Need some help please!!!!!

Drifta · #1 07-28-2007, 08:07 PM

Hey guys, heres my problem, I play bass with my bass with my buddies, and we cover a ton of reggae/ska songs and whatnot.

but i'm really wanting to come up with my own baselines, and well, i can usually come up with some decent reggae riffs, but i'm really horrible at createing a decent walking ska bass line.

I can play fine, its just i can't find the right notes at the right time, and i have recently started practicing scales, but which ones should i practice, all of them? theres so many, but at the same time what do i do with them? Most walking base lines i know aren't just some scales, theyres pretty complex.. Its like a writers block it is very frustrating trying to come up with one that flows well

any suggestions like, say i take a scale do i play the root, third, and fifth(i've read that somewhere), stuff like that? give me a list of things i can look up/study/practice on i greatly appreciate it!

owensea777 · #2 07-28-2007, 08:24 PM

Start learning your keys. Learn the notes for each one. Play the scales of the first, fourth, and fifth notes for a I-IV-V progression, etc. Memorize the notes on your fretboard. You don't have to use walking lines for ska, but if you are set on that, do a search for "walking basslines" and you will find everything you need.
Use this:
http://www.studybass.com/tools/chord...-note-printer/

Do a search involving "modes" and/or "scales." Use TB to your full advantage!

Drifta · #3 07-29-2007, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by owensea777

Start learning your keys. Learn the notes for each one. Play the scales of the first, fourth, and fifth notes for a I-IV-V progression, etc. Memorize the notes on your fretboard. You don't have to use walking lines for ska, but if you are set on that, do a search for "walking basslines" and you will find everything you need.
Use this:
http://www.studybass.com/tools/chord...-note-printer/

Do a search involving "modes" and/or "scales." Use TB to your full advantage!

thanks a lot, i will work on that, and i know i don't need walking lines to play ska-- as i already play a lot of ska that isn't walking basslines, but it is a major part of my playing that is lacking and a part that i really wish i was a master at-- i absolutely LOVE walking basslines especially ska/jazz(especially mingus)

owensea777 · #4 07-29-2007, 03:23 PM

I like ska and reggae too, the basslines are what makes them special IMO (well theres always the horns, rhythm guitar, one-drop drums, hell nevermind)

But yea just do a search on this site if you haven't already. You can get the technical and layman's terms, which is great.

Drifta · #5 07-29-2007, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by owensea777

I like ska and reggae too, the basslines are what makes them special IMO (well theres always the horns, rhythm guitar, one-drop drums, hell nevermind)

But yea just do a search on this site if you haven't already. You can get the technical and layman's terms, which is great.

hah yea you're right, bass and drum is the foundation of the riddim!

AsianVoodoo · #6 07-31-2007, 08:15 PM

The best I can offer for walking, period, is to study jazz bass lines (the mother of all walking) and glean what you can from that. You have to remember, a walking bass line is not made before hand. It is something you have to work on for a very long time to become proficient at. Even some professionals have trouble with it. I agree with everyone, learn key signatures and modes and how they all relate to each other. For example, in the key of G major, the 2nd of the chord is Am (Dorian), the 6th is Em (Aeolian). Learn how they connect with each other and flow. And don't forget to use chromatics, they can get you out of a very sticky situation. For ska, you're mostly going to be using major modes (most often Mixolydian). Learn your major and minor pentatonics in as many "shapes" as possible. Put all this together (and maybe some info I left out... well, that I probably did) and you'll start getting the hang of it.