What is the ultimate forbidden bass riff? Walk into any bass store, and you’re bound to hear the same bass riffs echoing through the aisles—again… and again… and again.
Some riffs are so iconic, so irresistibly groovy, that bassists just can’t help but play them—much to the dismay of store employees who have endured endless, often painfully inaccurate, renditions.
From funky slap lines to heavy rock anthems, these 15 forbidden bass riffs have been officially overplayed into oblivion. If you want to keep the peace (and avoid eye-rolls from staff), maybe think twice before thumping out these forbidden basslines in public.
Further Reading. Make sure to also check out my list of the 21 Most Overplayed Guitar Riffs!
Forbidden Bass Riffs In Guitar Stores
What is the forbidden bass riff? What is the bass equivalent to Stairway To Heaven?
Although there is no standard list of banned basslines, here are 15 tracks that would definitely receive a few eye-rolls from guitar store employees.
1. Feel Good Inc – Gorillas
Arguably one of the most recognizable basslines of the 2000s, Feel Good Inc. has haunted music store employees for years.
The hypnotic, groovy riff, played with a smooth, almost menacing tone, is a go-to for bassists looking to flex their skills—but it has been done to death. While undeniably catchy, its overuse has turned it into an instant eye-roll for staff and seasoned musicians alike.
If you truly want to stand out, maybe skip this one… or at least wait until you’re out of earshot of the poor employee who has already heard it 50 times today.
2. Higher Ground – Red Hot Chili Peppers
If there were a Hall of Fame for overplayed slap bass riffs, Higher Ground would have a VIP pass.
Flea’s ferocious, percussive slap-and-pop groove is a rite of passage for bassists. Unfortunately, that also means it’s been butchered countless times in guitar stores worldwide.
The combination of speed, funk, and aggression makes it an irresistible challenge, but after the hundredth attempt (often at half-speed and full volume), even the most patient store clerk will start seeing red.
If you must slap, maybe pick something less likely to trigger flashbacks of endless, clunky renditions.
3. Schism – Tool
Few bass riffs command as much respect (and overuse) as Schism.
Justin Chancellor’s haunting, polyrhythmic groove is a masterclass in tone and technique—so, naturally, every aspiring prog bassist must attempt it in a guitar store.
The problem? Most can’t quite nail the shifting time signatures, leading to a barrage of botched, out-of-sync renditions echoing through the aisles. Employees and shoppers alike brace themselves when they hear that first ominous slide.
If you really want to impress, maybe leave this one for after you’ve mastered counting in 5/8 without making the store staff visibly cringe.
4. Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
Is it even a trip to the guitar store if someone doesn’t play Seven Nation Army?
While technically a guitar riff played on a down-tuned axe, bassists everywhere have claimed it as their own—much to the dismay of music store employees.
That simple, pounding bass line has been overplayed to the point of exhaustion, often by beginners eager to show they know at least one song.
It’s the Wonderwall of bass riffs—instantly recognizable, painfully predictable. If you want to avoid exasperated sighs from staff, maybe pick something that hasn’t been looped into oblivion since 2003.
5. Another One Bites The Dust – Queen
Queen’s Another One Bites The Dust had to be on this list, but special mention should also go to the equally overplayed Under Pressure!
John Deacon’s iconic bassline is so simple, so groovy, and so instantly recognizable that it has become a rite of passage for new bassists—and a nightmare for guitar store employees.
Played endlessly by beginners and veterans alike, its infectious rhythm has been beaten to death in music shops worldwide.
Whether it’s nailed perfectly or butchered beyond recognition, hearing it for the hundredth time in a day is enough to make any employee want to bite the dust themselves.
If you really want to impress, maybe resist the urge to thump out this one yet again.
6. Hysteria – Muse
If there’s one riff guaranteed to make a music store employee lose their mind, it’s Hysteria by Muse.
Chris Wolstenholme’s furious, galloping bassline is a staple for those looking to flex their speed and stamina, but let’s be honest—most attempts end in sloppy, out-of-time frustration.
The relentless energy and distortion make it a nightmare when blasted through an amp at full volume, leaving employees bracing for impact the moment they hear the first few notes.
If you’re itching to show off, maybe spare the store workers the chaos and save this forbidden bassline for home practice.
7. Psycho Killer – Talking Heads
David Byrne’s anxious vocals might set the mood, but Tina Weymouth’s hypnotic bassline is the real star of Psycho Killer—which is probably why it’s been driven into the ground by bassists everywhere.
Its simplicity makes it a favorite for beginners, while its groove keeps even seasoned players coming back for more.
Unfortunately, music store employees have heard it so many times that they’re one step away from running for their lives.
If you truly want to avoid faisant fouler (going crazy), maybe skip this one before the staff starts eyeing the exit.
