Hip-Hop characteristics

MammaryVest · #1 04-26-2007, 04:34 PM

Hi, my band has this song that I really can't seem to get the right tone for. There is a recording of it that was done on which the singer played every instrument, and now we just can't seem to match the quality of that recording. I think the problem basswise, is that I can't get a deep enough tone. So I was wondering if anyone had any insight on some amp setting and techniques that are characteristic of hip-hop bass.

JimmyM · #2 04-26-2007, 04:42 PM

Take a bass, turn down the treble on it, take your amp, turn up the bass all the way up and everything else all the way down, and turn up the volume until the speaker sounds like it's going to fall apart.

Man with an Axe · #3 04-26-2007, 04:43 PM

I've also been wondering how to get a good tone for hiphop. Is it possible with a 4-string bass tuned EADG? I'd really rather not tune down, and I can't afford another bass meself.

typegroove · #4 04-26-2007, 04:45 PM

what amp are u using? lots of hiphop bass these days is done with analog or digital synthisizers that get lower frequencies then most bass or amps can get

but, try turning ur tone knob on ur bass all the way to the right and the bass knob and ur bass amp up all or most of the way, and the high end or treble down most of the way, there usually isnt alot of treble in hiphop bass sounds..

lemur821 · #5 04-26-2007, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Take a bass, turn down the treble on it, take your amp, turn up the bass all the way up and everything else all the way down, and turn up the volume until the speaker sounds like it's going to fall apart.

+1, this is the way. Seriously. (Although you may want to look into not blowing up your speakers

) You're going for big fat sine waves and nothing else. This will take quite a bit of power to cut through, so you'll need a big amp. You'll want to boost around 40 Hz and maybe 80 too, if you're getting weak.

I think it's possible to get the right sound without going lower than an E. I noticed recently that the intro track on Speakerboxxx just hovers between that E and a second fret E.

If you want to get the punchy kind of bass you'll get good results if you palm mute and play with your thumb.

MammaryVest · #6 04-26-2007, 05:23 PM

I forgot to mention my question about what kind of midrange you want in that sound, because it seems to me, that most bass tones depend the most on the midrange.

Infernal Affair · #7 04-26-2007, 05:36 PM

Or if you want to go for the New Jack Swing style of the early/mid 90s, then you can use a number of double bass emulation techniques.

I'd really have to hear what you want to do, since some hip hop artists used syths for their bass while others like their bass lines to sound more traditional. For example, I'm pretty sure a lot of Aesop Rock's Labor Days album can be done on an electric bass.

Rattman · #8 04-26-2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by typegroove

what amp are u using? lots of hiphop bass these days is done with analog or digital synthisizers that get lower frequencies then most bass or amps can get

but, try turning ur tone knob on ur bass all the way to the right and the bass knob and ur bass amp up all or most of the way, and the high end or treble down most of the way, there usually isnt alot of treble in hiphop bass sounds..

You sure you WANT to do this? Sure does not sound very challenging. I think you'll get bored pretty fast just being a sine wave with a warm body keeping it going. I have to agree.. a lot of Hip Hop "bass" is either a sample or a synthesizer doing ALL the low end reproduction. Enjoy.

Lalabadie · #9 04-26-2007, 05:47 PM

Word on EQ'ing the lows (80Hz and under) to get the deep tone. And I think a four-string with standard tuning is no obstacle to the hip-hop style.

To help further, I think we'd need to know what style of hip-hop you're playing. Personally I tend to use a slightly funk-ish tone to play hip-hop (Young MC anyone?) , maybe it could suit your song too.

low-end-jason · #10 04-26-2007, 10:49 PM

i know that from my experience trying to cop licks from 2pac, nas, and Outkast, that i end up using various left hand muting techniques. all the knob twisting in the world won't take you to where subtle, supple right and left hand technique will. here's a few tips i've picked up from others:

1. flesh, they rap about it, bassplayers use it in new ways. the right hand can change the world with where it's playing (well maybe not the world...) and how much flesh is touching the string upon impact.

2. left hand muting in conjunction with the intensity of your touch will add an instant 808 sound.

