T-shirts & things

The bass is an instrument to create a foundation for everybody else to party.

Abraham Laboriel

When the bass stops, the bottom kind of drops out of everything.

Charlie Haden

The bass should be the note of the bass drum, and then you’ve got the engine of the band.

Suzi Quatro

The bass is the link between harmony and rhythm. It is the foundation of a band.

Victor Wooten

Bass players are always the intellectual kind, but nobody knows it.

Stanley Clarke

The bassist’s job is to make the drummer sound good.

Jack Bruce

Guitar is for the head, drums are for the chest, but bass gets you in the groin.

Suzi Quatro

Nobody notices I’m there until I’m not.

Garry Tallent

There’s no money above the fifth fret.

Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn

You are never more than a half-step away from a ‘right’ note.

Victor Wooten

I like to believe that I play bass like Dusty Hill, and that's something nobody else can do as well as me.

Dusty Hill

My favorite moments are when the bass falls in the pocket with the drums.

Nikki Sixx

The gunk makes the funk.

James Jamerson

Anything worth doing good takes a little chaos.

Flea

Bass is for people who can't play guitar.

Eddie Van Halen

The bass, no matter what kind of music you're playing, it just enhances the sound and makes everything sound more beautiful and full.

Victor Wooten

The bass player's function, along with the drums, is to be the engine that drives the car... everything else is merely colours.

Suzi Quatro

I think the bass, the low end, is very powerful. You can do anything to it.

John Paul Jones

A bass should sound like a bass with the thump of the finger against the wood, like it began with stand up.

Jaco Pastorius

The bass player's job is to make the band sound good.

James Jamerson

Playing bass is like being the middle child. You don't get the spotlight like the lead guitar, but you know you're vital to the band.

Les Claypool

Playing bass is like being the pilot of a spaceship. You're flying the ship, but the crew might not always notice you're there.

Flea

The bass player's job is to pay attention to the bottom end, to create a foundation for the music.

Geddy Lee

Bass playing is like plumbing: nobody notices you until you screw up.

Les Claypool

The bass player's responsibility is to make the band feel good.

Bootsy Collins

Bass guitar is the engine of the band.

Dee Dee Ramone

You know, it's a funny thing when you're the bass player. You often don't get the spotlight, but you sure know when you're not in the pocket.

Billy Sheehan

The bass player's role is to be the liaison between the drummer and the rest of the band.

John Entwistle

Bass is the engine of the band; it's what keeps everyone going. It's what gets people moving.

Paul McCartney

Bass is the heartbeat of the music. It's a role that has to be felt, not just heard.

Nathan East

The bassist is often the most underrated member, but they're the glue holding everything together.

Duff McKagan

The bass player's role is not about seeking attention but holding down the fort.

Jack Bruce

The bass, when played with a good groove, can change the whole feel of a song.

Geddy Lee

Bass is a big thing. It's about holding down the rhythm section. It's like holding the house down.

Bootsy Collins

The bass player's role is to play a part in keeping the band centered and grounded.

John Deacon

The bass is the bridge between rhythm and melody, holding it all together.

Jaco Pastorius

The bass, no matter what kind of music you're playing, it just enhances the sound and makes everything sound more beautiful and full.

Victor Wooten

Bass playing is like breathing. It’s something you do, not something you think about.

Jaco Pastorius

Bass playing is the electric guitar’s job, only cooler.

Nikki Sixx

The bassist's role is to bring a certain level of intensity to the music and complement what's happening around you.

Flea

The bass should be felt, not heard.

Carol Kaye

"Bass playing is the art of knowing what not to play.

Tony Levin