Looking over this list of best Women Bass Guitar Players, the immediate takeaway is that it highlights some of the most exceptional musicians in history – not just outstanding bassists or remarkable women in music. Furthermore, it’s striking how many of these women also excel in other musical domains: playing guitar, songwriting, and leading bands as frontwomen. Perhaps, in the world of bass guitar, and in many other fields, women often need to demonstrate even greater excellence to gain the recognition they rightfully deserve.
Bass Guitarist in Shadows
Image: A close up and slightly low angle shot depicts a woman bassist in silhouette, bathed in stage lighting, passionately playing a black bass guitar. Her focused energy is palpable, highlighting the intensity and artistry of women bass guitar players.
With that in mind, our curated list of the best women bass guitar players of all time showcases pivotal figures across punk, funk, and lyrical rock, culminating in the number one spot with one of the most versatile and recorded musicians ever to touch an instrument.
Here are our Top 25 best women bass guitar players of all time.
25: Joan Armatrading
Often celebrated as a gifted singer-songwriter, Joan Armatrading’s prowess as a multi-instrumentalist is sometimes overlooked. However, she contributed bass parts on many of her classic albums, alongside her signature guitar and keyboard work. Her 2018 album, Not Too Far Away, is rich with the kind of melodic basslines she once entrusted to top session musicians. With a discography spanning jazz, blues, and electric rock, Armatrading’s remarkable versatility as a player solidifies her place among the best women bass guitar players.
Joan Armatrading – Not Too Far Away (Official Audio)
Click to load video
24: Kendra Smith (The Dream Syndicate, Opal)
Emerging from LA’s vibrant Paisley Underground scene, Kendra Smith, bassist for The Dream Syndicate, garnered significant attention, almost matching that of the band’s frontman, Steve Wynn. Her departure after their seminal debut album, The Days Of Wine And Roses, marked a shift in the band’s sound. Smith remained a revered cult figure, creating a hauntingly beautiful album with Opal and a solo album, Nine Ways Of Disappearing, before retreating from the spotlight, reportedly to the desert. She made a welcome return, like a musical apparition, on The Dream Syndicate’s 2017 reunion album, How Did I Find Myself Here?.
23: Suzi Quatro
While Suzi Quatro might elicit a “Who?” response from some in the US, she was an iconic rock figure in the UK during the glam rock era. Her singles “Can The Can” and “Devil Gate Drive” were anthems of sexy swagger. Further digging into mid-60s garage rock revealed Quatro’s early days in the Detroit band The Pleasure Seekers. Their single “Never Thought You’d Leave Me” is a standout female-fronted track in the garage genre, notable for opening with a bass solo. Adding to her unique resume, Quatro holds the distinction of being the only bassist on this list to have a recurring role on the popular TV show Happy Days.
22: Melissa Auf Der Maur (Smashing Pumpkins, Hole)
Melissa Auf Der Maur is recognized as a steadfast and powerful bassist, particularly known for joining bands during periods of turmoil. She first stepped in with Hole after the tragic passing of Kristen Pfaff, and later joined Smashing Pumpkins following their split with D’arcy Wretzky. Auf Der Maur showcased her adaptability by contributing to Hole during their more pop-oriented phase (Celebrity Skin) and Smashing Pumpkins at their most metallic (Machina). Her two solo albums blend these diverse approaches, incorporating elements of prog and punk.
Auf Der Maur – Followed The Waves
Click to load video
21: Sean Yseult (White Zombie)
Based in New Orleans, Sean Yseult is a multifaceted artist with ventures in photography, fashion, and literature, alongside her music career. As one of the best women bass guitar players, she is characterized by a gritty tone and raw sensibility, even having collaborated with The Cramps. However, Yseult is most celebrated for her long tenure with White Zombie, a band that masterfully fused doom-laden sounds with rock and roll energy.
White Zombie – Black Sunshine ft. Iggy Pop
Click to load video
20: Aimee Mann (’Til Tuesday)
Some might argue against Aimee Mann’s inclusion on a list of best women bass guitar players, given her limited bass playing since her ’Til Tuesday days. While her singing and songwriting have reached impressive heights, she typically features a dedicated bassist (Paul Bryan) in her solo band and primarily plays rhythm guitar live. However, Both, her collaborative project with Ted Leo, serves as a reminder of Mann’s exceptional bass skills, delivering rapid punk basslines with a songwriter’s melodic sensibility.
19: Johnette Napolitano (Concrete Blonde)
Frontwomen who also play bass often seem to have a complex relationship with the instrument. Similar to Juliana Hatfield and Aimee Mann, Johnette Napolitano, of Concrete Blonde, has occasionally switched to guitar on albums and tours. Despite these shifts, her position as one of the best women bass guitar players remains undisputed. The early 90s incarnation of Concrete Blonde, featuring Napolitano on bass, Paul Thompson (ex-Roxy Music) on drums, and Jim Mankey on guitar, was a formidable power trio. They delivered both brooding, goth-influenced grooves and exhilarating rock anthems.
