This list of bass guitarists includes notable bassists for whom there is a Wikipedia article, or who are mentioned in articles. Musicians known mainly as guitarists are listed separately in the list of guitarists.
See also List of jazz bassists, and bassist, for a list of double bass players.
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
A
- Martin Eric Ain (Celtic Frost and Hellhammer)
- Juan Alderete (The Mars Volta and Racer X)
- Dave Alexander (The Stooges)
- Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam)
- Migé Amour (HIM)
- Sean Anderson (Finger Eleven)
- Tai Anderson (Third Day)
- Marten Andersson (Lizzy Borden, George Lynch and Starwood)
- Mark Andes (Heart and Spirit)
- Dan Andriano (Alkaline Trio )
- Tom Angelripper (Sodom)
- Michael Anthony (Van Halen)
- Tom Araya (Slayer)
- Jennifer Arroyo (Kittie and Suicide City)
- Reginald Arvizu, also known as "Fieldy" (KoЯn)
- Talena Atfield (Kittie)
- Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole and Smashing Pumpkins)
- Bryce Avary (The Rocket Summer)
- Eric Avery (Jane's Addiction)
B
- Baba Ikuzo (Dragon Ash)
- Bob Babbitt (The Funk Brothers)
- A.J. Babcock (House of Heroes)
- Stepan Bahdikyan (StormBlast)
- James Bailes (session player)
- Rob Bailey (AC/DC)
- Steve Bailey (UNC bass instructor, known for collaborations with Victor Wooten)
- Alec Baillie (squat punk band Leftöver Crack)
- Harvey Bainbridge (Hawkwind)
- Brian Baker (Minor Threat)
- Michael Balzary, also known as "Flea" (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Aston Barrett, also known as "Familyman" (Bob Marley & The Wailers)
- Jean Baudin (Nuclear Rabbit)
- Mark Bedford (Madness)
- Garry Beers (INXS)
- Nick Beggs (Kajagoogoo, Iona)
- Andy Bell (Oasis)
- Carles Benavent (Paco de Lucía, Chick Corea, Miles Davis)
- Jo Bench (Bolt Thrower)
- Paco Benitez
- Jay Bentley (Bad Religion)
- Glen Benton (Deicide)
- Stevie Benton (Drowning Pool)
- Jeff Berlin
- Guy Berryman (Coldplay)
- Stephane Bertrand
- Adam Bickford (Lucius Hunt)
- Pete Birrell (Freddie and the Dreamers)
- Lori Black (Clown Alley and The Melvins)
- Ron Blair (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
- Henry Bogdan (Helmet)
- Tim Bogert (Vanilla Fudge)
- Trevor Bolder (David Bowie's Spiders from Mars band and Uriah Heep)
- Joe Bouchard (Blue Öyster Cult)
- William Boyd (Evanescence)
- Randy Bradbury (Pennywise)
- Beverly Breckenridge (Fifth Column, Phono-Comb)
- Eddie Breckenridge (Thrice)
- Daniel Broderick (The Impressions)
- Brian Bromberg
- Brown Mark (Prince and the Revolution)
- Rex Brown (Pantera, Down)
- Thomas Brownlee (Never Pass Entry)
- Jack Bruce (Cream)
- Joel Bruyere (Thousand Foot Krutch)
- Oteil Burbridge (Allman Brothers)
- Rick Burch (Jimmy Eat World)
- Hunter Burgan (AFI)
- Michael Burkett ("Fat Mike"; Nofx)
- J.J. Burnel (The Stranglers)
- Heinz Burt (The Tornados)
- Cliff Burton (Metallica)
- Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)
- Tony Butler (Big Country)
C
- Brian Calcara (Stellar Kart)
- John Cale, (co-founder of the Velvet Underground)
- Bernie Calvert (The Hollies)
- Alain Caron (Uzeb, plays six-string and fretless)
- Juan Diego Calleros (Maná)
- Manuel Carrero (Glassjaw)
- Ron Carter (jazz)
- Jack Casady (free-form jazz-rock in Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna)
- Gerald Casale (Devo)
- Martyn P. Casey (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
- Peter Cetera (Chicago)
- Les Chadwick (Gerry and the Pacemakers)
- Justin Chancellor (Tool)
- Erik Chandler (Bowling for Soup)
- Chas Chandler (The Animals)
- Tim Chandler (Daniel Amos, The Swirling Eddies, and The Choir)
