| What is our role? Couple of things to consider. We are an accompaniment instrument, we play chord tones, so yes triads should be on your list of things to understand and use. Now sure you can get a lead break, that is another story, not going there.
The chords harmonize the melody line. How? If the chords and the melody line have some of the same notes in play at the same time - your going to harmonize - sound good. So --- your bass line should reflect/mirror notes being used in the melody line. Now if you are playing from an established chord progression someone has already figured all that out and hopefully the chords shown will harmonize the melody -- all you have to do is make a bass line from those chords.
If you play chord tones (R-3-5-3) that happens. If you play the tonic pentatonic of a chord (R-2-3-5-6) and change with the chord changes that happens. Pentatonic will have 3 chord tones (the R-3-5) and 2 safe passing notes of the chord. Now all other notes in the chord's scale or mode will work and sound good also.
But -- how much of that do you need? You asked about our role. IMO providing the bottom end, holding the band together, leading the way to the next chord (I need to work on this phase of my playing) not stepping on other people's toes and making every one else sound good. That's our role.
Last edited by MalcolmAmos : 03-10-2010 at 10:26 AM.
| 
i wannna understand the bass?? 
