What do people think, should live performances count toward this list or should it just be studio performances?

i would accept both man

I'd have to agree. Everything counts for this list, as long as it's been recorded.

Then Entwistle might deserve a spot somewhere. Sick right hand - excellent fingerstyle, 'typewriter' tapping technique, competent picking.

mhm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5mFVo55bKQ

I'll prolly throw him on somewhere

I don't see how Harris could be worthy of a spot here.

Absolutely insane right hand. Insane endurance. Very skilled left hand. "Run to the Hills", "22 Acacia Avenue", "Children of the Damned"...

lobones - Check out the vid Jester posted

I like him but I don't see what makes him more skilled than people like Entwistle, Claypool, Martinie, Lee, Butler, JPJ, Deacon and plenty of others or tso close to Flea... imo his basslines look often too similars each other while being very fast and funny to listen though.

If you take live stuff into account Entwistle might beat Harris. Claypool definitely does, but Claypool's a virtuoso. Don't know Martinie, really. Harris probably beats Lee - what does Lee have on Harris? Harris pwns JPJ, and Butler. And Deacon, as far as I know.

I'm assuming we're taking 'skill' to mean 'chops'. If we are, the complexity or adventurousness of Harris' bass parts, or how different each one is from the others, isn't really relevant. Harris shreds with his right hand like a mofo and has a developed, clean, quick left hand. He has one of the best right hands of any rock bass player anyone's ever heard of. Not THAT far behind guys like Sheehan etc., and way ahead of the aforementioned Butler, JPJ etc.

Maybe I was assuming we were talking about technical skills so I didn't see Harris worthy of this list; otherways I still don't see him beating people like Entwistle, Butler, JPJ, Deacon, Lee, etc.
Geddy Lee's tech skills are some of the most revered in rock bass and many bassists like Claypool, Burton, Myung and even Harris were influenced by his playing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YMnwvQH ... re=related

Yeah we are talking about technical skills. By 'chops' I mean pure tech skill. Creativity and such not being relevant. If we're going by pure tech skill, I don't see Butler & JPJ taking Harris. And if we add in creativity Harris is roughly on their level in that regard anyway IMO.

Tough Harris stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNe2BzUG ... re=related

You need a lot of endurance to do that, and a quick and accurate left hand. Very hard not to mess up. And that's not even one of Harris' harder/hardest songs.

Tough JPJ stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiT0i_7x7X0

Complex and lots of notes, but not really fast. If your hands really know the basic scales and intervals you shouldn't have any problem playing this really after a bit of practice.

Tough Geezer stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pMfaTSie9U

Speedy but not as speedy as Harris and not as much control needed, not as much roaming on the neck really.

Here's a harder Harris song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJJUk5l7wJs

Good luck not getting tired and losing speed in the middle of that one. Even this guy isn't quite up to speed in parts.

Lee's damn good, I reckon that YYZ is roughly on the level of a tough Harris song. But does he have any other really hard songs? Harris goes thru whole concerts full of songs near or at the difficulty maybe of YYZ.

Anyway your input is appreciated :-)

JPJ does have one strong point really by this criteria: versatility, since the criteria for this list for whatever reason includes versatility and creativity (taking 'skill' in a broader sense then than just 'tech skill').