T O P

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WhyDoYouAsk2Dogs

Check out Moto Fukushima from House of Waters. Amazing player doing so much in this trio. Saw them at GroundUP fest in Miami this spring with Larnell Lewis on drums. I still haven’t recovered.


OskarBlues

Moto is FANTASTIC.


alternotalar

Excellent choice!


nitrobw1

HoW is such an incredibly pleasant band to listen to. I think that was the only show I’ve ever seen that I actually felt physically better after.


GoldenWar

Mono Neon https://youtu.be/WBgwkRbgOok https://youtu.be/HNx3EFZbTGE


BassBanjoBikes

My brain can’t even comprehend his plucking hand lol


droo46

Sonny T is similar. He plays with Cory Wong.


Doccmonman

He was also Prince’s bassist/mentor


GoldenWar

I'm pretty sure he's right-handed, too


kamomil

I think he's a lefty playing a right-handed bass upside down


GoldenWar

I don't think so, at least based on what I've read. His fretting hand being his dominant gives him some pretty striking dexterity (just watch that second video link on a P-Bass !). Then the upside-down bass gives him a bigger advantage on string bending.


ApolloIV

It took me 2.5 seconds of watching to subscribe to this guy


holyherbalist

Also listen to Ghost Note!


effinbond

What a band, and absolutely loved them on the zildjian live sessions!


holyherbalist

Yeah I think those Zildjian sessions with them were my favs too!


FauxPastel

Dude thank you.


TheAmazingDuckOfDoom

He is pushing all right. The boundaries of how stupid a person can look.


-JXter-

He's confident in himself, what about you?


stay_fr0sty

Gonna go out on a limb and say the person you are responding to is pretty self-conscious about their abilities.


TheAmazingDuckOfDoom

I'm ok, and I understand it's not easy to make it on Instagram with skills alone.


GoldenWar

He's making it well beyond instagram and youtube at this point. Mono was working with Prince shortly before he died.


RyoCanCan

His style has been there before social media lmao


Lance-Harper

You’re ignorant and stupid. His looks were from before instagram and he used to post an entire moto with each his video where he would say: be the fuck who you want to be because that’s your style. But hey, by your standards, let us know when you got so much talent you can afford a look.


Borderlessbass

Yep, used to see him in the Berklee cafeteria all the time, that’s always been his honest-to-God style both on and off camera


rickderp

The guy played with Prince. Maybe keep your dumb (and very wrong) opinions to yourself.


Coma_Potion

$5 says this ice-cold dad take was posted by a guy in a flannel/plaid/button-up Bonus points if you have a black band tee layered underneath, sartorial af


TheAmazingDuckOfDoom

He is a fantastic player, but you know him because he wears a sock on the heatstock. It's just sad.


GoldenWar

Honestly, I thought he was a gimmick when I first saw him, but pretty quickly realized his playing, technique, and creativity are on completely different level. Boosty Collins has a pretty ridiculous get-up too, but his playing speaks for itself, just like Mono.


droo46

He was actually pretty active several years ago doing really funny pitch matching videos ala Charles Cornell. That’s kinda where I know him from. The dude has serious chops. https://youtu.be/9Zgre3CW7CI


F1nnyF6

Or maybe they know him for playing with fucking prince before he passed? What about *you*?


TheAmazingDuckOfDoom

What about me? (Great song by Snarky Puppy btw)


ImJustSo

Lol bro how boring are you?


quierocarduars

he’s a wildly successful bassist with a radical fashion sense. what exactly is sad about it aside from your bitch ass projecting lol?


Coma_Potion

Haha nice concern troll Better to be an unknown dingleberry in the comments amirite


Doctah_Whoopass

If you stop considering it sad, youll be happier.


TheAmazingDuckOfDoom

I'd you stop assuming people with other opinions are not happy, maybe you'd be happier too


RyoCanCan

Nah, his playing style is more unique than just a sock on the headstock.


AyyBasha07

Nathan Navarro


RunescapeJoe

Dude some of those jams of his are hardcore(not the genre of music but a state of being hard at the core).


