In 1965, a group of young English musicians founded a band called Pink Floyd, one of the earliest psychedelic groups on the British music scene. They gained early notoriety for their extended compositions, captivating lyrics, and fascinating live shows.
The band was founded by Roger Waters, Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Richard Wright, and Bob Klose. By 1967, a young musician named David Gilmour joined the band as the lead guitarist.
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd has been at the forefront of the progressive-psychedelic rock genre for over 50 years. Even today, they remain one of the most popular bands in the world, with countless sold-out tours to their name.
The band has released several albums considered among the most iconic in music history. Their groundbreaking albums, The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall, are widely regarded as musical masterpieces. Both have been included in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
These albums catapulted Pink Floyd to international fame and cemented their legacy. The Dark Side of the Moon is a 14x platinum album that topped charts worldwide. It also features some of the most memorable and captivating bass lines—an absolute must-listen for bass enthusiasts.
Roger Waters originally started on rhythm guitar, which helped him develop a strong understanding of musical harmony early on—a skill many bass players of the late ’60s overlooked. At the time, the bass guitar was often considered a background instrument with little influence on musical composition.
As the “de facto” leader of Pink Floyd in its early days, Waters ensured their songs featured heavy, memorable bass lines. While his contemporaries, such as John Entwistle and Geddy Lee, were known for their thunderous bass parts, Waters took a different approach. He favored melodic, intricate bass lines—a choice that undeniably set Pink Floyd apart and contributed to their unique sound.
5. Pink Floyd - Echoes
The first song on our list is Echoes from their 1971 album called “Meddle”. This song features an extended improvisational part with a total length of 23:31. It takes up the entire second half of their vinyl release. It also features an experimental part consisting of ambient sounds and soundscapes. If you wanna go on a musical journey, check out this song!
4. Pink Floyd - Breathe
Breathe, from their renowned “The Dark Side of the Moon” is our next song on this list. Even though Roger Waters was “only” the lyricist for this song, the bass line is still legendary. The music was composed by David Gilmour and Richard Wright. It is heavily featuring David’s guitar playing, but it wouldn’t groove half as hard without Roger’s funky bass lines.
3. Pink Floyd - One of These Days
The next song on our list is the opening song from the “Meddle” album. This song features a heavy bass riff that carries on the whole song. There are two bass tracks on this song, one played by Roger and the other by David. This creates a really unique “echo” sound that drives this song really well. This is the only instrumental track on our list, but because of the prominent bass line, we had to include it.
2. Pink Floyd - Have a Cigar
In the second place, we have the third track from the “Wish You Were Here” album, “Have a Cigar”. The song and lyrics were both written by Roger Waters. It is more of a straightforward, groovy rock song but it still has that classic Pink Floyd sound to it. Together with Roger’s catchy bassline and David’s guitar parts makes for a really groovy track.
1. Pink Floyd - Money
As many of you might have guessed, the top spot goes to the classic Pink Floyd track: “Money” from The Dark Side of the Moon album. This iconic song needs no introduction—it features one of the most famous bass lines ever recorded. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy this timeless masterpiece.
As mentioned earlier, Pink Floyd has been a driving force in the progressive-psychedelic rock movement for over 50 years. They are one of the most successful and influential musical groups in history, with achievements that truly speak for themselves.
Updated: 01/02/2025
