodic precision defined the sound of 1960s American pop.

19. John Entwistle

  • Genre: Rock
  • Band: The Who

Known as “The Ox,” Entwistle’s thunderous playing was ahead of its time. His fast fingerstyle technique and harmonic experimentation gave The Who a unique sonic edge.

18. John Paul Jones

  • Genre: Rock / Blues / Folk
  • Band: Led Zeppelin

A quiet genius, Jones’s musical versatility and classical training elevated Led Zeppelin. His bass lines in tracks like “Ramble On” are perfectly crafted and deeply influential.

17. Steve Harris

  • Genre: Heavy Metal
  • Band: Iron Maiden

Harris brought galloping, fingerpicked precision to metal bass. He’s the backbone of Maiden’s epic sound, often writing most of the band’s music as well.

16. Les Claypool

  • Genre: Alternative / Experimental
  • Band: Primus

Claypool made weird cool. His slap-heavy, quirky playing and unconventional rhythms helped Primus stand out and influenced countless alternative and metal bassists.

15. Paul McCartney

  • Genre: Rock / Pop
  • Band: The Beatles

Beyond his songwriting, McCartney’s melodic bass lines revolutionized how the instrument could be used in pop. Songs like “Something” and “Rain” show his subtle genius.

14. Cliff Burton

  • Genre: Metal
  • Band: Metallica

Metal lost a legend too soon. Cliff Burton’s distorted tone, classical influences, and aggressive solos helped Metallica carve out a new sonic territory for bass in thrash metal

13. Donald “Duck” Dunn

  • Genre: Soul / R&B
  • Band: Booker T. & the M.G.’s

Dunn laid the groove on countless Stax Records hits, backing Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and Sam & Dave. His feel was the soul of soul.

12. Flea

  • Genre: Funk Rock / Alternative
  • Band: Red Hot Chili Peppers

Flea’s energetic mix of slap, groove, and punk attitude helped redefine modern rock bass. His work on tracks like “Give It Away” and “Around the World” are masterclasses in controlled chaos.

11. James Jamerson

  • Genre: Motown / Soul
  • Band: The Funk Brothers

You’ve heard him a hundred times, even if you didn’t know it. Jamerson’s uncredited genius drove the Motown sound, with legendary lines on songs like “What’s Going On” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

10. Chris Squire

  • Genre: Progressive Rock
  • Band: Yes

Squire’s trebly tone and aggressive pick playing helped define prog rock bass. His melodic phrasing and counterpoint work on albums like Fragile are nothing short of brilliant.

9. Marcus Miller

  • Genre: Jazz / Funk / R&B
  • Notable Work: Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, solo

Whether it’s laying down smooth R&B grooves or leading a jazz fusion ensemble, Miller’s slap style and production skills make him a standout figure in bass history.

8. Jack Bruce

  • Genre: Rock / Blues / Jazz
  • Band: Cream

Bruce wasn’t just Cream’s bassist, he was a co-vocalist and melodic anchor. His jazz-influenced improvisation expanded what a rock bassist could be.

7. Geddy Lee

  • Genre: Progressive Rock
  • Band: Rush

Geddy juggled complex bass lines, synths, and vocals, all live. His technical skill and signature Rickenbacker tone became a benchmark for prog bassists the world over.

6. Larry Graham

  • Genre: Funk / Soul
  • Band: Sly and the Family Stone, Graham Central Station

The inventor of slap bass, Larry Graham turned the bass into a lead instrument. His innovation laid the foundation for funk, disco, and modern R&B.

5. Jaco Pastorius

  • Genre: Jazz Fusion
  • Band: Weather Report

Known for his fretless tone and fluid solos, Jaco redefined jazz bass. He brought harmonic depth, soul, and unprecedented melody to the instrument.

4. Victor Wooten

  • Genre: Jazz / Funk / Fusion
  • Notable Work: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones

Victor Wooten is a modern bass wizard. His slap-and-tap techniques and musicality have inspired generations. He’s also a highly respected teacher and author.

3. Bootsy Collins

  • Genre: Funk
  • Bands: Parliament-Funkadelic, James Brown

Bootsy brought style, swagger, and seismic funk grooves. His work defined the P-Funk sound and inspired generations of funk, hip-hop, and R&B bassists.

2. Stanley Clarke

  • Genre: Jazz Fusion
  • Band: Return to Forever, Solo

Clarke made bass a front-and-center instrument in jazz fusion. Equally masterful on upright and electric, he set the bar for technical and melodic excellence.

Who is the best bass player ever?

1. Billy Sheehan

  • Genre: Rock / Metal / Fusion
  • Bands: Mr. Big, David Lee Roth, The Winery Dogs

Widely regarded as the most technically gifted rock bassist of all time, Billy Sheehan’s combination of speed, clarity, and complexity is unmatched. His tapping, soloing, and tone control helped push bass to new levels of shred and expression.

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Jake Skudder

Jake is an SEO-minded Football, Combat Sports, Gaming and Pro Wrestling writer and successful Editor in Chief. Most importantly, he is a Bass and Guitar player with over 20 years of experience of both. Currently, he is using an Ibanez Talman Bass and Trace Elliot Series 6 715 Bass Amp when playing in his punk band Creature Arcade. Jake has more than ten years of experience covering mixed martial arts, pro wrestling, football and gaming across a number of publications, starting at SEScoops in 2012 under the name Jake Jeremy. His work has also been featured on Sportskeeda, Pro Sports Extra, Wrestling Headlines, NoobFeed, Wrestlingnewsco and Keen Gamer, again under the name Jake Jeremy. Previously, he worked as the Editor in Chief of 24Wrestling, building the site profile with a view to selling the domain, which was accomplished in 2019. Jake was previously the Editor in Chief for Fight Fans, a combat sports and pro wrestling site that was launched in January 2021 and broke into millions of pageviews within the first two years. He previously worked for Snack Media and their GiveMeSport site, creating Evergreen and Trending content that would deliver pageviews via Google as the UFC and MMA SEO Lead. Jake managed to take an area of GiveMeSport that had zero traction on Organic and push it to audiences across the globe. Jake also has a record of long-term video and written interview content with the likes of the Professional Fighters League, ONE and Cage Warriors, working directly with the brands to promote bouts, fighters and special events. Jake also previously worked for the biggest independent wrestling company in the UK, PROGRESS Wrestling, as PR Head and Head of Media across the social channels of the company.

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