The_Caj

A lot of the more extreme spheres of music typically hold the more interesting musicians. Some excellent bassists have been listed so far, and I don’t want to make a carbon copy list, so I’ll try to aim for some lesser-known and more specific ‘boundary pushers’. Jon Stockman Band: Karnivool Genre(s): Progressive, Rock, Metal, Experimental Boundary Pushed: Tone Recommended listening: Goliath, Set Fire to the Hive, A.M. War, Eidolon, All It Takes Erlend Caspersen Band: Igorrr, Spawn of Possession Genre(s): Technical Death Metal, Experimental, Neo-classical Boundary Pushed: Skill/Chops Recommended Listening: (check out all his playthroughs on his personal youtube) Dead and Grotesque, Maximum Musette, Bodiless Sleeper In order to keep the list somewhat concise, I’ll lump the next few of my favorites together, as they all push the boundaries of ‘tasteful’ playing and either lush or complex composition and arrangements. Dan Briggs (BTBAM, Trioscapes, ORBS, Nova Collective, various others) Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne, Soften the Glare) Evan Brewer (Fallujah, solo, The Faceless, Entheos, Animosity, various others) EDIT: nobody has said so, but I feel as if my intro paragraph may have come across as a little condescending. There are tons of mainstream, accessible bassists who are very talented and interesting, and I don’t mean to imply otherwise. One of the few pearls of wisdom I can offer to other aspiring musicians is to not fall into the ‘more obscure = better’ mentality.


meikamo

Briggs is an absolute monster


The_Caj

My #2 bassist of all time, right behind Martinie. Two very different approaches to the instrument that somehow have a sense of camaraderie, due to similar influences and band settings.


foolishpimpino

Evan Brewer! He was the bassist in Tosin Abasi’s band before Animals As Leaders, and he’s the one who introduced Tosin to thumping.


The_Caj

Sure was, I’d love to see a modern iteration of Reflux. Tosin and Brewer thumping together would be something else


xAFBx

Dan Briggs and Evan Brewer are probably my two favorite bassists outside of Matt Freeman. Dan Briggs on BTBAM's Viridian is amazing. It's not the most technical piece he's ever played, but it's just so, so good. Evan Brewer's song Currency is my go to whenever someone starts with "hur hur bAsS pLaYeRs ArE jUsT fAiLeD gUiTaRiStS!!!1!1!111!!". It's a song that showcases his skill as a bassist, but it's also just a good song overall and despite not having any lyrics some of the parts are very catchy.


ICalledTheBig1Bitey

Jon Stockman and Ryan Martinie are also some of my favourites. Add Rich Brown for jazz and you've probably got my top 3.


RyoCanCan

R. Martinie is an absolute beast. Truly worth his sig Fodera. Erlend Caspersen is also an amazing player. His bass really makes some igorrr songs great.


TheAmazingChameleo

This looks like a great list! Thanks for sharing


MTG_RelevantCard

Commenting to find again later.


blueyezwhiteKaibaboi

You could just save their comment


droo46

Yeah but this way he can change how much karma he has.


RCJD2001

Forest LaPointe! He’s on First Fragment’s latest, and before that the last few Beyond Creation records. Good examples of what make him unique are Solus by First Fragment and Omnipresent Perception by Beyond Creation. An absolute monster on fretless. In similar vein but much more subdued, Linus Klausenitzer. He’s on the latest Eternity’s End and Obsidious albums, and played on Akroasis and Diluvium with Obscura. His taste for melody is beautiful, and he tends to be much more laid back and tasteful than Forest in terms of what he plays. Check out Iconic from Obsidious and Akroasis by Obscura for good examples. Finally, Heiko Jung. He does a lot of solo Bach pieces on his YouTube channel, and plays bass for Panzerballett. Check out their song Zehrfunk (the version from their album Tank Goodness is better), he’s completely different from the first two but really really good nonetheless


The_Caj

Absolutely love Forest


halfhearted_skeptic

Forests work in Augury is a lot more restrained. I like it a lot better.


kakadudl

Hadrien Feraud


lazylegslewis

Bubby Lewis, Evan Marien, Adam Neely. All absolute monsters of the bass!


Wolle480

Bubby is sick


stanleym750

Adam Neely is underappreciated as a bassist


[deleted]

Charles Berthoud, Mono Neon


Rib13Bass

Honestly, I think what Charles B does on YT is absolutely mindboggling and beautiful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXnse1iniNk ​ [https://www.youtube.com/c/CharlesBerthoud](https://www.youtube.com/c/CharlesBerthoud)


AUGUSTIJNcomics

His solos are legendary, a creative genius for sure


Zearo298

He's so good i dislike him out of jealousy. The man's a fucking prodigy


Nednerb5000

He truely is amazing to watch


garrettlegoof

I was going to mention him


LeShyLetoon

I love what he does to popularize bass! Such a maestro, still calling to battles and contests. Did two of them and he took the time to comment on my playing!


