20 Most Famous Female Bass Artists in the World

Many great female bassists have made their mark across many different musical genres and decades. From rock, funk to jazz, these ladies have proven they can stand up to any man who plays bass! It's a pity that their names often go unnoticed. To honor them, in this article, we will take a look at the lives and careers of 20 of the greatest and most famous female bassists you should know.

Esperanza Spalding

Jazz vocalist and bassist Esperanza Spalding is the first and only jazz artist to win a Grammy as Best New Artist.
She is a child prodigy, having performed with the Oregon Chamber Music Association at the age of 5 as a violinist. She is very talented in music, taught herself to play bass guitar, and has won many scholarships to prestigious universities.

Years later, Esperanza made a name for herself as a world-class artist and one of the best bass players of her generation.

Her signature bass playing style is noted for her harmonious timbre, which creates a bright and playful feel. With her complex harmonies, melodious bass, and wonderful vocals, she has produced many precious works.

Tina Weymouth

Martina Michèle Weymouth, better known as Tina Weymouth, is the bass player for the rock bands Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club. She began her career at the age of 12, as a member of the Potomac English Hand Bell Ringers group. She is a musician, taught herself to play guitar at the age of 14 and is currently one of the most successful bassists in modern rock.

She uses pronunciation, space, and a keen sense of note length to support the rhythm of her music. Her style has a distinct edgy vibe and is marked by swashbuckling notes, which add to the daring.

Kim Gordon

Bassist and founding member of the popular punk-rock band Sonic Youth, Kim Gordon was an artist before becoming a musician. Moving to New York City after graduating from college in hopes of making a career, she discovered the no-wave band, a genre of Avante Garde music that was popular in the art world in the 1970s.

Since then, Gordon has made an indelible mark on the alternative-rock genre with his rock-solid bass and rhythmic bass lines. Her powerful bass and punk vibes were quite influential during the grunge rise of the 1980s. In addition to collaborating with Sonic Youth, Gordon was a founding member of another alternative-rock band. , Free Kitten.

Carol Kaye

One of the best bassists in history, Carol Kaye is known to have played around 10,000 records during her long career that began in the late 1950s.

The interesting thing about Kaye is that she did not intend to be a guitarist at the beginning of her career. While working at Gold Star Studios, the bassist didn't show up, leaving Kaye to take their place. Since then, Kaye has become a musical legend. Looking through her profile you will see how diverse she is. She can do it all: funk, rock, acoustic, pop and salsa.
Her bass style features both melodious and rhythmic sounds, alongside techniques like inserting a felt pad between the strings to enhance the sound of the bass.

Tal Wilkenfeld

Australian bass guitarist Tal Wilkenfeld is more than just an instrument player. She is also a singer and songwriter who has left her mark in the music industry as a solo artist. She rose to fame after sharing the stage with some of the most famous names in rock and jazz, including Herbie Hancock and Jeff Beck.
Wilkenfeld's music encompasses many genres, such as rock, folk, funk and jazz. On alternative, indie tunes, her innovative bass technique is clear, using flat-wound strings to create a warm and harmonious sound.

She is also an award-winning artist, being voted "Most Exciting New Player of the Year" in 2008 and winning Bass Player Magazine's "Young Gun Award" five years later.

Kim Deal

Best known as the bassist for the band Pixies, and sometimes as lead vocalist, Kim Deal is a multi-talented songwriter who also played a key role in the line's growth. grunge music.

Deal's powerful vocals, powerful bass lines and memorable hooks take the Pixies to the next level. The Pixies' signature sound can best be defined as a unique blend of punk, rock and pop, thanks to a distinctive strategy of using old bass strings.

After the Pixies went on hiatus in the late 1980s, Deal formed an alternative rock band called Breeders. She was also a member of Amps, a short-lived band in the mid-1990s.
Throughout her career, she used various nicknames, most notably "Mrs. John Murphy" during her time with the Pixies and Tammy Ampersand with Amps.

