10 Iconic Synth Bass Lines
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2020
- A day in the life of a Nordic synth artist and TH-camr: • A day in the life of a...
10 iconic synth bass lines - cover by Espen Kraft
00:30 Eurythmics | Sweet Dreams (are made of this)
01:18 Giorgio Moroder | Chase
02:47 Madonna | Into The Groove
03:55 Depeche Mode | World in My Eyes
04:44 Phil Collins | Sussudio
05:54 Michael Jackson | Bad
06:45 New Order | Blue Monday
08:30 Kraftwerk | The Robots
09:21 Pet Shop Boys | West End Girls
10:41 Jean Michel Jarre | Oxygene (pt.4)
Sequenced live with the Alesis MMT-8 sequencer
Yamaha DX7s used as master keyboard only
Roland MKS-70
Roland Alpha Juno 2
Emax
Korg DSS-1
Sequential TOM drum machine w/Linn & DMX carts
Outboard and plugin effects and processing done in post. - เพลง
West End Girls is such a masterpiece of the synth pop genre
every one of these songs are
Pet Shop Boys - I still remember watching the music video on MTV for that song; back in the day when MTV played music videos & not reality TV shows. Oxygene = the "Pure Moods" compilation. I would have liked to hear "Crockett's Theme" from the Miami Vice (1) soundtrack.. oh well...
I started singing along with it. XD
Totally agree 💯
Yes a much simpler rougher version of it was released and it went almost nowhere - they made it more sophisticated and professional sounding a year or so later and it went to #1 around the world. It’s all about class divisions found even in dating.
The pet shop boys bassline wins for me, magical, particularly the main bass hook at the start, love it.
DEPECHE MODE
Madonna - Into the Groove synth bass line is absolutely fantastic :)
And so complicated!
Yep...I remember as a kid keeping the radio on hoping to hear it. I was somewhat enchanted by that bass line, haha.
Let's not forget that bass line on PYT from Thriller! That being said, the most amazing synth bass is Boogie On Reggae Woman by Stevie Wonder. Mind boggling!
2:46 "And you can dance...
for inspiration" 😁🎧💃🏻
Amazing how perfect your timing is - were your parents sequencers?
No, but since this is done to a rhythm and not free-playing keeping time is much easier. ;)
@@EspenKraft I'm afraid your secret of being half man, half atomic clock is now out!
DNA Sequencers
Espen Kraft
I wonder if you have a quantisation switch somewhere implanted🤪
@@MySoundscore That would imply his timing is sometimes less than perfect which is clearly absurd.
That DX7 is just such a beast
And what a keyboard! My favorite.
80s were something special!
This is literally the first synth bass video I have ever looked up. I feel like I struck gold.
I want one!
Equinoxe 7 is my personal favourite synth bass ever- haunting use of pitch bend generates melancholic yet funky atmosphere.
oh yeaaa, and bassline in chronology pt VI or funky bass in zoolook, I love that
Depeche Mode: Enjoy The Silence - best baseline of all.
It's epic for sure ;-) I did want that as well, but had already done to Depeche tracks for this video and I cut one other out as well. ;-)
genX totally agree
...but would Espen be able to reproduce it ?
Truly amazing bassline!!
@@MrBeen992 undoubtedly
Espen “human arpeggiator” Kraft. Props. The Chase FTW BTW.
Gary Numan Cars, to me, the most iconic 70's 80's bass grooves. Gotta love the Minimoog. Great clip and nailed those bass lines
Thanks!
Thank you so much for including J.M.Jarre, Eurythmics, New Order and Depeche Mode. These are tunes from my childhood ;-)
I think Naked Eyes is a criminally overlooked 80s act that has great bass lines. I'm especially fond of "when the lights go out".
I agree!
Smalltown boy certainly deserves a place in the top 10
Sussido’s bassline is so catchy!
Human League," Don't you want me "...
Yeah +1 for Don't You Want Me! Also "Don't Go", Yazoo.
@@macronencer ...and almost any song Vince made
Thinking more The Black Hit of Space.
Now thats too old :(
Definitely Don't You Want Me should be the first on the list!
Still love the 80s sounds. Men Without Hats - Safety Dance
Karl Bedford ‘you can dance you can dance, everyone look at your hands’
playing sussudio and blue monday bass lines by hand - wow.
Oxygene is such a timeless piece of music
That Giorgio Moroder bassline is the GOAT!!! Reminds me of that movie, midnight express.
I'm glad Oxygene is on here. It was part of my childhood.
