Jon Liebman
September 14, 2026

What the Doors can teach us about the importance of a bass player

The Doors famously didn’t have a bass player. At least not officially.

When the band played live, Ray Manzarek handled the low notes on keyboards. But when the Doors went into the studio, it was a different story.

They brought in some great bass players.

In this week’s Essence of Groove, I look at several of those players—including Harvey Brooks, Lonnie Mack, Doug Lubahn, Jerry Scheff, and Larry Knechtel—and what they brought to some of the Doors’ most memorable recordings.

Because there’s more to playing bass than simply providing the low notes. The bass can have a profound effect on the groove, the movement, the feel—and the personality—of the music.

Watch the video below and hear for yourself.