Aimee Mann

The bassist and lead vocalist of Boston-based new wave band Til Tuesday, Aimee Mann is a two-time Grammy Award-winning songwriter. She was listed by NPR Music as one of the Top 10 Greatest Living Musicians of 2006.

In fact, she's the songwriter behind Til Tuesday's hit single "Voices Carry". The way she plays bass and composes has a minimalistic tweak. With simple yet well thought out phrases, she has an extraordinary skill for creating mysterious songs.

After Til Tuesday disbanded in 1990, she pursued a solo career. Although her songs were not commercially successful, "I Should've Known," "That's Just What You Are," and "Going Through The Motions" were loved by fans. prefer.

Suzi quatro

Susan Kay Quatro, better known by her stage name Suzi Quatro, began her career with the garage rock band The Pleasure Seekers, which was later renamed Cradle.

Quatro is the first female bassist in mainstream rock, with exceptional technique, long bass guitar solos during performances, impressive vocals and unique fashion sense with jumpsuits. special leather.

Suzi Quatro has many great achievements, including six Bravo Ottos, an award for excellence in music, film and television in Germany. In addition to being a talented musician, she is also a broadcaster, still active in this field to this day.

Sean Yseult

Shauna Reynolds, also known by her stage name Sean Yseult, is a photographer, novelist, and multi-talented heavy metal bass player. From a young age, she studied piano, violin and ballet, worked in various media and was passionate about the visual arts.

Sean is best known as the bassist for the heavy metal band White Zombie. She then formed another band 'Famous Monsters', after White Zombie ceased operations in 1998.

Currently, she is pursuing a career in photography and design, participating in many art exhibitions. She and her husband, musician Chris Lee of Supagroup, also founded a popular bar for musicians and artists.

Gail Ann Dorsey

Best known as a member of David Bowie's band, he is not only a bass guitarist but also a singer, songwriter and screenwriter.

She was given a bass guitar for her 14th birthday but didn't think she would become a bass guitarist until six years later. In fact, her main career is not music but film, screenwriter.

At the age of 22, she decided to pursue a career in music in London, eventually joining David Bowie's band. She worked with his band for a long time, from 1995 to 2016.

On the original version of the 1980s classic “Under Pressure,” Dorsey performed the chorus with Freddie Mercury, creating some of the song's signature moments. In addition to her work with David Bowie, she has collaborated with many famous singers such as Lenny Kravitz and Gwen Stefani, and has released three solo albums.

Melissa Auf Der Mauric

Canadian singer, songwriter, photographer and actress, Melissa Auf Der Maur is known for forming an indie rock band called Tinder in the early 1990s.

Her bass playing has strongly influenced alternative rock music. She is considered a master at customizing the sounds and nuances of songs, with originality and creativity that can give an entire song a boost.
In addition to being active with Tinker, she is also a member of the rock band Hole. She also had a stint with the alternative-rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, as well as projects like The Chelsea and Hand of Doom.

In addition, she also began a solo music career, releasing two studio albums and two extended play (EPs). Her single "Followed The Waves" topped the US and UK charts, including two other songs from her debut album.

Kathy Valentine

Born Kathryn Valentine, is an accomplished radio artist, singer, songwriter, record producer and author, best known as the bassist for the pop-punk band The Go-Go.

What's unique about The Go-Go is that it's the first and only all-girl band to have a #1 album in the US, and Valentine's stellar bass guitar skills are one of the reasons they've become so popular.

The band's music has a vibrant vibe, with Valentine's sparkling, sparkling rhythms, subtle bass playing, and inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.

More than a musician, Valentine is also a published author, with degrees in English and Fine Arts. She is also a producer on the album Rise by the rock band Motorbaby.

Paz Lenchantin

Argentinian-American musician Paz Lenchantin is one of the most accomplished bass players in modern history. In addition to playing bass, she is also an excellent violinist, pianist and singer.

She is best known as a member of the alternative-rock band Pixies, after founding member and original bassist Kim Deal left the group. She has also worked with other rock bands such as Silver Jewish and Zwan.