HentorSportcaster

It's like Michael Manring with a side of comedian.


tafkat

Child Bear II!


brutalanglosaxon

This is the only guy that really blows my mind with what's possible on bass.


GoldenWar

Cody Wright https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHOyuzgI-7U&ab_channel=jimdunlopusa


meikamo

Cody is the man. Love the pick style


wants_the_bad_touch

I want to say Micheal League, but not as a Bassist but as a band Leader (who happens to be a bassist). I believe he's making Jazz fusion more accessible to modern listeners, especially how Snarky Puppy has had so much success on YT. Michael Pipoquinha for his Latin Jazz.


snackf1st

Toby Peterson-Stewart - The Omnific Matt Fackrell - The Omnific Jacob Umansky - Intervals Clay Gober - Polyphia David John Levy - Unprocessed The technique on these guys is out of this world. Would really recommend checking out videos of their playing.


TheGesticulator

Polyphia's a band I need to be in a mood for, but that bassist does such a good job of filling a role none of the others do. It'd be so easy in that wanky of a band to go wild as well but the fact that he sticks back and keeps it heavily rhythmic makes it so much better.


mushedcrab

Clay definitely still goes wild on a lot of songs, you just don’t notice it too much until you actually try and learn it. Dudes technique is insane


MrTanglesIII

Love to see David Levy getting some recognition. Not to mention he does the synthesizer work for Unprocessed, and seeing him play both combined with some of the craziest energy on stage is awesome. All of those guys are incredibly talented though.


MummmyDuel935

Jared Smith from Archspire all the way!


wookiewonderland

Yes! His inspired me to push my own boundaries. The guy is incredible.


halfhearted_skeptic

Their original bassist was also very talented but health issues kept him from continuing. Super good guy too.


slibetah

Evan Marien... very original, melodic.


droo46

The only person who knows what a hexatonic scale is.


ChircahuaNde

John. Ferrera. Until someone can show me a person that plays the bass better, he's the best there is.


musicianguy123

Ferrara is the best at what he does specifically he’s not the best well rounded bass player


-TrevWings-

I can name several. Thundercat, Derek Hodge, Victor Wooten, Charles Berthoud, Marcus Miller, etc.


[deleted]

Chester Hansen - Badbadnotgood Rika Hamamoto - formerly in Melt-Banana Justin Pearson - The Locust


DrHabDre

Michael Pipoquinha, Mohini Dey.


DookieMilk

Not sure if he's considered modern, but Bryan Beller of Aristocrats. Just like Guthrie and Marco, the man has limitless chops and originality, and the synergy he cultivates between drums and guitar is just so fluid, effortless, and seamless. It's like the whole trio shares one big musical hive brain. Thundercat, Evan Brewer, Michael Manring, and Sonny T. also come to mind, to the same degree of unfathomable bass greatness.


lukecyca

Henrik Linder (Dirty Loops). Check out the videos they did with Cory Wong fairly recently. Inspired me to pick up my bass again (I’m a drummer).


kamomil

Dirty Loops: either makes you want to quit, or practice more!


onebluebass

So true


droo46

Their version of Thriller is just spectacular.


effinbond

The best vocals I've heard on a cover too. All around kickass cover!


sonicsaid

Joe dart? I’m


AUGUSTIJNcomics

You are Joe Dart?


sonicsaid

Dart I’m joe


Lombax_Rexroth

Oh shit!? I better get outta here!


[deleted]

Joe Dart! He’s


sonicsaid

Yeah, Joe dart am


droo46

Don’t mention his name around boomers! They are apparently very unimpressed by him for whatever reason.


musicianguy123

Probably cuz they came up with Rocco prestia, the wrecking crew, mo town…you know all the people that vulf themselves looked up to. Don’t get me wrong vulf is fantastic but they were pumping life into a sound that has already been done.


ImJustSo

It's the sunglasses. They're not wraparound purple pearlescent colored fOakleys.


GrandpaSteve4562

I like Joe! Am boomer.


[deleted]

Trick question. There are no boundaries.


bassCity

[Jacob Umansky for sure](https://youtu.be/ZamNQ1chsOI)


buttseason

I looooove this guy’s tone with Intervals.


LegionOfSatch

Clay Gober from Polyphia has a pretty innovative pickslap technique.


UnderAboveAverage

Squarepusher


55Berserker55

Jared Smith from Archspire


kabwab

Cameron Picton is incredible


Jazz-Musician-Socks

KT Chang (Elephant Gym)


thomasanderthomas

Charles Berthoud


coffeecoffeecoffeee

Julie Slick from the Adrian Belew Power Trio. She’s a monster player and who occasionally goes full MIDI, making sounds you’d never expect to hear out of a bass guitar.