- Stuart Chatwood (The Tea Party)
- Chi Cheng (Deftones)
- Eddie Chin (The Tourists and occasionally Eurythmics)
- Tony Choy (Atheist and Area 305)
- Bill Church (Montrose, Van Morrison, Sammy Hagar)
- Chris #2 (Anti-Flag)
- Johnny Christ (from Avenged Sevenfold)
- Greg Christian (Testament)
- Mike Chvasta (Light Pupil Dilate)
- Ryan Clarke (Dead Lovers Eyes)
- Stanley Clarke (Return to Forever)
- Les Claypool (Primus (band), Sausage, Les Claypool's Frog Brigade, Oysterhead, and Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains)
- Adam Clayton (U2)
- Bootsy Collins (funk)
- Jon Collins (Biomechanical)
- Tim Commerford (Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave)
- Stu Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
- Charlotte Cooper (The Subways)
- Neuter Cooter (The Cooters)
- Glenn Cornick ( Jethro Tull)
- Duncan Coutts (Our Lady Peace)
- Billy Cox (Jimi Hendrix)
- Hal Cragin (Iggy Pop, They Might Be Giants, and Mono Puff)
- Evan Cranley (Broken Social Scene, and Stars)
- Chris Cross (Christopher Allen) (Ultravox)
- Sheryl Crow
- Holger Czukay (Can)
D
- Patrick Dahlheimer ( bass player for Live)
- Stephen Dail (founding member/bass player for Project 86)
- Michael d'Albuquerque (bassist/vocalist for the Electric Light Orchestra to 1974)
- Aaron Dallison (bassist/vocalist of keelhaul)
- Matt Dally (from Christian rock band Superchick)
- Mike Daly (Whiskeytown and solo)
- Rick Danko (of The Band)
- Dr. Das (Asian Dub Foundation and Rebel Uprising)
- Stuart David (from Belle & Sebastian and Looper)
- Patricia Day (upright slap bassist and lead singer for Horrorpops)
- John Deacon (from Queen)
- Kim Deal (from Pixies and The Breeders)
- Matt Deis (bass player for CKY)
- Robert DeLeo (bass player for Stone Temple Pilots)
- Joey DeMaio (from Manowar)
- Carlos Dengler (Interpol)
- David Diamond ( of The Kings)
- Rob Derhak (bass player for moe.)
- Paul DesLisle (bass player for Smash Mouth)
- David Desrosiers (bass player for Simple Plan)
- Mark Deutrom (from The Melvins)
- James Dewar (from the group Robin Trower) former bass player and exceptional lead singer
- Marty Dieckmeyer (from the band Daniel Amos)
- Steve DiGiorgio (using fretless basses, he played in Death, Testament, Iced Earth, Vintersorg, Autopsy, Sadus)
- Nick Dimichino (bass player for Nine Days)
- Mike Dirnt (from Green Day)
- Jerry Dixon (bass player for Warrant)
- Willie Dixon (blues bassist and songwriter)
- John Doe (from X)
- Lee Dorman (Iron Butterfly)
- Chip Douglas (from The Turtles; also sessions for The Monkees, whom he produced in 1967)
- Dave Dreiwitz (from Ween, Instant Death)
- Paul Duffy (bass player for The Coral)
- Chuck Dukowski (from Black Flag)
- Donald "Duck" Dunn (pioneering soul bassist for the Mar-Keys, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, and the Blues Brothers, heard on large numbers of Stax recordings)
- Trevor Dunn (from Mr Bungle and Fantômas)
E
- Nathan East (renowed session bassist for many soul artists, Eric Clapton, etc.)
- Bernard Edwards (founding member of CHIC)
- Richie Edwards (current bass player for The Darkness)
- John 'Rhino' Edwards (Status Quo)
- David Ellefson (from Megadeth)
- Shane Embury (Napalm Death)
- John Entwistle (from The Who)
- Tobin Esperance (bass player for Papa Roach)
- Emmanuel Espinoza (Rojo)
- Roy Estrada (from the original Mothers of Invention)
- Ean Evans (current bass player for Lynyrd Skynyrd)
- Mark Evans (AC/DC bassist, 1975-1977)
- Tom Evans (from Second Hand Parts and Grindstone)
- Jason Everman (from Soundgarden and Nirvana before they were famous.)
