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The three greatest basslines of all time, according to Flea
Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea named three basslines he considers among the greatest: Led Zeppelin’s ‘Ramble On’, Parliament-Funkadelic’s ‘Flashlight’ and Alice Coltrane’s ‘Journey to Satchidananda’. His choices highlight how bass can shape a song’s character and hold music together, rather than simply provide a backing pulse.
Flea began as a jazz trumpet player and says bandmate Hillel Slovak encouraged him to learn bass, leading to an early performance with Slovak’s band at the Troubadour. The three selections span rock, funk and spiritual jazz: John Paul Jones anchors Led Zeppelin’s arrangement, Bootsy Collins drives Parliament’s groove, and Alice Coltrane’s track centres on a hypnotic low end. Together, they reflect the range of musical traditions that inform Flea’s own playing.
In short
- Flea chose three basslines spanning rock, funk and jazz.
- His picks include Led Zeppelin, Parliament-Funkadelic and Alice Coltrane.
- He credits Hillel Slovak with encouraging him to play bass.
Explained simply
The bass guitar provides the low notes in many bands, helping establish a song’s rhythm and supporting its harmony. A bassline can also become a distinctive musical feature in its own right.
Flea is the bassist for the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. He started out playing jazz trumpet, then learned bass after encouragement from bandmate Hillel Slovak.
The three recordings he chose come from different traditions: Led Zeppelin’s rock, Parliament-Funkadelic’s funk and Alice Coltrane’s spiritual jazz. They feature bass playing by John Paul Jones and Bootsy Collins, while Coltrane’s track uses a repeating low-end pattern to shape its sound.