R&B and no BASS?

[zvalera]

I'm learning to write and arrange in an R&B style. As I listen to current songs on the radio, I'm not always hearing the bass. Is there an arrangement technique where they don't use the bass in the verses then bring it into the chorus?

or is it that the bass and kick or mixed/blended tightly that I can't hear it?

I'm thinking of the following songs as examples:

Hate that I Love You (Rihanna)
With You (Chris Brown)
Irreplaceable (Beyance)

If anyone's familiar with these songs and can comment on them in their reply, I'd sure appreciate it!

[janekbass]

I wish I had a second to check out those songs you mentioned and really give you a good reply to the post, but I'm running around like crazy as I'm about to leave on tour until March..... DOH!!!

I will say this though. there are many songs that play on the radio with no bass in them. Sometimes it's no bass in the verse, and bass in the chorus like you mentioned, and sometimes the whole track is done without the bass there at all. I remember hearing Brian McKnight for the first time and hearing that technique a lot. There's also a great John Mayer Tune called Daughters that has no bass and no drums. It was a number one hit in the US and won a grammy for song of the year.

Easy,

Janek