How do you stick to the beat but also play a sweet melody?

[androidchug]

Hello! Just wondering how most bassists stick to the beat the drummer is playing but also manage to get a really nice melody going at the same time. If I'm playing to the beat I end up playing a boring bass line consisting mainly of root notes and if I'm playing a nice melody I find that I'm not really keeping tight to the beat.

Can anyone tell me what they do to get round this or recommend some artists who do this nicely?

Thanks!

[dalkowski]

Practice with a metronome and don't give up the one.

[JBass82]

Listen to Paul McCartney!!! Sting is also very good.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by androidchug

Just wondering how most bassists stick to the beat the drummer is playing but also manage to get a really nice melody going at the same time.

Hopefully, there is point where rhythm/time becomes internalized.
This will lead to understanding time/rhythm & understanding subdivisions (of time).
McCartney, IMO, had an easy drummer to play with (Ringo)...the backbeat ("2" & "4") was omnipresent.
Tougher would be drummers like Vinnie Colaiuta in Sting's band. Guys like Colaiuta play in multiple timelines/time signatures. So, with those guys, you really gotta have a concept of time.

Some others that require you to know your place-
Wiiliam Kennedy
Terry Bozzio
Carter Beauford
Cornell Rochester (sounds like a constant barrage of sound..."1" is nowhere to be found).

[Phalex]

1..... 2..... 3...... 4......

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

1 E and a 2 E and a 3 E and a 4 E and a

[megadan]

Unfortunately even the most skilled bass player in the world won't be able to do this if the drummer is playing a straight 1, 3 rock beat and the guitarist is playing 8th note power chords.

It's up to your band to allow you the space you need to achieve this.

You should find a melody with a good groove on the bass, then have your drummer match that with his beat.

If he hasn't been practicing with a metronome placing his kicks and snares on every possible 16th note then he's not going to like that. Too bad. It will make him a better drummer very fast, or he will quit. If so, get a better drummer.

Once you get this, tell your guitarist to quit the power chords, and start arpeggiating some chords with 3rds and 7ths, and play with a vocal quality, like Hendrix.

Congrats, your band is now 400% better! You will now be playing awesome music and not crap rock (provided that you and your band are familiar with a wide repertoire of styles and musical ideas, and have the courage and creativity to explore them)

[BlazinJzZz]

Find the melody of the rhythm

[ninepoundjammer]

I usually try to lock in with the kick drum with some beefy solid notes and all the space in between is where I have my fun -- different rhythms, passing tones, etc. As you listen and play and it becomes natural, until then, copy better players.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by dalkowski

don't give up the one.

that's good for old school funk. pretty useless for other types of music, though, since so many types of music regularly drop the one on the bass.

as for the question, think of a nice bass melody that would go along with the music and play it in time. simple as that. and don't worry so much about sticking rigidly with the drummer or the guitarist.

[Beowulf Kingsle]

I'd agree, learning as many Paul McCartney bass lines as you can will give you a really good perspective on the matter. And learn as many other tunes with good melodic bass lines (that you really like) as you can. That'll train your ears, stretch your technique, and give you the musical breadth you need to get you where you want to go. Actually playing in cover bands was a great thing for me early on, each tune was a bass lesson in itself...well, at least if they were decent cover bands playing the right tunes!!!