Some of my favorite songs! New Order, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, and more.
still have that spooky groove for Blue Monday..
Soft Cell - Tainted Love, and Donna Summer - I Feel Love spring to mind. But oh man, all the tracks you chose were great... the PSB's West End Girls was what made me fall in love with synthpop all those years ago, and it was the bass that did it.
Had totally forgotten about Tainted Love!
Donna summer - i feel love is also made by Giorgio Moroder. But still a master song
No one ever includes PIL or Tones on Tail aka Bauhaus w/o Peter Murphy aka PreL&R
Erwin Feenstra and it was from the 1970s
yes for i feel love
West End Girls was played beautifully! Thank you 😊
Many thanks! :)
As a guitar player, I always find myself loving synths. Your video is a great rendition of all of the classics! I really enjoyed the Kraftwerk and Phil Collins...really good stuff here!
Thanks man!
I never leave comments but had to say its nice to see a synth enthusiast actually play in time with such precision! very impressive
Thanks!
The bass solo in Daft Punk’s around the world definitely deserves a place
wow, well done with that Madonna bass line. Not an easy one to figure out.
Thanks! :)
Is that bass actually from the dx7?
@@EspenKraft think you should do a cover and tutorial
@@XnazxulX I know that Madonna used a Moog Source for the bass line at Live Aid. th-cam.com/video/8mQgGMAfKEU/w-d-xo.html
There's a guy named William Kurk on TH-cam who does a tutorial on replicating all the synth parts of "Into The Groove."
YAZ - don't go
Or Situation, or most Yaz. Lol
Im glad you ended with Jean Michel Jarre. Brought a lot childhood memories. He is the Godfather of synth music
“When I Think Of You” Janet Jackson. “I Can’t Wait” Nu Shooz. “Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)” Scritti Politti. “Borderline” Madonna. “I Feel For You” Chaka Kahn. “Lessons In Love” Level 42. “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” Michael Jackson. “Things Can Only Get Better” Howard Jones. “Neutron Dance” Pointer Sisters. “How Will I Know” Whitney Houston. “Freeway Of Love” Aretha Franklin.
My guess is that Mark King played bass on the Level 42 song. His bass playing is so quick, punchy; and precise that it can sound like a sequenced part. 🙂
Agree about M. King. But LOVE “FEEL FOR YOU” on here!! 🤘🤘
Derek Baker this is so funny. I am currently watching a video of Mark King playing that bass part - he says it is one of the hardest things to play live. It DOES sound like a programmed bass line, and the effects used on the bass (and even perhaps the choice of strings and instrument) make it sound to my ears like a digital synth. But it’s not! I’ve been wondering about this for 33 years. Mystery solved.
AJ Constantine yes, I was wrong about Mark King, kudos to him for playing what sounded like a sequencer. Also, for I Feel For You, Wikipedia says: “bass synthesizer and programming by The System's David Frank using an Oberheim DSX sequencer, which was connected to his Minimoog via CV and gate”
@@IrnBruNYC Wow! Thank you for sharing that info. 👍👍
I would add Visage's "Fade To Grey" and DM's "Enjoy The Silence"
Ian Wilson Visage’s Fade to grey is epic!
No, not Enjoy the silence, but everything counts.
@@MrQuatale
Photographic is an iconic one
Fade to grey without doubt .
Flashlight by Parliament is to me the greatest synth bassline
I hope you will have many sequels to this topic. Excellent playing of excellent bass lines.
Thanks! I might do a follow up!
You have seriously good precision! I can improvise blues and a little jazz, but it takes real discipline to play a deceptively simple-sounding synth bass line and not screw up the rhythm. Much respect to you.
Thank you for saying! :)
Those quick riffs don't seem to perfectly match the playing we see. Pretty sure it's just playback to a sequencer.
@@viperhd70 Jealousy is a terrible thing to taste!
No jealousy at all. Just hate fake. See my other post with the time stamp that clearly shows what you see is not what you hear.
@@viperhd70 Will do. Perhaps it was just me that was jealous then! Have to admit that the timing did seem just a little too perfect.
Donna Summer - I Feel Love
Wow, you are a wonderful find, just posted this and the previous track on 10 best synth riffs that shook your world on my FB story page !Such wonderful memories you bring to my 72 year old brain,and love watching you play,thanks so much !
Sweet! Thank you so much for saying, I appreciate it very much. Enjoy your day! ;-)
fantastic iconic songs - many really were groundbreaking and pivotal points of electronic music. One that I truly love is the get into the groove bass... I wasn't a Madonna fan back in the day but that bass has stuck in my head forever.
