McCartney is usually the first musician people think of when they hear the phrase "melodic bass." Just about anything he's ever recorded could fall under that category, but this masterpiece is probably the most obvious example.

John Paul Jones is another bona fide legend who changed the course of music. Always highly melodic, he approaches music like an arranger, developing a part that perfectly fits the composition. Led Zeppelin's second album is probably his most acclaimed from the perspective of melodic bass work.

Chuck Rainey dominated the studio scene in the seventies. Listening to this disc, it's easy to see why. Rainey cites James Jamerson as his biggest influence and ever the good disciple, on this album he fuses the melodic and rhythmic aspects of the electric bass into his own unique voice.

Colin Moulding is a prime exponent of the McCartney school of melodic bass playing. Again, almost anything he recorded could be used as an example but "Black Sea" is a particular favorite of mine. On this album, Moulding puts on a clinic in creative, musical playing and each bassline is virtually a tune in itself.

Understandably, the spotlight was usually on the more flamboyant Morrisey and Johnny Marr - the two principle songwriters in the band, but Andy Rourke is a very underrated musician. When you listen to The Smiths you find that, like Jamerson before him, Rourke usually carries the main melody of the tune. This made him the perfect partner to Marr's jangly arpeggiated rhythm guitar style.