Concrete Blonde – Joey
Click to load video
18: Kim Deal (Pixies, The Breeders)
For many devoted fans, Kim Deal was the heart of Pixies. While acknowledging the contributions of other band members, her distinctive sound and stage presence were undeniably crucial to their original dynamic. Deal’s musicality is highlighted by the fact that two of Pixies’ most beloved tracks, “Debaser” and “Gigantic,” both begin with memorable bass solos. She further demonstrated her all-around talent by essentially being a one-woman band on her solo project, Pacer By The Amps, released under the pseudonym The Amps.
Pixies – Gigantic
Click to load video
17: Gaye Advert (The Adverts)
Gaye Advert, one of the standout women bass guitar players to emerge from the punk rock movement, might have achieved greater recognition had her band, The Adverts, not disbanded prematurely after releasing the classic single “Gary Gilmore’s Eyes” and a couple of less impactful follow-ups, none of which gained US release at the time. Punk bass playing prioritized speed and precision, and Gaye Advert was a match for contemporaries like Dee Dee Ramone and Glen Matlock.
The Adverts Gary Gilmore’s Eyes Live @ Top Of The Pops 1977
Click to load video
16: Cait O’Riordan (The Pogues)
Consider the challenge of maintaining musical cohesion within a band of acoustic musicians known for their spirited revelry. As the original bassist for The Pogues, Cait O’Riordan held the often-underappreciated role of keeping everyone musically grounded, a task she managed with remarkable success. If The Pogues sounded remarkably tight despite their reputation, O’Riordan deserves significant credit. Perhaps the most dedicated punk rocker in the lineup, her amplified bass provided a crucial anchor for the band’s energetic sound.
Wild Cats of Kilkenny
Click to load video
15: Michele Temple (Pere Ubu)
As the longest-serving bassist in Pere Ubu, and indeed the longest-tenured member aside from frontman David Thomas, Michele Temple holds one of the most demanding positions in the “avant-garage” band. Her role is to make their most experimental moments sound immediate and their more accessible moments equally compelling, a testament to her skill and adaptability as a bassist.
Pere Ubu, “Come Home”
Click to load video
14: Sara Lee (Gang Of Four, The B-52s, The League Of Gentlemen)
Sara Lee stands as a pioneering figure among punk-funk bassists. She was an unsung hero in Robert Fripp’s short-lived dance project, The League Of Gentlemen, where her basslines were the driving force for movement. She then succeeded Dave Allen in Gang Of Four, a band whose power hinged on their formidable rhythm section, and later added essential low-end to The B-52s. As demonstrated on her solo album, Make It Beautiful, Lee is also a talented singer-songwriter, further highlighting her diverse musical abilities.
Gang of Four – “I Love a Man in a Uniform” (Live on Rockpalast, 1983) [8/21]
Click to load video
13: Gail Greenwood (Belly, L7)
Gail Greenwood could be described as the antithesis of John Entwistle when it comes to stage presence. As a bassist, she is anything but reserved. Recruited from the Providence punk scene to join Belly for their second album, she injected exuberant energy and ever-changing hair color into their performances, encouraging frontwoman Tanya Donelly to emerge from her shell. Greenwood later joined L7, becoming a full-fledged hair-shaker, and rejoined Belly for their 2018 reunion album, Dove, their first in 23 years.
Belly – Gepetto (Video)
Click to load video
12: Enid Williams/Gil Weston (Girlschool)
Membership in Girlschool automatically earns recognition as one of the best women bass guitar players. Girlschool were groundbreaking as the first all-female heavy metal band, achieving greater fame in the UK than elsewhere. Enid Williams and Gil Weston share this title as both played bass during the band’s classic period (roughly 1980-85); original member Williams is now back in the lineup. Girlschool is perhaps best known in the US for their collaboration with Motörhead – and any band endorsed by Lemmy is guaranteed to have a formidable bassist.
Girlschool – C’mon Lets Go (Official Music Video)
Click to load video
11: Abby Travis
The award for ultimate versatility undoubtedly goes to Los Angeles native Abby Travis. She was discovered at a niche prog-rock reunion show in 2011, featuring the Anglo-German band Nektar and the experimental Euro/krautrock band Brainticket. Travis injected new life into Brainticket with her youthful energy and goth-inspired stage presence. Despite being significantly younger than the rest of the band, Travis was completely in sync with their psychedelic wavelength. A year later, she replaced Kathy Valentine in The Go-Go’s. Her touring history also includes stints with Butthole Surfers and Cher, demonstrating an extraordinary ability to perform across genres with diverse artists.
“I Put A Spell On You” live Abby Travis
Click to load video
10: Juliana Hatfield (Blake Babies, Lemonheads, Solo)
Juliana Hatfield is so well-established as a singer-songwriter that her instrumental talents are often underestimated. However, she was arguably the most accomplished musician in her initial bands, Blake Babies and The Lemonheads. In both groups, her bass playing is fluid and melodic, wisely brought to the forefront in the mixes. Listening to The Lemonheads’ It’s A Shame About Ray album reveals how her basslines propel the entire record forward with energy and musicality.
