List Of Bass Guitar Hindi Songs Where Bass Owns The Track

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Today, we will look at the most underrated element of music, the bass.

Bass guitar plays a very important role in gluing any song together, it serves as one of the main rhythmic foundations of the song and is often considered as a glue between the rhythm and the melody. Despite being a very important section for any given song, it is often overshadowed by the vocals, melodies or percussion.

In this list we will look at the top 10 Bass Guitar songs in Bollywood.

The relationship between the Bass guitar and Hindi music, (Bollywood or independent) is not strange, in fact the use of bass guitar in Bollywood songs has been going on for decades.

We will feature some of the best bass guitar Hindi songs, Iconic bass guitar riffs in Hindi songs, most popular bass guitar Hindi songs and more.

So, go pick up your low end monster and get ready!

Before we start our list, let’s look at the function of bass guitar in music and in Bollywood music particularly.

Rhythmic Basis

The bass guitar often interacts with the drums to establish and maintain the groove and rhythmic foundation.

Emotional Subtext

In tracks such as ‘Dil Se Re’ or ‘Sunn Raha Hai’, the bass may not be fancy or loud but it contributes depth and warmth, grounding the song’s vibe and making it more emotional.

Fusion and Genre Development

As Bollywood music developed over time to incorporate rock, EDM, funk and jazz influences, the role and importance of the bass guitar grew with it.

Do you know most of your favourite songs will sound hollow and empty if you take out the bass guitar from the mix?

Can you Imagine how empty songs like ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ or ‘Garaj Baras’ would sound without the bass guitar?

That is why Bass guitar is crucial, in any genre of music.

Dil Se Re

We are starting with India’s legendary composer, AR Rahman’s composition.

The Bassline from this super hit Hindi movie is easily one of the most iconic bass guitar riffs in Hindi music.

While the bass riff in itself is not a super technical or even a busy riff, it serves the bass guitar’s function perfectly, which is to hold the rhythm and melody together.

The Bass in this song is performed and recorded by none other than the legendary Bassist, Guy Pratt who is also very well known for his work with music icons like Micheal Jackson, Pink Floyd, Madonna, Gary Moore and many more. Talk about being a legendary musician, whoa!

If you understand Bass guitar’s function then you would certainly value the nuance and rhythm from Bass that enhances this composition by Rahman.
Top quality work.

Ruby Ruby

Ruby Ruby is a modern song with upbeat tempo and very funky yet Jazzy and even Rock feel to it.

The song matches the feel and energy of what goes on the screen in the movie perfectly. The song is produced with the modern music production techniques and the bass is quite clear and audible.

It is loud, it is vibrant and takes over the composition and still holds the backbone of the song perfectly. An example of ‘Lead Bass’ in Bollywood? Perhaps.

The bass in this song has been played by Keba Jeremiah, who is known for his many guitar riffs in bollywood music over the years.

The bass lays a strong foundation, letting the other instruments take the lead while preserving the song’s rhythm.

Perhaps the best song in this list to learn as a Bassist.

Learning this song on your bass guitar will give you the exposure to the techniques like-Syncopation and playing running notes, which we can hear quite prominently in the song. Use metronome to your advantage here, start slowly and then gradually speed up.

There are some songs which can be played either with pick or fingers but some songs are meant to be played with the fingers to keep the song’s original feel intact. This song is an example of that, using fingerstyle technique to play this song to produce a rich and warm tone which matches the song’s sentimental feel.

Learn this song on your bass guitar as It is a useful composition for bassists looking to improve the groove and chemistry with other instruments because of the way the bass and drums interact, which is an excellent example of timing and rhythm.

Garaj Baras

It would be a crime to not have this song in our top 10 bass guitar Hindi songs’ list. An underrated track from an underrated movie.

There was a time when this song used to be played by every other band in college cultural festivals and competitions. That is due to its Sufi Rock feel with amazing vocals and instrumentation.

Pakistani Sufi rock band released this in 2003 and it was an instant hit and it was later on featured in the movie Paap after which the song became quite popular among the musicians and rock/sufi bands both from Pakistan and India. It has been covered multiple times by multiple bands due its large mass appealing Rock yet Sufi sound.

The bass guitar was recorded and performed by Brian O’Connell. It plays a crucial role in the song. As soon as the groove starts you can clearly hear the bass line, very prominent, melodic and groovy.
A lot of notes to be learned and played but it is worth the effort as this will take your bass playing to the next level. This is easily one of the best Bass guitar riffs in Hindi Music.

What other songs from the college rock era that you can think of?
You can check out our top 10 electric guitar songs bollywood to know more.