3. try using the first two suggestions in conjunction with pickup tone, ie. pickup volume and balance.

as a bassplayer in the hip hop context we're shooting for the infamous 808 kick drum sound. we're trying to be the pitch associated with the thump, deadening your sound via you hands will not take away from the aggressiveness one can achieve from their instrument + amp setup.

another suggestion is to sit down with a drum machine or sequencing software and try experimenting with the unit, this may give you some ideas about what you are looking for.

good luck! an exciting endeavor for sure.

mambo4 · #11 04-27-2007, 03:46 PM

EQ: I think a more useful bass tone can be achieved by boosting the lower mids (250-500 hz) than going for a true low end bass boost (<100 hz) It's more articulate and distinct than a boosted bass. think about all the Phat bass sounds you can hear on crappy stereos. those are really the overtones of bass, not the true fundamental.

left hand: , try fretting notes higher up the neck. for example instaed of "C" on the A string 3rd fret plat it on the E string 8th fret. you get less of a string twang and more pure bassy tone

right hand: pluck near the neck, less overtones and more fundamental.

Rayle_Trail · #12 04-27-2007, 04:14 PM

One of my favourite well known hip-hop lines is regulaters from Warren G, he's got a teensy bit of treble, and yeah he's all over the kick drum, makes it sound fantastic to me even though lyrically the song is lame. Does anybody know any more hip-hop that sounds like regulaters, with the same type of lines?
Cheers Rayle XoX

AlphaMale · #13 04-27-2007, 04:42 PM

I sincerely recommend zero presence Volume atleast half way up and no tone. Mid half way and treble on zero
If you use a Jazz pick-up use that, don't use a precision. And there you go you got a nice thick fuzzy sound.
Listen to more rage against the machine.

Infernal Affair · #14 04-27-2007, 04:43 PM

Dr. Dre. His and Warren G's styles are a little different, but they both come from the same type of production standpoint, the whole G-funk movement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G_funk

werbo1 · #15 04-27-2007, 04:48 PM

play whatever you want. Don't do the all bass, no treble. Have some definition, play how you normally play, it'll fit eventually

slapagroov · #16 04-27-2007, 05:11 PM

sounds like you're trying to match a particular sound that's on a recording, but you can check out some other tones that may work. Check out some of the stuff that Pino Palladino did with Common on Electric Circus - it's really amazing. I agree with some of the others on a big bottom sound, though; use right and left hand muting along with boosting some of your lows. If you play high on the neck with a soft touch, like mentioned before, it can be very powerful.

BASSCATT · #17 04-27-2007, 11:32 PM

I use my fretless with a foam mute under the bridge, pick near the neck with a soft touch.

Joe P · #18 04-30-2007, 03:59 PM

A lot IS technique, for sure! I just had a bassist guest over this weekend. He was getting such killer tone out of my setup - some of it quite hiphop-ish! finger-style, killer R- and L- hand muting.

He was also running my T.I. Jazz Flat strings, a fat scrunchy-mute up by the nut, and my CS-3 compressor set for 'audible squish with intentional IM distortion' (Attack knob full-CW).

He thought "my" tone was pretty cool --- but "I" couldn't really duplicate it once he handed me back my bass!!

Grr.

Joe

megaphonic · #19 05-01-2007, 08:34 AM

man, the best hip-hop bassists don't do anything complicated to their tonem, but they tend to come from funk backgrounds. J5, The Roots... these guys just play good funk/soul licks.

i'll tell you what i did in my last hip-hop band. i played a dean edge 4 with emgs and the heavyest strings i could find through a sans amp DI to warm it up and give it some growl. i like it thick (heavy lows with a healthy portion of mids on top) but with a good bite if i get aggressive (tone wide open and no roll-off on the highs). the key is not to kill the high-end, but to boost the lows.

the rest is technique.. keep it punchy, don't let it ring unless the song really calls for it. silence is the key to great hip-hop bass lines. watch the drummer's kick foot and stay on top of it. use HIM to add impact to your lines. don't overplay... the bass is the essence of neo-soul, funk, and hip-hop... it takes that heart-beat that the drums laid down and gives the song balls.

Ale · #20 05-04-2007, 11:53 AM

I play a lot of hiphop and ragga.
Before i used a lot of active hi end 5'ers , Spectors Warwicks etc.
Though i got tired of that sound and started using my passive fenders for hiphop to , and i must sa i like the tone even better from an passive 4 banger. Just find that low-mid and low freq's , turn down the treble and run your pups paralell. It just takes some EQ , you can get wonderful hiphop tone from an old firebird whatever.
As someone said , a lot of the hiphop bass lines on the CD's today are played by synthesiezers. But ive seen hiphopplayers with ol P-basses .
Peace