Beatles Bass Lines

This is my transcription of Paul McCartney's bass line on the Beatles' song "Doctor Robert" from the album Revolver (1966).  I am playing a 1985 Rickenbacker 4003 through a SansAmp VT Bass Deluxe. My bass is strung with LaBella flatwound strings.  Music and lyrics by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Here are the bass lines for 10 Beatles songs. You'll hear 25-30 seconds of each one. As a hint, halfway through each clip I'll show you the album that song is from. The answer is revealed at the end of each clip. See how many you can name! (Some of them are tricky!!)

Venus and Mars was Wings' followup to the enormously successful Band on the Run . While it performed well on the charts, critics largely viewed it as a poor successor. In this video, I'll explore some of the intricacies of the album from a musical and lyrical perspective. We'll find out why it is much deeper than it is often given credit for. This content was adapted from a presentation I gave in the Beatles area at the Pop Culture Association Conference in April 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In this video I'm playing my transcription of Paul McCartney's bass line on the song "For No One" from Revolver  (1966). It's a simple but effective line that enters after the first verse. The ascending scale in the chorus is a nice touch. Paul and Ringo were the only two Beatles to appear on this track.  I am playing a 1985 Rickenbacker 4003 through a SansAmp VT Bass Deluxe. My bass is strung with LaBella flatwound strings.  Music and lyrics by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Here's my transcription of George Harrison's bass line on "Good Day Sunshine" from Revolver  in 1966. This was probably the first instance of a Beatle other than Paul playing the bass line on a recording. McCartney played piano on the basic track, while Harrison likely played a Burns Nu-Sonic bass. The bass line is simple and straightforward, but effective enough. McCartney almost certainly would have played a more active line had he been the bassist.  I am playing a 1985 Rickenbacker 4003 through a SansAmp VT Bass Deluxe. My bass is strung with LaBella flatwound strings.  Music and lyrics by John Lennon and Paul McCartney