Led Zeppelin's 'Ramble On' Ranked Among Best Bass Lines of All Time

Led Zeppelin is one of the progenitors of heavy metal and hard rock. They were a revelation during their heyday and are certainly a staple in the zeitgeist today. The four-piece act's collective musical prowess, bolstered by complex instrumentation and mystical lyricism, is a thing of beauty.

Recently, Classical-Music.com, the home of BBC Music Magazine, recognized Led Zeppelin's talent, particularly bassist John Paul Jones. The publication selected "Ramble On" as having one of the greatest bass lines in rock music. Ranked No. 15 on a list of 25 entries, BBC Music Magazine acknowledges "Ramble On" as an equal parts iconic and melodic bass line.

Interestingly, "Ramble On" was never released as a single in the 20th century, so it never charted then, let alone hit No. 1. It's the seventh track on the band's second studio album, Led Zeppelin II, which was released on Oct. 22, 1969. Lead singer Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page co-wrote the tune, with Page also serving as a producer. The lyrics were inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's seminal work, The Lord of the Rings. The song even mentions Mordor and Gollum by name.

As an album, Led Zeppelin II peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 and the UK Albums charts. "Ramble On" was eventually released as a digital single in 2007, when it climbed to No. 66 on the Canadian Digital Song Sales chart.

Critically, the tune was well-received. American Songwriter lauded "Ramble On" for its virtuosic sound while making sure Jones got his due, calling his bass playing "sublime." In the aforementioned ranking, BBC Music Magazine praised Jones' bass line for "weaving around" the chords," giving the song a "restless feel." It would've been so easy to play a straightforward, thumping bass line, but Jones added a layer of musical intricacy with his weaving notes.

Admittedly, as legendary as "Ramble On" is as a whole, it's the bass line that really sticks out. It leaves an indelible imprint on the memory.

Do you think "Ramble On" has one of the best bass lines of all time?

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 12:26 PM.