Great bass lines really stand out. Think of the two low and ominous 'E' and 'F' notes speeding up to signal impending fatal danger in the "Jaws" film.

The sampled but playful slap and pop bass in "Seinfeld" provided the perfect sonic counterpoint for Jerry's monologues. The distorted, fuzzy and iconic bass line in Mr. Oizo's "Flat Beat" captured the quirky attitude of Levi's jeans in an ad campaign in 1999. The tune later went on to top the UK charts.

Bass notes are primal, triggering a physical response in listeners. We feel them as much as we hear them.

In this article, we explore the role of bass in music and the effect that the best bass lines have on us. We also consider how film and TV producers, ad agencies and game developers use bass notes to breathe extra life into their work.

How bass notes create the foundation for music

Bass notes are like the scaffolding of music. They help guide the rhythm and give depth to the other instruments and the vocalist.

Bass locks in with the percussion section to build the rhythmic core of a musical piece. The low notes also add a richness to the sonic experience, making a musical piece feel fuller.

They're great at bridging the beat with the tune, like the famous bass line in Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust". Bass lines can also deviate from the beat, adding in extra movement and tension to keep the sound interesting.

The variety of bass lines

Much of the time, standard bass playing sits quietly in the background, locking in with the drums to drive the rhythm.

Fat bass, on the other hand, demands attention. It's fuller, richer, bolder, and more expressive. Fat bass playing adds character and substance.

Here are some examples:

Funky bass lines

A funky bass line is a bass line with personality. It doesn't sit in the background keeping time throughout a piece. The band wants you to move to its snappiness and punchiness. Funky bass lines can be so bold and rhythmic that they're the dominant instrument in a tune.

Sly & The Family Stone's "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" is a great example. Right from the kick-off, the bass set a bright and bouncy rhythm to the song. It's keeping time, driving the tempo, and, at the same time, cutting through the mix thanks to its percussive slap-and-pop technique. The bass leads the entire track with the rhythm guitars and horns sitting behind it throughout.

More recent examples of funky basslines include Dua Lipa's "Don't Start Now" and Daft Punk's "Get Lucky".

Hip hop basslines

In its early days, hip hop inherited its bass lines through sampling. Two of the best-known examples are:

• The use of Chic's "Good Times" for the Sugarhill Gang's track "Rapper's Delight".

• A Tribe Called Quest looping the acoustic bass from Art Blakey's 'Stretching' in 'Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)'.

As the genre matured, basslines became more original. Dr. Dre's low-slung and pointed bass lines for tracks like "Deep Cover" create a dark, film noir-style sense of menace. The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Hypnotize" features a bouncy and funk-influenced bass line that gave the track swagger and helped its commercial appeal.

Bass in hip hop has always been more minimalist than in other genres, designed to carry the track through without getting in the way. But artists like Kendrick Lamar push the boundaries with jazz funk bass player Thundercat playing on the album, "To Pimp A Butterfly".

Bass lines in rock music

Bass notes in rock and heavy metal provide weight and power to the main guitar, but they also do so much more.

The sliding bass in Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" defines the rhythm and mood of the song, but it's also its most memorable hook. In Nirvana's "Come As You Are", the bass line through the verses is melodic and pacey, driving the song to the chorus. It then subtly steps back to support the guitar chords and vocal harmonies.

Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath used the bass as a lead instrument in the band's "N.I.B." track. He opens the first 40 seconds of the track with a fat bass solo, which then runs throughout the song, giving it backbone and an almost menacing presence.

Many credit Paul McCartney with changing the role of bass in rock music. He saw the bass as a melodic instrument just as much as a rhythmic foundation. In "Come Together", the bass serves as the intro, holding its tune as vocals and other instruments start playing.

In Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2", the bass exists almost separately from the rest of the song. It gives the piece extra drama and builds momentum during the verses and instrumental section. The simple bass line never overpowers the vocals or rhythm guitar, but it adds tension and holds the piece together.

The bass in jazz and blues

Jazz and blues are the grandparents of modern rock and pop. Both forms of music feature improvisation heavily so the bass notes play a different role in many cases.

They provide the foundation while other instruments are playing more complex, manic pieces. In blues and jazz, syncopation is important.

Syncopation is when you play a note slightly earlier or later than expected. That could be clapping just before the beat instead of on it. So, while other band members are doing their own thing, the bassist is keeping time, anchoring the groove, and guiding the rhythm.

Jazz bass lines and blues bass lines are sometimes called walking bass lines. It got that name because the bass part "walks" through all a song's chord changes, like the same four notes in one bar and a different four notes in another.

Other important types of bass line

Three other important bass types exist:

- Synth bass: Essential in EDM, electronic music, and modern pop.

- Upright bass: The sound of the double bass with a warm and organic sound.

- Fretless bass: Popular in jazz and prog rock for smoother slides.

Using fat bass sounds in your productions

Add a range of emotional and dramatic textures to your film, TV or game production with fat bass sounds.

Here are samples of great use cases for bass in your film, programme, or game and how to find them on Universal Production Music:

- Energy and fun: Funky bass lines are perfect for upbeat ads, sitcom themes and reality montages. Search: "funky bass" or "slap bass".

- Power and attitude: Choose heavier rock tracks with driving bass lines for action scenes, extreme sports, and combat. Search: "driving rock" or "distorted bass". 

- Tension and suspense: Go sub-bass to create a scary, uncertain atmosphere for horror films/games and dramatic trailers. Search: "sub-bass" or "cinematic tension".

The bassline is the engine room of any track, providing the power, feel, and rhythm. They grab audiences and hold on tight. They are a key tool in a media professional's kit to make an impact.

Universal Production Music is the partner of choice for professionals in film, TV, advertising and video games.

Register with us for support, guidance, and access to a world-class collection of pre-cleared music and sounds. Our team is on hand to help you find the right sounds for your production. You can also search for yourself on our website.

We also make stems and edits available if you need greater control over mixing or arrangement.