- Tobias Exxel (from the German power metal band Edguy)
F
- Bob Fairfoull (Idlewild)
- Pete Farndon (The Pretenders)
- Dave Farrell (also known as "Phoenix"; Linkin Park)
- Tracy Ferrie (Stryper)
- Jim Fielder (Buffalo Springfield and Blood, Sweat & Tears)
- John Norwood Fisher (Fishbone)
- "Flea" (Red Hot Chili Peppers) see Michael Balzary
- Klaus Flouride (Dead Kennedys)
- Herbie Flowers (Sky and Blue Mink)
- Jared Followill (Kings of Leon)
- Maya Ford (also known as Donna F; The Donnas)
- Tim Foreman (Switchfoot)
- Kathy Foster (The Thermals)
- Tom Fowler (Frank Zappa)
- Bruce Foxton (The Jam)
- Nikolai Fraiture (The Strokes)
- Andy Fraser (Free)
- Matt Freeman (Rancid and Operation Ivy)
- "Fuzz" (Disturbed; see Steve Kmak)
G
- Jesús Gabaldón (Junk)
- Tim Gaines (Stryper, SinDizzy)
- Jon Gallant (Billy Talent)
- Simon Gallup (The Cure)
- Dan Gartley (Sanctus Real)
- Rinus Gerritsen (Golden Earring)
- Brian Gibson (Lightning Bolt)
- John Giblin
- Kristoffer Gildenlow (Pain of Salvation)
- Joe Gittleman (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Avoid One Thing, and Gang Green)
- Chad I Ginsburg (CKY (band))
- John Glascock ( Jethro Tull from 1975 to 1979)
- Roger Glover (Deep Purple)
- Jeremy Gomez (Mineral (band))
- Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
- Martin Gordon (Sparks, Radio Stars, Jet, John's Children, and now solo)
- Mike Gordon (Phish)
- Billy Gould (Faith No More)
- Graham Gouldman (10cc)
- Larry Graham ( Sly and the Family Stone and Graham Central Station)
- Hector Graziani (40 Below Summer)
- Paul Gray (Eddie & The Hot Rods, The Damned, UFO)
- Paul Gray (Slipknot)
- Colin Greenwood (Radiohead)
- Paolo Gregoletto (Trivium)
- Markus Grosskopf (Helloween)
- Kelly Groucutt (Electric Light Orchestra from 1974 to 1983)
- Måns Groundstroem (Tasavallan Presidentti, Wigwam, etc.)
- Trey Gunn (King Crimson)
- John Gustafson (Roxy Music from 1973 to 1976; has also played with Quatermass, The Merseybeats and Ian Gillan Band)
H
- Mark Hamilton (Ash)
- Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith)
- Stuart Hamm (Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Frank Gambale)
- Didz Hammond (The Cooper Temple Clause, Dirty Pretty Things)
- Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond (Jethro Tull)
- Steve Hansgen (Minor Threat)
- Joe Hanson (Grinspoon)
- Robert Hardy (Franz Ferdinand)
- Nick Harmer (Death Cab for Cutie)
- Diccon Harper (DragonForce)
- Douglas Hart (The Jesus and Mary Chain)
- Todd Harrell (3 Doors Down)
- Jet Harris (The Shadows)
- Steve Harris (Iron Maiden)
- Nigel Harrison (Blondie)
- John Hassall (The Libertines)
- Helmut Hattler (Kraan)
- Dustin Hawthorne (Hot Hot Heat)
- Daryl Hayott (Konfuciousklan)
- Heath (X Japan)
- Richard Hell
- Jonas Hellborg (Bill Laswell, Shawn Lane, Buckethead, Jonas Hellborg Trio)
- Mike Herrera (MxPx)
- James Heywood (Kowalski)
- Marco Hietala (Nightwish)
- Dusty Hill (ZZ Top)
- Ian Hill (Judas Priest)
- Bones Hillman (Midnight Oil)
- Chris Hillman (The Byrds, The Desert Rose Band)
- Taka Hirose (Feeder)
- Sasaki Hisashi (Ruins)
- Errol Holt (also known as Flabba Holt) (Roots Radics, Scientist)
- Peter Hook (New Order, Monaco, and Joy Division)
- Dave Hope (Kansas)
- Mark Hoppus (blink-182)
- Seth Horan (solo - singer/songwriter)