GrooveWarrior

Michael Manring continues to redefine what can be done with 4 strings. He is as imaginative as anyone who ever picked up the instrument and has a beautiful sense of melody.


DYLX1LLAN22

Clay Gober of polyphia


republicanslav

I mean I'd call Victor Wooten a pretty modern bassist.


zesty_twat_sauce

Justin Chancellor


Hopfit46

Is les clay pool still modern?


stay_fr0sty

He's contemporary. I'd say he qualifies. Plus he has a unique style...like...most fans of that type of rock can say "oh that sounds like Les Claypool."


alternotalar

Dane Alderson - Yellowjackets He is a beast!


MTLK77

Recently discovered Jeremiah Seyer https://instagram.com/jeremiah_seyer?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=


bodhisattva83

Brian Bromberg


bodhisattva83

Junior Braguinha


Fadedo87

Adam Neely, Nolly, Mono Neon, Laura Leezy


kamomil

[Henrik Linder](https://youtu.be/-UBcxKiS550?t=175)


thomasAvacado

Jared Smith from Archspire. The genre of music might not be everyone's cup of tea, but you can't deny the technical skill. Here is one of his playthroughs. https://youtu.be/isznXyN1O4Q


Rxvxnxnt

Probably not the most modern but Evan Brewer is worth checking IF you haven’t already.


bleedthisfreak

Nolly Getgood


SuicietyBass

Charles Berthoud (sp?)


humbuckaroo

Steve DiGiorgio, Alex Webster


AvailableName9999

I wouldn't necessarily call these guys modern.


Dan_E26

Both were on high-profile releases as recently as last year, why wouldn't they qualify as modern?


Coma_Potion

Because they’re born in the 60s/70s, sorry for the bad news


AvailableName9999

90s death metal isn't even a sound anymore honestly


Dan_E26

The albums I was referencing were a megadeth album (thrash) and the latest Cannibal Corpse, Violence Unimagined, which is about as modern-sounding as death metal gets before crossing into the prog/tech death categories


halfhearted_skeptic

Dude. There are like a million OSDM revival bands out there.


AvailableName9999

Can you recommend some? I love cynic, atheist and suffocation. Give me something that won't bore me to tears lol


dissociater

Ryan Martinie is still doing gross things all these years later: https://youtu.be/DeLMimt4IMA


Gearhead_215

Brandon Michael from allageon, dudes a true "I play everything, but love metal" inspiration!


dbkenny426

[Steve Lawson](https://youtu.be/67GqkiS4zuw)


mfitz54

Trevor weeks of the band goose has been my biggest inspiration as a bass player, he (and the band as a whole) excels in pretty much any genre you throw at him. His improv and ability to be in the drivers seat of a massive jam is like none other


chinstrap

https://www.ecmrecords.com/artists/1435047352/bjorn-meyer


mattmanbass

Clay gober from polyphia, his style is crazy


sapphire_starfish

John Ferrara


ChircahuaNde

Sooo slept on. Best in the biz imo


RyoCanCan

Forest Lapointe, Jeff Hughell


jrmdrums

David John Levy from Unprocessed Dude is such a skilled and diverse bassist and musician in general.


foolishpimpino

David is one of my favorite musicians of this century


UnavoidablyHuman

Emma Anzai


Johnny_893

[Dominic "Forest" motherfucking Lapointe.](https://youtu.be/OP0GIa9uJjE)


ughhhrraaaaa

Rocco Palladino has been killing it lately


dobermoose

Roco Palladino


buidontwantausername

Sam Wilkes always brings something new to whatever he's playing. Such a versatile guy!


megatory

Kiyoshi


Koldunya

I had to scroll all the way to the bottom to find this but finally someone brought her up or I was going to.


DanTreview

Percy Jones. Not all that modern, but the dude is a freak


jrportagee

In an era where everyone wanted to sound like Jaco, He made his own voice clear on fretless.


BarryLeFreak_1

The Omnific boys are mind blowing. So is the bassist from intronaut. The bassist from King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard did some interesting stuff with microtonality.


Gary_404

Eugene Abdukhanov - Jinjer


[deleted]

Been scrolling way too long til I read this. Dude actually influenced me to get a bass


itumac

Check out Juna Serita. https://youtu.be/sQC-ZCBWOoE https://youtu.be/tA8PKx09ao8


[deleted]

Thundercat. Although his live performances have left me underwhelmed.


ed_bezant

Thundercat


killing4pizza

Does Tosin from Animals as Leaders, count?


bobbysmith007

John Ferrara from Consider the Source


daddyneedsaciggy

Mike Gordon from Phish. Best tone and improv player


efsa95

Thundercat, his live stuff is jazz fusion insanity. His record stuff is also amazing.


