Creating your groove

[RAM]

This applies more to those who write their own bass lines than to those who play covers, but could apply to either, if cover-players aren't playing songs as-written.

How do you go about creating your groove? What I mean by that is, when you listen to a song for the first time, how do you go about creating space? Do you use rests between notes as effectively as playing notes? Do you try to create a melody with your bass lines and keep within the beat? Etc, etc, etc...

In all the bass lines I've created, I honestly can't tell you how I came up with my final bass line, though it usually revolved around some counterpoint, depending on how melodic the guitar and keyboards got. My favorite self-created bass line was actually written long before I ever brought it to the band, and was the only melody in the original song structure, which worked out remarkably well!

[Pacman]

Step one: listen.

[JimmyM]

I have no idea how I do it, other than the initial creativity burst and a little trial and error.

[kesslari]

Often, it's just the gift of the muse.
Often, though, I have a stable of ideas that I'm playing around with, and I'll hear a new song or progression from one of my bandmates and hear one of those ideas fitting right in.
Often that's like "WWJD (what would Jamerson do)?"

[flewis]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I have no idea how I do it, other than the initial creativity burst and a little trial and error.

+1

and w/ a lot of trail and error

[Dom Phenom]

Sometimes the muse gifts an inspired line from the get go, but usually the first step i try is to lock up with the kick drum, possibly matching snare accents, or sometimes try to lock up with the guitarist, or match a part of the melody if it seems appropriate.

Usually it takes a little while getting familiar with the song to really flesh out the pocket and give it life of its own.

[lolaviola]

Think like a woman. How would she shake her hips in time with the groove? Take it from there.

[Poor Tom]

I usually focus on the rhythm first.

Steps:
1. Lock in with the drummer to come up with a rhythmic pattern.(read: steal ideas from drummer)
2. Then mess around with the notes until I find a melody.(read: stare at guitar player's hands until I see *** key or chords he is playing)
3. Realize what I came up with is total garbage and start all over.(read: realize what I came up with is total garbage and start all over)

[JJT247]

listen to the drums and guitar and think. What could lock this in? Should I play aggressively or hang in the background providing low end? Then obviously listen to the key and chord tones, and make a groove from the scale through trial and error.

[cire113]

you need inspiration from life

[Funkmeister79]

One helpful piece of advice that Carol Kaye repeats on her website is to come up with a two-part statement, with a resolution at the end in the form of a fill. Sort of saying that if the line is two bars long, the two bars should be different. Kind or more of a theoretical approach, but one that I find really helpful.

[wolf7883]

Just listen....picture the song with a funky line and then play it

[Queg]

This is what I'm up to:
1. Play root notes following the drummer and chord changes with a few fifths, thirds and octaves thrown in to fake some level of improvisational competence.
2. At home with a recording from the rehearsal, tune out your previous bs bass playing, listen to to the feeling or emotional sensibility of the song, and vocalize or "bom, bom" your way to inspiration.
3. Translate to bass if possible.