How would you play bass to this? (Haitian music content)

Stereo Joe · #1 07-14-2010, 01:48 AM

I have a rehearsal with a singer I've never worked with before and this is one of the tunes we will be doing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BrhR7QHUzA

There is no bass in the track, but there is a pitched drum that alternates in half notes between an 'A' and an 'E'. How should I play bass to this tune? I was tempted to just mimic the pitched drum part, but there's a sort of 'bridge' in the middle of the tune where the chords change and don't fit as nicely over the drum tones.

I could also try to follow the chords the banjo (?) is implying, but during the 'verse' (most of the song), the banjo chords are the same as the pitched drum (A and E) but played for a full bar each...

Anyway, I'm confused about the best way to approach this, so any insight would be really helpful!

fractiouslowend · #2 07-14-2010, 02:07 AM

this may sound sound like im being sarcastic or condescending, but, just play it.
there's no right or wrong way to play anything, there's only different ways.
just jam along with it and you'll find something you're happy with

Stereo Joe · #3 07-14-2010, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fractiouslowend

this may sound sound like im being sarcastic or condescending, but, just play it.
there's no right or wrong way to play anything, there's only different ways.
just jam along with it and you'll find something you're happy with

That's a good suggestion except that this is a professional situation where I'm being paid to come in already having learned the material. I have one rehearsal with this band before the gig and we won't have time to jam anything, just run through the tunes.

ridgeback · #4 07-14-2010, 02:27 AM

i would use the vocal melody as a starting point.with a latin kind of feel to it!! or you could gooooo Reggae mon!!!!...

fractiouslowend · #5 07-14-2010, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stereo Joe

That's a good suggestion except that this is a professional situation where I'm being paid to come in already having learned the material. I have one rehearsal with this band before the gig and we won't have time to jam anything, just run through the tunes.

you have a copy of the song don't you?
jam to it.

apuskwikemart · #6 07-14-2010, 02:46 AM

Probably wont help. But man, this sounds like something you should put on repeat and just have some fun with it. Find something that feels good and run with it.

cioppo · #7 07-14-2010, 02:52 AM

If you want to make things difficoult tune the bass like a banjo.....

phatbass · #8 07-14-2010, 03:04 AM

In the verse I'd just play root-five, matching exactly the rhythmic phrasing of the "Bass" drum in the main part.

Maybe even invert it and instead of root-five, play five-root over the A (so you're playing the E note first - E_A_E_A), then root-five over the E (E_B_E_B). This establishes the E as a strong tonality in the Bass which, to my ears, is what the drum is doing and seems an important part of the overall "sound" of the tune.

In the bridge I'd still play with the same phrasing (including rests where the drum stops) as the drum, but maybe instead of playing a root-five, I'd play root-third just to mix it up a bit (without getting carried away), with the appropriate major or minor third depending on the chord.

If possible I'd also go for a really "thuddy" tone for this tune. Roll treble off and, if you're familiar with the technique, *lightly* mute the strings at the bridge with the side of the hand.

Another possibility, if she's got a percussionist with the appropriate drum covering the part off the CD, is to consider maybe just sitting out this song (ask first!).

BassLand · #9 07-16-2010, 10:46 AM

they are all 2/4 bars. If you count thru the song it will make more sense.

Rickett Customs · #10 07-16-2010, 10:48 AM

I'd try a little cuban flavor with that.

Tommy el Gato · #11 07-16-2010, 10:53 AM

I concur with the root-five notion. That seems to be what the piece lends itself to, although when I first started listening, it sounded like a mock-bossa might be appropriate. Try both and see what the band-leader likes.

MIJ-VI · #12 07-18-2010, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stereo Joe

That's a good suggestion except that this is a professional situation where I'm being paid to come in already having learned the material. I have one rehearsal with this band before the gig and we won't have time to jam anything, just run through the tunes.

Can you get an English translation of the lyrics? Knowing what the song is about will aid in dovetailing a complimentary bass part.

varunkapahi · #13 07-18-2010, 06:10 AM

i can really feel a groove there like a Caribbean groove of sorts which goes along with that percussion

Sounbwoy · #14 07-18-2010, 11:47 AM

Slow Soca/calypso style mixed with a little Latin...

HeadyVan Halen · #15 07-18-2010, 11:56 AM

Well brother, if you can't do it, send her to me...I'll figure sumthin' out!

Tell her you need time 1 on 1 to feel it out....Don't get all righteous on me, just kiddin

Pull up some other Haitian music..some of their stuff is real busy. Being groove orientated, it gives you a lot of room..just don't step on anyones toes.........especially the singer

Stereo Joe · #16 07-18-2010, 03:28 PM

Well, thanks for the advice, guys!

The singer hadn't even realized there was no bass in that tune and the rest of the musicians weren't really playing the song as recorded either. The root-5th feel worked pretty well with what everyone else ended up doing, so I stuck with that.

I'm off to do the gig now...