There are so many good bass lines from the 80’s. You could probably make a video a day for weeks covering them. Give it up to Phil for the best one in this group.
I could only chose my top-10, but there plenty more that is great! :)
When this man uses two hands to play a synth it certainly means something.
AMAZING VIDEO! Absolutely loved every bit of it. connected me with a song ive been wondering the name of for so so long (oxygene pt.4) too, thank you for making this video Mr Kraft
Many thanks Javid! :)
Thank you for the vid Mr. Kraft. Madonna got me hooked.
West End Girls was too perfect for TH-cam. One of my favorite songs!! Nice
Thanks man! It helps to have the same string patch on my Emax as they did use on the Emulator. ;-)
One of the most iconic basslines from the 80's for me is from Janet Jackson's "The Pleasure Principle"
I don't think I've ever appreciated the baseline for Get Into the Groove as much as I do now. It's the perfect amount of simple, funky, and groovy: baselines like that are legendary!
Just want him to say
“Bounty hunting is a complicated profession”
You have to sign up for Patreon to hear that. ;-)
I remember hearing Chase back in the day... brought back good memories!
Michael Carey Chase was transformative for me hearing it as a child!
Just so beautiful to put my ears around it. Heaven.
Sweet! :)
I've just found this channel. Espen Kraft likes basslines, likes synths, likes retro, proudly displays Commoore 64 in the background. Instant subscribe! :)
Sweet! :)
"hi, I'm Espen Kraawft" love the intro
Two of my all time favorite synth bass lines. Early ones, yes, but still iconic:
- Ultravox - All Stood Still (Minimoog)
- Liaisons Dangereuses - Los Niños Del Parque (Korg MS20)
Both played over a C Minor chord.
Wow, man. Did we grow up together???
All stood still is a great bass line from a great track and I'm sure it was ripped off by Bauhaus on "Departure". I also really like the bass line on Ultravox's "We came to dance".
The End Credits from Blade Runner by Vangelis
love the C64 in the background :D
Have you seen the video where I remake my most popular track using only that?
"you are the one" by a-ha has a pretty catchy bassline. i have spent ages trying to figure out "die roboter" and never got there so thank you for that one. :)
Thanks! Yes, "you are the one" is great.
@@EspenKraft thak ou for the reply. it made my day .Im so happy that a youtuber noticed my comment i can't thank you enough!
BLUE MONDAY & West End Girls!! The perfection of keeping it simple!
Hahahahahahaha...........World in my eyes by Depeche Mode man...
I have always loved the Bass line in Jean-Michel Jarre's Oxygene IV, nice surprise to see it at the end there.
Double thumbs up for ending with oxygene 👍👍
Nice work!
Many thanks! :)
OMG this is soooo good! 80s retro chills all over!! Excellent!!
Cheers!
10:42 "You're watching Adventure Call. My name is Falconhoof, and I will be your guide on your quest."
Yoooo!!!
Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F and a-ha's Take On Me, of course.
Since I have both these in my "top-10 synth riffs" video I didn't include them here. ;-)
This is fire!!! Great vid Herr Kraft!
Thanks!
Killer playing... especially that Madonna bassline
“ into the groove “ what a complex baseline :)
To analyze the rythm of this baseline , you can get silly.
It’s not about the complexity.....it’s about the sound!
...but if Madonna is the example, i'd prefer "vogue"
that looked HARD!
1:20 makes me think Coast to Coast AM is coming on.
Thank you, Espen! Perfectly played!
your music is my timemashine!! brings me back to the 80th with this amazing synthy music.
Sweet, thanks! :)
Michael Cretu - Samurai. The bassline of this track is so unique and so characteristic.Hope to see you playing it in your next videos.
The Imagination track by him has an underrated synth bass as well
a LOT of what Michael Cretu/Sandra/Hubert Kah/Enigma did had amazing basslines, thats his real skill. The Sandra tracks - Maria Magdelena, You'll be mine, Hey Little Girl, Breakup of the world, Hi Hi Hi - alone are a full education on basslines.
nu shooz - i can't wait
❤thank you for bringing back those wonderful songs and grooves from my youth! Your production is fantastic! Really kicks a$$!❤
Cheers!