- Jeph Howard (The Used)
- Hub (The Roots)
- Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple)
- Mats Huldén (Wigwam, Kauko Röyhkä)
- Dave Hungate (Toto)
- Rick Huxley (The Dave Clark Five)
I
- Jimmy Ibbotson (long-time member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, 1968-76, 1982-2004)
- John Illsley (bass player for Dire Straits)
- Michael Inez (bass player for Alice In Chains)
- Michael Ivins (bass player for The Flaming Lips)
J
- Anthony Jackson (pioneer on the six string bass, worked with Chick Corea, Chaka Khan, O'Jays, Quincy Jones)
- Eddie Jackson (Queensrÿche)
- Marcel Jacob
- Jermaine Jackson (Jackson 5)
- James Jamerson (bassist of Motown house band Funk Brothers)
- Alex James (bassist from Blur)
- Rick James (renowned funk bassist)
- Steve Jay ("Weird Al" Yankovic)
- Jerry Jemmott
- Tom Jenkinson, a.k.a. Squarepusher
- Darryl Jennifer (from Bad Brains)
- Jimmy Johnson (well respected, invented 5-string bass)
- Louis Johnson of the Brothers Johnson, (popularized the slapping or thumping technique; Worked with Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, among others)
- Bruce Johnston (bass player on stage for the Beach Boys)
- Darryl Jones (unofficial bass player for The Rolling Stones)
- John Paul Jones (from Led Zeppelin, known for his immense musical versatility and solid basslines)
- Percy Jones (fretless bass player of Brand X and Tunnels; also worked with Japanese artists in the 1980s including Masami Tsuchiya, Ippu-Do and Melon)
- Pete Jones (Public Image Limited)
- Eric Judy (Modest Mouse)
K
- John Kahn (Jerry Garcia Band, Old And In The Way)
- Shewolf Dana Kain (The Young Werewolves)
- Jari Kainulainen (Stratovarius)
- Scott Kalapos (47C)
- Tony Kanal (No Doubt)
- Murphy Karges (Sugar Ray)
- Mick Karn (multi-instrumentalist; Japan)
- Carol Kaye
- kazu (Kagerou)
- Jesse F. Keeler (Death From Above 1979)
- Ace Kefford (The Move)
- Andy Kent (You Am I)
- John Kerry (The Electras)
- Bakhiti Khumolo (Paul Simon)
- Lemmy Kilmister (Motörhead)
- Mark King (Level 42)
- Tim Kingsbury (The Arcade Fire)
- Karl Kippenberger (Shihad)
- Steve Kmak (also known as "Fuzz"; Disturbed)
- Geoff Kresge (Tiger Army, AFI)
- Greg Kriesel (The Offspring)
- Mike Kroeger (Nickelback)
- Joe Krube (Ace Troubleshooter)
- Alexander Kutikov (Visoskosnoye Leto, Mashina Vremeni)
L
- Abraham Laboriel
- Greg Lake (King Crimson, Emerson, Lake and Palmer)
- Joe Lally (Fugazi)
- Alan Lancaster (Status Quo)
- Dirk Lance (also known as Alex Katunich) (Incubus)
- Ronnie Lane (The Small Faces, The Faces, and Slim Chance)
- Bill Laswell
- Steve Lawson (creates tracks out of multiple loops of bass sounds)
- Jack Lawrence (The Greenhornes, Blanche, and The Raconteurs)
- Chris Leal (No Doubt)
- Jimmy Lea (Slade)
- Geddy Lee (Rush)
- Will Lee (Late Show with David Letterman)
- Paz Lenchantin (A Perfect Circle, Zwan)
- Julian Lennon
- Martyn Lenoble (Porno For Pyros, Jane's Addiction, The Cult)
- Michael Lepond (Symphony X)
- Phil Lesh (The Grateful Dead)
- Stefan Lessard (Dave Matthews Band)
- Dave Leutkenhoelter (Kutless, formerly of Seven Places)
- John Levén (Europe)
- Tony Levin (plays Chapman Stick and conventional bass guitar; King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, and Liquid Tension Experiment)
