Bassist

A bassist is somebody who plays a bass guitar or double bass. This page lists famous bassists in four categories, depending on whether they are primarily known for playing bass guitar, double bass, both, or their main instrument is unknown. Certain musical genres tend to use one or the other (for example, bass guitar for rock and roll or pop music but double bass for classical music and jazz) but the rule is not hard and fast.

The lists are organised by alphabetical order of surname and brief mention may be made of their specific contribution or famous groups they have worked with.

Table of contents

1 Bass Guitar 2 Double Bass 3 Bass Guitar and Double Bass 4 Unknown 5 Further Information

Bass Guitar

• Les Claypool from Primus
• John Entwistle from The Who
• Larry Graham
• Glenn Hughes from Deep Purple
• Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead
• Steve Lawson - solo bassist
• Geddy Lee from Rush
• Sir Paul McCartney from The Beatles
• Jason Newsted from Metallica
• Jaco Pastorius
• Suzi Quatro
• Noel Redding from The Jimi Hendrix Experience
• Leon Wilkeson from Lynyrd Skynyrd

Double Bass

• Wellman Braud
• Ray Brown
• Ron Carter
• Pops Foster
• Milt Hinton
• Bill Johnson
• Charles Mingus
• Slam Stewart

Bass Guitar and Double Bass

• Stanley Clarke
• Sting from The Police

Unknown

• Kelly Grouchet from Electric Light Orchestra

Further Information

There is also a list of Jazz Bassists, which contains a larger number of musicians but doesn't differentiate by instrument (although most will specialise in double bass).