Her technique is a subtle combination to give the song its own flavor with bass lines without overshadowing the song itself. She also began a solo career in the early 2000s and has released two albums, but has not achieved much commercial success.

Kristen Pfaff

90s rock icon, Kristen Pfaff is best known as the bassist in the band Alternative rock. As a child, she studied piano and cello, and taught herself to play bass guitar. During her short career, she was a skilled bassist and a gifted musician.

Before joining Hole, she was one of the founding members of the rock band Janitor Joe, as well as serving as bassist and lead vocalist. She later left the band to join Hole, which was considered a good move for her career.

Sadly, her promising career came to an abrupt end after she passed away from a drug overdose in 1994. She was only 27 years old, becoming part of the 27 Legendary Urban Club. town.

D'arcy Wretzky

D'arcy Elizabeth Wretzky-Brown, better known as D'arcy, is the first female bassist of the band Smashing Pumpkins. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a musician, which she set out to do since she was 10 years old. However, a few years after joining the Smashing Pumpkins, she left the group to pursue an acting career. Although she is not a perfect bassist, she is always very bold in her performance style on stage. The ever-changing aesthetic with striking colors has helped shape the style.

Meshell Ndegeocello

Michelle Lynn Johnson, better known by her stage name Meshell Ndegeocello, is a multi-talented singer-songwriter, rapper and one of the greatest female bassists of all time.

She is even considered an influential figure in the neo-soul genre, with her unique style combining soul, jazz, reggae, funk, hip hop and rock. She is best known as the only bassist on this list to have played with the popular rock band The Rolling Stones. She is also associated with other famous artists such as Madonna, Benson Taylor and Chaka Khan. In addition to being a musician, she is also an activist for many causes, most notably with the LGBTQ+ project' It Gets Better, herself as a lesbian.

Mohini Dey

Bengali-Indian musician Mohini Dey is one of the most promising electric bass talents in the world and in India. This is without a doubt, as she is the daughter of a bass guitarist, Sujoy Dey. Talent and passion were a big part of her exceptional performance. Many famous musicians have called Mohini a child prodigy.

She has become a musician, performing live and in the studio for many artists in India and around the world.
Some of her most notable collaborations are with Jordan Rudess of metal band Dream Theater, German musician Marco Minnemann and Indian record producer AR Rahman.

Rhonda Smith

Canadian bass guitarist Rhonda Smith is best known for touring and collaborating with Prince, setting high standards for stellar bass playing at many levels. She has a very special taste for great bass lines, which goes beyond her talent.

In addition to her stint with Prince over the past decade, she has also performed with other notable musicians such as Beyoncé, Chaka Khan and Erykah Badu.

In 2000, she started her solo career and released her first album titled 'Intellipop'. She is still touring and releasing new music as a solo artist and collaborating with other artists.

Tracy Wormworth

American bass guitarist Tracy Wormworth is a world-class musician, best known as the bassist for the new wave band B-52s.
She comes from a musical family, being the daughter of Jimmy Wormworth, a jazz drummer, brother of James Wormworth, also a drummer, sister of Mary Wormworth who is a singer.

In addition to her time with the B-52 over the past two decades, she has also collaborated with many famous artists Cyndi Lauper, Sting, Little Richard and Joan Osborne.
Wormworth has worked in music and television in the US for more than three decades. She was impressed by her talent and contribution.

Divinity Roxx

Also known as MC Divinity and D. Walker, Divinity Roxx is a bass guitarist, composer, and rapper, with a wide range of abilities, from R&B, rock, soul to funk.

Although she rose to prominence after a five-year tour with Beyoncé, she made a name for herself through her ability to combine dynamic, powerful rapping with powerful bass guitar solo technique.

With her talent, she has started a solo career since 2003, releasing three albums to date. In addition, She also collaborates with other notable artists such as Black Eyed Peas's will.i.am, Korean girl group 2NE1 and fellow bassist Victor Wooten, which are just some of the projects worth doing. attention that she took part in.