- Graham Lewis (Wire)
- Lasse Ljungberg (The Ark)
- Brian Locking (The Shadows)
- Joe Loeffler (Chevelle)
- Danny Lohner (Nine Inch Nails)
- John Lodge (The Moody Blues)
- Joe Long (The Four Seasons)
- Alex Lora (El Tri)
- Nick Lowe (Brinsley Schwarz, Rockpile)
- Matt Lukin (The Melvins, Mudhoney)
- Geoffrey Lyall (Dead Kennedys)
- Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy)
M
- Graham Maby (Joe Jackson, They Might Be Giants, and Natalie Merchant)
- Craig MacGregor (Foghat)
- Michael MacIvor (Candiria)
- Andy MacMannis
- Steve Mackey (Pulp)
- Mickey Madden (Maroon 5)
- Matt Maginn (Cursive)
- Matt Rubano (Taking Back Sunday)
- Dan Maines (Clutch (band))
- Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu, They Might Be Giants)
- Matt Malley (Counting Crows)
- Sean Malone (Cynic and Gordian Knot)
- Roger Manganelli (Less Than Jake)
- Michael Manring
- Brian Marshall (Creed, Alter Bridge)
- Tony Marsico (Los Cruzados)
- Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne)
- Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols)
- John Maurer (Social Distortion)
- Nathan Maxwell (Flogging Molly).
- Gerry McAvoy (Rory Gallagher)
- Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
- Jason McCaslin (Sum 41)
- Mark McClelland (& keyboardist; Snow Patrol)
- Drew McConnell (Babyshambles)
- Ron McGovney (Metallica)
- Paul McGuigan (Oasis)
- Tom McGuinness (Manfred Mann, McGuinness Flint)
- Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver)
- Marc McKnight (Atreyu)
- John McVie (Fleetwood Mac)
- Randy Meisner (The Eagles)
- Nate Mendel (Sunny Day Real Estate, Foo Fighters)
- Martin Mendez (Opeth)
- Dave Meros (Spock's Beard)
- Mike Mesaros (The Smithereens)
- Andy Metcalfe (The Soft Boys, Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians)
- Marcus Miller (jazz; Miles Davis, David Sanborn)
- Thomas Miller (Symphony X)
- Kevin Mills (Newsboys, Whiteheart)
- Mike Mills (R.E.M.)
- Danny Miranda (Blue Öyster Cult, Queen + Paul Rodgers)
- Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas (Mute Math)
- Yoh Miyamori (Orange Range)
- Gordon Moakes (Bloc Party)
- Rockette Morton, or Mark Boston (Captain Beefheart, Mallard, Mark Boston)
- Robin Moulder (TCR, Jack Off Jill)
- Colin Moulding (& songwriter; XTC)
- Gary Mounfield a.k.a. Mani (The Stone Roses, Primal Scream)
- John Moyer (Disturbed)
- Mike Murphy (Haste The Day)
- Dee Murray (Elton John)
- George Murray (David Bowie)
- John Myung (Dream Theater
N
O
- Patrick O'Hearn (Frank Zappa)
- Berry Oakley (the Allman Brothers Band)
- Shavo Odadjian (System of a Down)
- Tetsuya Ogawa also known as Tetsu (L'Arc~en~Ciel, Tetsu69)
- Joshua "Phatty" Olds (Family Force 5)
- Nick Oliveri (Kyuss, The Dwarves, Mondo Generator and Queens of the Stone Age)
- Stefan Olsdal (Placebo)
- Jerry Only (The Misfits)
- Daniel Ornellas (Christian rock band Tree63)
- Benjamin Orr (The Cars)
- Joe Osborn
- Franc O'Shea (composer, jazz world fusion)
P
- P-Nut (311)
- Marko Paasikoski (Sonata Arctica)
- Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds)
- Pino Palladino
- Bruce Palmer (Buffalo Springfield)
- Dave "Yorkie" Palmer (Space)
- Chuck Panozzo (original bass player for STYX)
- Jaco Pastorius (Pat Metheny, Weather Report, Joni Mitchell, etc.)