It’s A Shame About Ray (Remastered)
Click to load video
9: Laura Kennedy (Bush Tetras)
Any band whose anthem includes the line “You can’t be funky if you haven’t got a soul” needs a bassist with serious groove. Laura Kennedy, a key figure in the New York “no wave” scene, was precisely that. Bush Tetras, the closest US counterpart to Gang Of Four, aimed to be both avant-garde and confrontational, but also a band that could make people dance, achieving success on both fronts thanks in large part to Kennedy’s rhythmic foundation.
Bush Tetras Live at Hurrah – 1-30-81
Click to load video
8: Gail Ann Dorsey
Gail Ann Dorsey is among the select few bassists whose exceptional technical skill is matched by a remarkable stylistic versatility. She masterfully balances these strengths, always prioritizing the song itself. A hallmark of her playing, evident in her work with David Bowie, Tears For Fears, and her solo career, is her seamless musicality. This comes from a combination of impeccable note selection and intuitively-weighted groove, so deeply in the pocket that the nuances only emerge upon close listening, revealing a profound sense of musical rightness.
Gail Ann Dorsey – Stop on By – the Tube
Click to load video
7: Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
Kim Gordon has consistently transcended the label of “girl in a band.” She is a genuinely innovative player whose bass work was integral to the distinctive sound of Sonic Youth. Her bass tone was instantly recognizable, often providing a grounding presence amidst Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo’s experimental guitar explorations. Yet, she was equally capable of joining the sonic fray. Listening to Sonic Youth’s epic 20-minute track “The Diamond Sea” reveals the sheer power and menace a bass guitar can convey in the hands of a master like Gordon.
Sonic Youth – The Diamond Sea (Live Germany 1996) FULL Song
Click to load video
6: Rhonda Smith (Prince, Jeff Beck)
Witnessing Jeff Beck’s recent tours provides undeniable evidence of Rhonda Smith’s transformative impact on any band she joins. She entered Prince’s orbit during the Jam Of The Year tour, a period when he shifted away from sequencers towards raw funk, incorporating James Brown covers into his sets. Since then, Smith has largely remained in the funk and R&B world, touring with artists like Chaka Khan and Beyoncé. Her collaborations with Jeff Beck allow her to showcase both her flashy technical skills and her deep funk sensibilities.
Jeff Beck – “Rhonda Smith” Bass Solo & People Get Ready” – Live Tokyo 2010 [Full HD]
Click to load video
5: Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club)
Together with her husband and rhythmic partner Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth was instrumental in injecting groove into the burgeoning new wave movement. There’s a reason Talking Heads were unique among CBGB-era bands in their ability to create a signature sound from an Al Green song. Notably, the performance of “Genius Of Love” in the film Stop Making Sense is a pinnacle of joyous funk played by a rock band, largely thanks to Weymouth’s infectious basslines.
Click to load video
4: Tal Wilkenfeld
It would be impressive enough if Tal Wilkenfeld were simply a phenomenal fusion bassist. She proved this during tours with Chick Corea, Jeff Beck, and opening for The Who, captivating audiences with a virtuosity reminiscent of 1969 rock legends. However, her club performances reveal a broader musicality, encompassing sophisticated songwriting and surprising covers of artists like The Smiths and Tom Petty, showing her range beyond fusion.
Tal Wilkenfeld – Bass Solo (from Jeff Beck Live at Ronnie Scott’s)
Click to load video
3: Meshell Ndegeocello
Easily ranking among the best women bass guitar players of all time, Meshell Ndegeocello holds the distinction of being the only bassist on this list to have played with The Rolling Stones – and that might be among her lesser achievements. Her early 90s work sparked a soul music revival and established her as a musical innovator who could forge something original and contemporary from the soul tradition, seamlessly blending pop, rap, and reggae, all underpinned by her signature, groove-laden basslines.
2: Esperanza Spalding
It is fitting that one of today’s most progressive musicians emerged from the jazz world. Esperanza Spalding had already established herself as a world-class singer and one of jazz’s best women bass guitar players before her 2016 concept album, Emily’s D+Evolution, elevated her artistry to new heights. With its intricate rock influences, R&B sensibilities, and jazz foundations, it’s an album best experienced on headphones, with Spalding’s brilliant bass playing being just one of its many compelling aspects.
Esperanza Spalding – “I Know You Know / Smile Like That” (Live in San Sebastian july 23, 2009 – 3/9)
Click to load video
1: Carol Kaye (The Wrecking Crew)
The inclusion of Carol Kaye, a virtuoso member of Los Angeles’ legendary Wrecking Crew, should definitively dispel any outdated notions of female musicians as novelties. Kaye is one of the most recorded bassists in history, renowned for the sheer breadth of her recordings. She excelled in funk, acoustic, and lush orchestrated pop (including the entirety of Pet Sounds), and created iconic basslines such as the intro to The Grass Roots’ “Midnight Confessions” and the salsa groove on Joe Cocker’s “Feelin’ Alright.” Topping this list of the best women bass guitar players of all time, Carol Kaye’s legendary status is secure for generations to come.
Tired of predictable fretwork and conventional rock posturing? Discover more about the best female guitarists of all time.
