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Geddy Lee -

The front man of the iconic Canadian rock band Rush is one of the greatest bass players ever. His effortless style playing in odd time signatures is just incredible.

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Flea -

The iconic Red Hot Chili Peppers bass player is a driving force in the band. Before he picked up the bass guitar, Michael Balzary, aka Flea, used to play the trumpet. We're glad he swapped instruments and brought his jazz influences and mixed them with funk and punk.

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Lemmy Kilmister -

The legendary Motörhead front man is probably the loudest bass player in history. Lemmy's iconic overdriven Rickenbacker gritty bass sound, played through a Marshall amp stack, is as rock and roll as it gets. Just listen to the intro of the band's iconic 'Ace of Spades.'

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Sting -

From 'Every Breath You Take' to 'Roxanne,' Sting's brilliant bass playing helped make The Police a hugely successful band.

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Carol Kaye -

Carol Kaye is arguably the most iconic female bass player of all time. Kaye has recorded bass for the likes of The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Quincy Jones, and Richie Valens (including his hit single 'La Bamba'), among many others.

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Duff McKagan -

From the urgency of 'It's So Easy' to the melodic intro to 'Sweet Child O' Mine,' Duff McKagan contributed to the sound of Guns N' Roses in a very unique way.

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Charles Mingus -

Charles Mingus is one of two upright bassists on this list, and probably the most famous one. It's worth noting that Mingus was so much more than just a jazz bass player. He was also a band leader, a composer, and an overall musical genius.

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John Paul Jones -

John Paul Jones is best known for his work with Led Zeppelin. From the slow trippy bass lines of 'Dazed and Confused' to the fast and aggressive thumping of 'Immigrant Song,' Jones proves how versatile he is.

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Kim Gordon -

The bassist for the alternative pioneers Sonic Youth was one of the first female rock bass players to appear on the scene. Kim Gordon kept it simple, direct, and "minimal," as she describes her playing.

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Cliff Burton -

Cliff Burton brought the bass solo into metal. Burton had a unique approach to bass playing, which can be heard in songs such as '(Anesthesia) — Pulling Teeth,' 'Orion,' 'For Whom the Bell Tolls,' and 'Damage Inc.' The famous Metallica bassist tragically lost his life when the band's tour bus crashed in 1986.

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Bootsy Collins -

Indeed, 1970's soul and funk bass wouldn't be the same without Bootsy Collins. From collaborating with James Brown to Parliament-Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins, aka Bootzilla, was a groove machine!

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Jack Bruce -

One must be a really good bass player to team up with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker in Cream. Mountain guitarist Leslie West sums up Bruce's style: "He made his bass bark, and everything he did was so melodic."

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Robert Trujillo -

The man who got the gig in Metallica to replace Jason Newsted had to be on this list. Trujillo brought back fingerstyle playing to the band and a new energy that took Metallica to another level.

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Kim Deal -

Kim Deal was not just the girl from the Pixies. She was the woman behind some of the most iconic, yet beautifully simple, bass lines in alt rock. Oh, and she sang, too!

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Paul McCartney -

The former Beatle needs no introduction. Paul McCartney is one of the most prolific songwriters, multi-instrumentalists, and, of course, bass players of all time. McCartney wrote super cool bass lines, such as the one in The Beatles tune 'Come Together.'

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John Entwistle -

If you've ever listened to The Who, you know how iconic Entwistle's thumping playing style is. The bass solo in their famous 1965 hit 'My Generation' is a great example.

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Larry Graham -

Larry Graham is credited as the inventor of the slap-bass technique. Though the bassist of the Sly and the Family Stone preferred to call the technique "thumpin’ and pluckin'."

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Steve Harris -

One of the founders of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, Steve Harris is also the man behind the band's legendary galloping sound. The triplet pattern used in many Maiden songs is driven by Steve Harris' bass lines.

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Peter Hook -

The co-founder of Joy Division and New Order is also an iconic bass player. Known for playing his lines high on the neck, Hook's bass sound became easily recognizable and indeed original.

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Paul Simonon -

When punk bassists are mentioned, Sid Vicious usually come to mind. Though despite his famous antics, The Sex Pistols' bassist was not an impressive musician. Paul Simonon from The Clash, on the other hand, helped define what punk rock bass was all about: thumping and in-your-face.

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Geezer Butler -

The legendary Black Sabbath bassist had the amazing capability of being a brick in a solid rhythm section, and at the same time a creative melodic force alongside guitarist Tony Iommi.

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James Jamerson -

James Jamerson is synonymous with Motown. Jamerson wrote the melodic syncopated bass lines for hits such as The Temptations’ 'My Girl,' Gladys Knight’s 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine,' and Marvin Gaye’s 'What’s Going On.' Jamerson had a rather unique technique, where he used just his index finger to pluck the strings, which he called "the hook."

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Tim Commerford -

From Rage Against the Machine to Audioslave, Tim Commerford's bass playing is tight and a roaring driving force. He truly deserves a spot on this list.

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Donald 'Duck' Dunn -

Remember that smooth intro in Ottis Redding’s '(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay?' Dunn played it. Dunn worked with many other iconic music artists, including Eric Clapton, Stevie Nicks, and Neil Young.

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Willie Dixon -

Bluesman Willie Dixon worked with artists such as Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, and Bo Diddley. Dixon is a huge influence for many bass players.

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Pino Palladino -

Pino Palladino is one the most prolific session bassists of all time. On his CV, we can find names such as Jeff Beck, Elton John, John Mayer, Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, and B.B. King. Not to mention that he toured with The Who, Nine Inch Nails, and Simon and Garfunkel!

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Jaco Pastorius -

Many a bass player first thought about purchasing a fretless bass after listening to bass virtuoso Jaco Pastorius play. Often named one of the greatest of all time, Pastorious had a unique playing style and the personality to match.

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Thundercat -

Stephen Lee Bruner, aka Thundercat, is one of the greatest contemporary bass players. He earned his stripes playing with Suicidal Tendencies and went on to become a Grammy-winning solo artist.

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Mark King -

Best known for his work with the band Level 42,  Mark King is one of the masters of the slap and pop technique. King wowed crowds with his fast percussive playing.

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Les Claypool -

Primus are known for their amazing bass lines, and, of course, the man behind them—Les Claypool. His fast and aggressive slap technique and creative tapping sets him apart. "A lot of guys play with two fingers, so I figured if I played with three, I could be faster," said Claypool.

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Marcus Miller -

Marcus Miller is known for being an astonishing bass player, but also an accomplished producer and songwriter. Miller has worked with world-renowned musicians, including Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, and Dizzy Gillespie.

Sources: (Rolling Stone) (MusicRadar) (Hello Music Theory)

See also: The world's greatest rock guitarists

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