- John Patitucci (Chick Corea)
- Roger Patterson (Atheist)
- Jeff Pearce (Moist and David Usher)
- Justin Pearson (The Locust, Some Girls, Head Wound City)
- Dave Pegg (Jethro Tull)
- Pete Perez (Spastic Ink)
- Joel Peterson (The Faint, Broken Spindles, and Beep Beep)
- Tom Petersson (Cheap Trick)
- Kristen Pfaff (Janitor Joe, Hole)
- PJ Phillips (Vanessa Mae)
- Doug Pinnick (King's X)
- Brian Pittman (Inhale Exhale, formerly of Relient K)
- Pekka Pohjola (Wigwam, solo)
- Mike Porcaro (Toto)
- Frankie Poullain (The Darkness)
- Dougie Poynter (McFly)
- Guy Pratt (Session Bassist)
- Francis "Rocco" Prestia (Tower Of Power)
- Joe Preston (Sunn O))) and The Melvins)
- Rick Price (The Move and Wizzard)
- Stuart Price (Zoot Woman)
- Tomaas Proitsis (Babe in the Woods, William Hooker)
Q
R
- Carl Radle (Eric Clapton)
- Chuck Rainey
- Twiggy Ramirez (Marilyn Manson)
- Dee Dee Ramone (The Ramones)
- C.J. Ramone (The Ramones)
- Jimmie Randall (Jo Jo Gunne)
- Newt Rayburn (The Cooters)
- Noel Redding (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
- Scott Reeder (Kyuss)
- Reita (Gazette)
- C'el Revuelta (Black Flag)
- Deon Rexroat (Anberlin)
- Oliver Riedel (Rammstein)
- Steve Righ? (Mindless Self Indulgence)
- Jared Rigsby (House of Heroes)
- Brian Ritchie (Violent Femmes)
- Tyson Ritter (The All-American Rejects)
- Sam Rivers (Limp Bizkit)
- Simon Rix (Kaiser Chiefs)
- "Rocco", see Francis "Rocco" Prestia
- Paul Robinson (Tin Foil Phoenix)
- Steve Rodby (Pat Metheny)
- Jim Rodford (The Kinks)
- Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (DeFacto)
- Kira Roessler (Black Flag)
- Jon Rogers (Blue Öyster Cult)
- John Rostill (The Shadows)
- Andy Rourke (The Smiths)
- Matt Rubano (Taking Back Sunday)
- Mike Rutherford (Genesis)
- Kevin Rutmanis (The Cows, The Melvins, and Tomahawk)
S
- Saga (alice nine.)
- Tetsuo Sakurai (Casiopea)
- Arion Salazar (Third Eye Blind)
- Paul Samwell-Smith (The Yardbirds)
- Mark Sandman (Morphine)
- Rick Savage (Def Leppard)
- Mel Schacher (Grand Funk Railroad)
- Jason Scheff (Chicago since 1986)
- Don Schiff (plays Chapman Stick and NS/Stick and conventional bass guitar)
- Timothy B. Schmit (The Eagles, 1978-present)
- Dave Schools (Widespread Panic)
- Dominic Sclafani (Organized Confusion)
- Matthew Seligman (Soft Boys, Thomas Dolby, Thompson Twins, & David Bowie)
- Captain Sensible (Raymond Burns) (The Damned)
- Henkka Seppälä (Children of Bodom)
- Steve Severin (Siouxsie & The Banshees)
- Nick Seymour (Crowded House)
- Robbie Shakespeare (reggae)
- Matt Sharp (Weezer)
- Tommy Shannon (bassist of Stevie Ray Vaughan)
- Alison Shaw (Cranes)
- Billy Sheehan
- Fran Sheehan (Boston)
- Ben Shepherd (Soundgarden)
- Scott Shriner (Weezer)
- Gene Simmons (KISS)
- Paul Simonon (The Clash)
- Gord Sinclair (The Tragically Hip)
- Siggy Siursen (Powerman 5000)
- Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe)
- Leland Sklar (James Taylor)
- Robert Sledge (Ben Folds Five)
- Derek Smalls (Spinal Tap)
- Greg Smalls (Blue Öyster Cult)
- Fred Smith (Blondie, Television)
- Jimmy Smith (The Gourds)
- Neil Smith (AC/DC)
- Phil Spalding (Toyah, GTR, Mike Oldfield)
- Chris Squire (Yes)
- Mike Starr (Alice In Chains)
- Michael Steele (The Bangles)
- Peter Steele (Carnivore, Type O Negative)
- Tony Stevens (Foghat)
- Sting (& singer; The Police, solo career)
- Tommy Stinson (The Replacements, Guns N' Roses)
- Mark Stoermer (The Killers)
- Neil Stubenhaus (Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones)
- Sunny (a.k.a. Poizonous Bass) (Poizon Green)
- Magnus Sveningsson (The Cardigans)
- Steve Swallow
T
- Taiji (ex-X Japan)
- Garry Tallent (The E Street Band)
- Matt Taylor (Motion City Soundtrack)
- John Taylor (Duran Duran)
- Bruce Thomas (The Attractions)
- Paul Thomas (Good Charlotte)
- Danny Thompson (Pentangle (band), Richard Thompson)
- Dougie Thomson (Supertramp)
- Phil Thornalley (The Cure, Johnny Hates Jazz)
- Dan Thunderbird (Backstreet Girls)
- Scott Thunes (Frank Zappa, Steve Vai)
- Gary Tibbs (Roxy Music, Adam and the Ants, and Hazel O'Connor.