That is the best cover of Chase I have ever heard
Many thanks! :)
Great choices! My alternative suggestions:
DAF - Der Mussolini
Skinny Puppy - Smothered Hope
Joe Jackson - Stepping Out
Front 242 - Headhunter
Clan of Xymox - A Day
Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone
NIN - Closer
"DAF - Der Mussolini" -> Absolutely!
Smothered Hope, great record. Just before Skinny Puppy and Front Line Assembly became separate bands. Still got Remission and Bites and Disorder somewhere... What about Nitzer Ebb's Lightning Man? Top bassline!
this is my sugestion Love Missile F-1 11 By Sigue Sigue Sputnik The Duel By Giorgio Moroder Running By Information Society Out Of Space By The Prodigy
Wondering if this is known outside Germany. If I recall correctly it was banned from playing in the radio.
World In My Eyes would have made such a good Bond theme tune
Jean-Michel Jarre is a great choice to end your video. I have the 33. Thanks for recreating the memories.
I love the homura figure on your speakers, couldn't stop staring
Absolutely outstanding, and a really enjoyable sound. Very nice!
Thanks! :-)
Great Espen , I think that AHA : take on me is an ICONIC bass line with the famous DX7 BASS1 patch
Thanks, yes that's a great example. ;-)
Danger Zone
Loved every second from this video.
Excellent video. Very nice selection. "Into the groove" is my all-time favorite.
Thanks! :)
Born in 1969.....I love 80’s music....and this channel. :)
Many thanks! :)
Digging this series, good work on recreating those hits! :D
Thanks mate! :)
@@EspenKraft Yes, amazing programming Mr Kraft!
Dead on with your choices. Such a cool instrument!
What a beautiful, futuristic and scientific music........ These inventions were ahead of 80's, and that's why they don't make you feel like in 80's or rather transport people's mind into distant hi-tech future.......
Rush 'Neutrotica' has a pretty sweet opening synth bass line.
Axel F and 19 would be good contenders as well!
Yes, Axel F i have in my "Top 10 synth riffs" so I thought that was enough. "19" I had almost recorded, but the iconic voice-over felt so wrong to not have in place so I dropped that. "Rainforest" could have been cool though. :)
Espen Kraft ... love how interactive you are with your viewers. 👏👏
neilbradley agreed
Anybody that honors Kraftwerk and Jarre has my vote. So many don't understand how influential they were/are. You the man!
The Thin Wall by Ultravox. When I first heard it i thought, how the hell are they doing that? And the bass line carries the whole song.
Ultravox are brilliant,they have many cracking songs,Mr X has an amazing synthi Bass. :-)
You nailed very well most of these! I see most of my personal favorites are already listed below or played by you, but here they go again with some additions: Crockett's Theme, Axel F, Enjoy the Silence, Halo, Policy of Truth, Nothing (Depeche again), Antarctica, Blade Runner end Titles, Love Comes Quickly and many more... Synth bass is my obsession just as with you..
There are so many ;-)
Herbi Hancock - Chamelion will always be my fave synth bass line, I think. :)
The first bass line I played when I bought an Arp Odyssey back in the day.
Hi Espen! I am also an obsessed about synth bass! Some of the tracks I play on the dash of my car:
Yaz-Situation
Front 242- Don’t Crash
ABBA- Gimme Gimme Gimme
Georgio- Bedrock
Inner City- Big Fun
Donna Summer- Romeo
Billy Griffin- Hold Me Tight in The Rain
Great playing thanks. Synths are so much fun especially when you play old 80's stuff. Enjoyed that thank-you.
Many thanks! :)
Your definitivly one of my favorite youtube channels since I am watching you tube, always something great to watch..
As Synth lover and owner myself of cool synths ( DM 12, MS 1, Model D, Neutron, Pro one, D 05, Summit, Odysee , and more on VST ) is anyway a pleasure to see what other so doing with it...
Keep on going my friend, and stay save allways in this crazy times....
Many thanks! You stay safe too.
Wow! You chose really good ones. I'd love to see a second part. Thanks!
Thanks! I have more recorded, that didn't make the cut this time. ;-)
@@EspenKraft we want more...we want more ...we want more !!!!!
I watched just to see if Depeche Mode made the list. Was not disappointed.
Great selection of songs!!!
Thanks!
A really good choice of famous synth basslines.
Cheers!
You did a fantastic job on blue monday:)
Thanks! :-)
Np:)
Stone Robinson glad someone said it
Excellent! No word can say it better.
Sweet, thanks! :)
An original DX7. Oh my dream synth!!!!!
Great bassline play-alongs. Well done! *Thumbs up*
Thanks!