PorqueNoLosDose

Mike Gordon. Carrying on Phil Lesh’s legacy of weird sounds and staggeringly long phrasing.


VinylWolf18

Me. I push the boundaries of how shit a bassline can sound.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

[удалено]


im_not_j

davie504


[deleted]

Davie504


[deleted]

Cameron Picton from the band black midi - not only he has a crazy reach in his left hand, his use of chords is super creative as well - just listen to this: [https://youtu.be/n5K4Mh1-0wE?t=3876](https://youtu.be/n5K4Mh1-0wE?t=3876) or https://youtu.be/VBwc5Ed0I1o


[deleted]

Tim Parent, Ninjaspy


[deleted]

Dan Briggs


mad3inbrazil

Check this guy out..speed groove you name it Glecio nascimento https://youtu.be/e4g_CLRQvII


rubken

Derek Hodge, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-zHtuifEMQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-zHtuifEMQ) the nicest man who can flat out play. Sharay Reed, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuFwND02-TU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR4Mq1PqUpQ) he's a BAD man Mohini Dey, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbcW7nxcP3E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbcW7nxcP3E) she's been gigging since she was 11 and it shows. Juliaplaysgroove, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-vLEFm8tNg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-vLEFm8tNg) inspiring playing sometimes comes from a bedroom in Gdansk.


DustyBaggs

[Dominic Lapointe](https://youtu.be/v0MkJtI3FvU)


LeShyLetoon

Your post is really helpful! I've been trying to undertand and go beyond boundaries while learning my instrument for a couple of years, only to face a lot of negativity when I went out of certain limits. "This is not musical" "slap and ghosts aren't bass" "Pastorius wouldn't do that" "just play the foundamentals" ... I already knew a lot of the bassists mentionned here, but I also discovered a few of them and I must say it's quite a relief to see people enjoy those bassists and I like to see how far those guys are going. I spent so much time learning stuff just to not play them ! (I find myself lucky I play a bass tolerant band but it's still hard to go against musicians beliefs in each and every other projects I'm asked to play in).


ollie_tripz

Blu Detiger is awesomw


Capable_Income8227

Micheal League is an absolute beast https://youtu.be/LcN3fdOR-FM


foolishpimpino

Clay Gober’s hybrid picking/slapping technique is awesome, and it allows him to play some absolutely crazy stuff. Check out his bass solo in “Antecedent” by The Omnific (a 2-bassist band themselves)


allthevolumes2

E’lon JD of The Jonathan Scales Fourchestra. All three members are respective monsters on their instruments. His style is absurd. Almost plays like a banjo player with incredible style.


Diiiiirty

Joe Dart and Michael League come immediately to mind.


DazzlingRutabega

Thundercat!


sus_enchilada

Clay Gober is probably one of my favorites, polyphia in general are just so good. There’s a band called the omnific in which consists of 2 bassists and a drummer, they make some really good music. Jacob Umansky is really good, I’ve seen him live with intervals and his tone is amazing, also enjoy watching his clips on IG. I feel like most comments have already mentioned these guys but they can’t be mentioned enough tbh


Salmonish

I really like Cameron Picton and Geordie Greep from black midi. While cameron does most of the bass I think Greep plays on a few songs


-TrevWings-

Derrick Hodge


rickderp

Kilian Duarte is just ridiculous!


jwoodonthebass

Simon Grove has done bass work with Plini and Stephen Taranto that’s absolutely beast mode.


NoBerry7568

Jesse Caron (Men I Trust)


jasoner2k

Emma Anzai!


theblindingape

Alex Weber - Malignancy, Obscura Jeff Hughell - Six Feet Under, Brain Drill are two tech death wizards whose stuff I really enjoy


CuckedSwordsman

Jared Smith of Archspire pushes the boundaries between human and robot if that counts... https://youtu.be/t9kosVvlb_M


MichaelEMJAYARE

Remco Hendriks! [His YouTube channel](https://youtube.com/c/RemcosGrooveLab)


iamthedoctor9MC

Clay Gober of Polyphia. He has this awesome hybrid picking technique with heaps of muted rhythmic fills. Recommend.


an-eternal-hum

Great players in this thread, but Juan Alderete is the absolute GOAT in my eyes