- Michael Todd (Coheed & Cambria)
- Jannick Top (Magma)
- Peter Tork (The Monkees)
- Toshiya (Dir en grey)
- Pete Trewavas (Marillion)
- Robert Trujillo (Infectious Grooves, Suicidal Tendencies, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica)
- Fred Turner (of Bachman Turner Overdrive)
- Robby Takac (The Goo Goo Dolls)
U
V
- Toy Valentine (The Faders)
- Ross Valory (Journey)
- Larry Van Kriedt (AC/DC)
- Ken Vasoli (The Starting Line)
- Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols)
- Roy Vogt (Nashville studio and professional touring bassist)
- Eerie Von (fSamhain and Danzig)
- Klaus Voorman (Manfred Mann and the Plastic Ono Band)
W
- Pete Waddleton (Play Dead, Mankind's Audio Development
- Jon Walker (Panic! At The Disco)
- Brad Walst (Three Days Grace)
- Tim Ward (The Fall of Troy)
- John Warne (Relient K)
- Rob Wasserman (Bob Weir)
- Miiko Watanabe (the Screamin' Sirens, American Girls)
- Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
- Mike Watt (The Minutemen, The Stooges)
- Norman Watt-Roy (Ian Dury and the Blockheads)
- Nathan Watts (Stevie Wonder)
- Mikey Way (My Chemical Romance)
- Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse)
- Danny Weinkauf (They Might Be Giants)
- Jon Weisberg (From First To Last)
- Mikey Welsh (Weezer)
- Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy)
- John Wetton (Asia, King Crimson, United Kingdom)
- Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads)
- Chris White (The Zombies)
- Jack White (The song "Go It Alone" off the album Guero by Beck and several of The White Stripes songs)
- Jeordie White (formerly Twiggy Ramirez from Marilyn Manson; A Perfect Circle, Nine Inch Nails)
- Verdine White (Earth, Wind & Fire)
- Brad Wigg (The Afters)
- Leon Wilkeson (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
- Cliff Williams (AC/DC)
- Trevor Williams (Audience and Jonathan Kelly's Outside)
- Gary Willis (Tribal Tech)
- Aaron Wills (311)
- Brian Wilson (Beach Boys)
- Eric Wilson (Sublime)
- Doug Wimbish (Sugarhill Gang, Living Colour, Tackhead, Mick Jagger, Joe Satriani)
- Muff Winwood (Spencer Davis Group)
- Nicky Wire (Manic Street Preachers)
- Jah Wobble (Public Image Limited)
- e e wolfe III (Fever Tree)
- Kinley Wolfe (Black Oak Arkansas, Lord Tracy, The Cult, American Fuse, Jack Ingram, Nate Fowler's Elixir)
- Tom "T-Bone" Wolk (Hall & Oates, Billy Joel, Carly Simon)
- Chris Wolstenholme (Muse)
- Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Bass Extremes, Vital Tech Tones)
- D'Arcy Wretzky (The Smashing Pumpkins)
- Rob Wright (Nomeansno)
- Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones)
Y
- Brian Yale (a.k.a. "Pookie"; matchbox twenty)
- Hiro Yamamoto (Soundgarden)
- Andre Young (Dr.Dre)
- George Young (AC/DC)
- Yu~ki (Malice Mizer)
- Yuura (Kra)