Dum Maro Dum

A song from the golden era of bollywood music? Yes, the popularity or should we rather say the importance of bass guitar started getting noticed as early as in the 1970s.

The Bass guitar in the song Dum Maaro Dum can be considered as one of the earliest instances of bass guitar in bollywood music. It was composed by R.D Burman and sung by Asha Bhosle, featuring lyrics by Anand Bakshi.

The bassline in the song is rather a repetitive loop which adds the flavour to the song’s hypnotic and trance like vibe.

There is a subtle hint of distortion or fuzziness in the bass guitar’s tone, likely originating from the amplifier or recording equipment of the analog era, resulting in a warm, gritty quality.

In other words this can be called natural distortion, which comes if the preamp section is pushed too far, resulting in saturation of the sound.

We have covered how distortion works in modern era guitar and bass amplifiers, and which one you can buy if you are a beginner you can check out here- Guitar amps

The bass line isn’t very technical or flashy but it moves throughout the song to create push, pull feeling wherever necessary.

The song is played on a minor scale, to fit its dark, rebellious atmosphere. The bass line majorly sticks the root and fifth notes, while sometimes incorporating passing notes that contribute a psychedelic glimmer. A very good song to learn on your Bass Guitar from the Golden Era Bollywood.

Piya tu ab to aaja

Yet another classic from the same year “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja” from the 1971 film Caravan, composed by R.D. Burman and sung by the legendary Asha Bhosle just like our previously mentioned song.

This song is a very good example of bass taking leading wherever necessary. Bass guitar’s main function is to act like a glue to hold the song’s backbone and this is a prime example of that.

The bassline in this track has a more rhythmic and syncopated feel compared to “Dum Maro Dum.”

Aap Jaisa Koi

This classic song from the film Qurbani (1980), was a revolutionary track in Bollywood which blends the music genres like Disco, Funk with many western and even Indian instruments taking the lead.

The song starts with a Bassline and then we can hear how the bass holds the main groove of the track while the synth, electric guitar and vocals take over.

It is funky, It is groovy and it is awesome!

Learn this song on your Bass guitar to understand its function as this is one of the best and truly iconic bass guitar riffs in Bollywood music.

You can also compare this song’s bass line to the song’s remake from ‘an action hero’ but this version has the bass line most likely to be played and blended with midi bass, it has a tight modern feel whereas the original song feels more natural and groovy due to its authentic and real bass playing.

Learning how bass guitar behaves in different genres is the key to becoming a great bass player. Hence we recommend you to try all the songs and styles that we have mentioned in this blog.

Rock N Roll Soniye

This song is from the 2006 movie Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy. It blends the vibe of Rock n Roll as mentioned in the name and the traditional Bollywood style and the result is quite unique.

It is in the style of old school rock n roll, we are talking about the 1950s era, the Elvis Presley style. It has a lot of tempo changes, multiple verse and catchy chorus. It is a dance number for sure, and the bass guitar does its job just right in this one, groovy and bouncy and keeping up with the beat.

The bassline features a walking rhythm, progressing through the I–IV–V chord variations typical in 50s rock music.

The multiple tempo changes will teach you a lot when you learn this on your Bass guitar. It’s like learning 4 different ideas and all at the same time.

It features the timeless “bounce-walk-bounce” beat, just pure groove.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your low end monster and Rock n roll.

Fun Fact-

The essence of a live performance is crucial here, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy are musicians who value live instruments, so the bass was likely captured in a full band arrangement to provide that natural energy.

Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe

One of Bollywood’s most memorable youth enthms of all time.

Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy not just created a song with this one but they revolutionized the music production, arrangement and instrumentation with this one.

The bass guitar truly is a masterpiece that hits hard. Easily, one of the most popular bass guitar Hindi songs.

The song is a great example of funk rock blends with disco’s upbeat tempo and high energy verse and choruses. The bass guitar plays a really important role in this song and it is an understatement.

Many disco and rock songs will sound empty if you remove the bass riffs from it, they not just serve as a backing rhythm but they engage the groove and fuel the entire atmosphere.

Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy have always been known to use the guitars and Bass guitars very creatively and cleverly in their compositions. The bass is always in motion; it’s moving, gliding, rising, and bouncing.

It’s closely locked with the kick drum and rhythm instruments, with not much decay or sustain which gives its staccato feel which serves perfectly to make this song groovier and a dance number.

Before we get to the last two songs in the list, do you agree with our list so far?

Try the mentioned songs on your bass guitar to get used to playing the versatile style of the instrument.