8. Money – Pink Floyd
Nothing clears a music store faster than a butchered attempt at Money.
Roger Waters’ odd-time groove is legendary, but that tricky 7/4 time signature has led to countless clumsy renditions that make employees question their career choices.
While the riff itself is smooth, jazzy, and undeniably cool, hearing it endlessly looped—often with botched transitions—can turn any peaceful afternoon into a psychological endurance test.
If you really want to show off your timing skills, maybe try something less likely to give the staff an existential crisis.
9. Good Times – Chic
Bernard Edwards’ Good Times bassline is the blueprint for funk and disco grooves—but in music stores, it’s also the blueprint for employees slowly losing their sanity.
Its smooth, infectious rhythm makes it irresistible to bassists looking to show off their groove, but after hearing it all day, every day, store staff might not be having such a good time.
Worse yet, many attempts lack the effortless finesse that made the original so iconic.
If you want to keep the vibe alive, maybe save this classic for the dance floor instead of the showroom.
10. Longview – Green Day
That bouncy, meandering bassline from Longview is a pop-punk anthem—and an overplayed nightmare for music store employees.
Mike Dirnt’s groove is deceptively tricky, leading to countless failed attempts echoing through the aisles. Whether it’s played too slow, too fast, or just plain wrong, staff have heard every possible version, and none of them make their shift any easier.
Sure, it’s a fun riff, but after the hundredth time in a day, even the most patient employee is ready to walk out the door.
Maybe mix it up before they hit their breaking point!
11. Sunshine Of Your Love – Cream
Few riffs are as legendary—or as painfully overplayed—as Sunshine of Your Love. While it’s technically a guitar riff, bassists love to lock into its bluesy groove, much to the dismay of music store employees.
Jack Bruce’s thumping bassline is simple yet powerful, making it a magnet for beginners and classic rock fans alike.
The problem? It’s been done to death, often at inconsistent tempos and with questionable accuracy.
If you want to bring some real sunshine into the store, maybe pick a riff that hasn’t been burned into every employee’s brain since the late ’60s.
12. Bombtrack – Rage Against The Machine
That deep, gritty bass intro to Bombtrack is pure adrenaline—until you’ve heard it butchered for the tenth time in a single afternoon.
Tim Commerford’s aggressive groove is a favorite among bassists looking to flex their tone and attack, but too often, it’s blasted through store amps with excessive distortion and questionable timing.
Employees have learned to brace themselves as soon as they hear that first sliding note. If you’re itching to rage, maybe spare the staff and keep this one for home practice.
Special Mention: “Killing in the Name” – If the Bombtrack intro doesn’t get you kicked out, pulling out this other banger at full volume definitely will.
13. The Chain – Fleetwood Mac
That rumbling, ominous bass riff from The Chain is pure magic—until it’s the fiftieth time a music store employee has heard it that day.
John McVie’s simple yet powerful groove has become a go-to for bassists eager to channel some classic rock energy, but let’s be honest—after endless sloppy renditions, it’s more likely to break a store worker’s sanity than forge any unbreakable bonds.
If you really want to honor this legendary riff, maybe wait until you’re somewhere it hasn’t already been played into the ground.
14. For Whom The Bell Tolls – Metallica
Cliff Burton’s thunderous, distorted intro to For Whom the Bell Tolls is one of the most metal bass riffs ever—so, of course, it’s been relentlessly overplayed in music stores worldwide.
That gnarly, overdriven tone makes it irresistible for bassists looking to unleash their inner rock god, but after hearing countless clunky attempts, store employees are more than ready for the bell to finally toll.
If you’re cranking up the distortion and hammering out this classic, just remember: the staff has suffered enough.
15. Seinfeld Theme
Nothing strikes fear into the heart of a music store employee quite like the unmistakable slap-bass madness of the Seinfeld theme.
Its quirky, percussive groove is a siren song for bassists eager to flex their slap technique—often with questionable execution.
The result? A never-ending barrage of poorly timed pops and thumps echoing through the store like a chaotic sitcom laugh track.
While it’s undeniably fun to play, just know that for the staff, hearing it again is about as enjoyable as a low-budget ’90s stand-up routine. Maybe save this one for home bass instead.
Overplayed Basslines Poster
If you happen to work in a music store, here is a fun forbidden bass riff poster that you can print out and display in your bass guitar section.
Please don’t be lame and actually enforce these rules. It’s purely for the banter…
Banned Bass Riffs Should Be Learned!
Although all of these forbidden bass riffs have been played to death, it is for a good reason – they’re all awesome!
So, please do make sure to learn all of these classic riffs. Just perhaps save them for jamming at home rather than in your local guitar store…
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