Yeh jo des hai tera

This song is a deeply heartfelt and touching song from the 2004 movie Swades, composed by A.R. Rahman. Just like the movie titles suggests, it evokes the sense of love for the country and it does it brilliantly.

The song ‘Ye Jo Des Hai Tera’ captures the raw emotions and tonality of the character, what he’s feeling and the movie itself.

It is a slow burn type of a song, yet very emotional and moving.
The Bass guitar in the track plays a crucial role in blending the melodies of Traditional Indian instruments with the western instruments.

Rahman has always been known for his creative ideas and thought provoking music compositions . And this song is one of them and not just that, this is one of the most Iconic bass guitar riffs in Hindi songs.

Bass Guitar in ‘Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera’ is an example of Understated yet Vital bass guitar riffs in Bollywood music.

In the track bass doesn’t dominate the mix, in fact it is hardly audible at times but it certainly provides the perfect rhythm to support the composition.

So let’s grab your bass guitar and learn this number and we are sure it will make you move and emotional. The feeling of love towards one’s nation is very strong and cannot be hidden in this gem of a song. You will also learn how to play bass guitar in a slow ballad with this track.

If you’re ever feeling Patriotic in particular, you know which song you need to play!

Dhak Dhak karne laga

A legendary song that fuses alluring energy, traditional 90s Bollywood arrangement, and an unexpected level of musical richness. Written by Anand–Milind and performed by Anuradha Paudwal and Udit Narayan, this track is notable for its visual and auditory influence.

It was a major hit when it was first released in 1992 and popularity of this track has not gone down with the time. It still is a popular number among bollywood fans.

At first hearing, the attention might appear directed at the melody and the rhythm dominated by the tabla, but pay attention the bass guitar is subtly performing its wonders in the background, and it plays a vital role in sustaining the entire arrangement.

The bass enhances the heartbeat-like tempo of the track, envisioning “dhak dhak”, and the bass reflects that tension and relief.
The rhythm is simple and unhurried, yet it aligns perfectly with the groove, enhancing the song’s alluring tension.

Interacting with the Tabla, strings and the guitar, the bass here keeps the tight groove and serves the song well.

The definition of fewer notes doing the trick. The overall feel of the song is that of a romantic, Indian classical ballad. Learn this song on your bass guitar to improve your sense of rhythm in this genre, which is quite a famous and huge genre in Bollywood.

Final thoughts

Well, there you go friends! The Top 10 Bass Guitar songs in Bollywood according to us. This by no means is a criticism or review of the songs, this is a list to help our readers understand about the bass guitar, bass riffs, styles and the instrument’s use in bollywood songs.

There are many artists, bands and movie albums which feature bass guitars as the primary instrument or the main voice of the song but not all songs become hits and hence can get lost in the list but we tried digging in deep the bollywood hole. We have not included the songs/albums which contain electric guitar as the main instrument.

You can easily find the tutorials, tabs and lessons for the above mentioned songs on the internet. Or You can simply book a lesson with us here by clicking this on Musicmaster.

FAQs

Which Hindi songs have famous bass guitar solos?

While Bollywood is not known for lengthy bass guitar solos, there are many songs where bass is fairly audible and is quite important for the composition. Many of those songs are already mentioned in our list but other examples are songs like- Mehbooba Mehbooba, Yeh Mera Dil, Tanha Tanha Yahan pe Jeena, O Humdum Soniyo re and many more.

How can I improve my bass guitar playing?

The most important factor is that like any other instrument you have to practice the instrument with patience, dedication and passion. Like we have said repeatedly in this blog, the bass acts as the glue between a melody and rhythm, so it’s important for a bass player to understand and master both.

To master the timing, like any other instrument, practice with a metronome.
Start with slower speeds and then gradually get faster.

Learn music theory, scales, chord tones and how to construct a bassline around them.
After getting your basics right, jam with other musicians to learn more about how bass interacts with other instruments and its chemistry with different instruments.

What are the most popular Hindi bass guitar instrumental songs?

Here are a couple remarkable Hindi songs and compositions featuring prominent bass guitar:
Bombay Theme (1994), Heer – Junoon (2008).

Who are the famous bass guitarists in Hindi music?

Bollywood and Hindi music has been blessed by a number of great musicians, may it be vocalists, guitarists, percussionists, or Bassists.
When talking about Bass guitarists in Hindi music, a lot of them have not been mentioned in the recording details, specially in the early days of Bollywood. That been said, here are some legendary bass players that we can think of who deserve to be in all time top list- Anthony Gonsalves, Sebastian D’Souza, Keith Peters, Mohini Dey and more.