Tips for coming up with basslines?

[Infiltration12]

I joined up with a band, and I have the skill to play, but I don't know how to write a bassline! The guitarist can tell me the chords he's playing and I can translate that to a simple, simple bass line, like 3-3-3-3-4-4-4-4-2-2-2-2-5-5-5-5. I can add rythms to these simple bass lines, like 3----334---44442222--225--55-5 or something like that. I want to add some "bass fills" or anything else that will actually make the bassline interesting to listen to. Any tips, websites, or videos out there that will help me out?

[newbold]

The key/chords are a reference.

work with the drummer and singer. You'll have more impact.

[somedumbguy]

Learn your two pentatonic scales (major and minor).

Play the appropriate scale over the appropriate chord (A minor pentatonic scale over an Am chord etc).


But try only playing these "fills" the last measure of a four measure phrase.

It's a pretty simple way to "spice things up."

[Infiltration12]

Originally Posted by newbold

The key/chords are a reference.

work with the drummer and singer. You'll have more impact.

I used to play percussion in my school's band, so I can come up with rythms, and I'm pretty good at linking up with the drummer. How can I work with vocals?

[LaklandBass]

Have your guitard record his parts. then go home and have alllllllllllllllll the time in the world to write what you want. then show up at your next practice session with some new chops.

[craigb43]

Many years here , dont think so hard, and while your playing listen to the sound and the whole song like your listening to a cd at home , remove yourself ( don't just listen to yourself while the song is being played ) your rhythm and theory stuff will naturally come in and think simple first , just a thought but this has helped me thru many a bass line , melodic thoughts , listen and relax , let your fingers do the talking ,

[LaklandBass]

Oh and heres another one. This one helped me out big time.
My two examples are Pearl Jam's "Ten" and Faith No More's "The real thing".
Listen the whole cd and pay attention to the bass parts. Then go online and get the guitar tabs. Yes guitar, not bass. Then learn all or most of the guitar lines. Then learn the bass lines.
Now that you know both parts you can listen to the whole cd again and reflect on your new knowledge. My reasoning for this is that once I know the guitar part I can put into perspective what the bass player had to work with when writing their lines. the song "from out of nowhere" by Faith No More is an awesome example of this. Just listen to the guitar line that Bill Gould had to work with and then listen to what he wrote for a bass part. This really helped me out.

[adamrobertt]

Just listen to the Beatles and focus on the bass parts. Seriously. Paul was a genius.

[braydensharrar]

The best thing you can do is get a good private teacher.
If you're not able to do that, get yourself a bass-specific theory book and start working on your mental musical chops.

There are countless bass players who write great lines, without knowing exactly what they are doing. And while that does negate the validity of their lines, it's in my opinion that having a solid musical vocabulary is superior. This not only takes some of the guess work out of playing, but it gives you more ways to express yourself musically.

Good luck!

~B

[JimiLL]

Originally Posted by braydensharrar

The best thing you can do is get a good private teacher.
If you're not able to do that, get yourself a bass-specific theory book and start working on your mental musical chops.

There are countless bass players who write great lines, without knowing exactly what they are doing. And while that does negate the validity of their lines, it's in my opinion that having a solid musical vocabulary is superior. This not only takes some of the guess work out of playing, but it gives you more ways to express yourself musically.

Good luck!



~B

+1000. Knowing the rules and what flies and what doesnt is the only way your going to get good on improved fills. Otherwise, a whole lot of wankin will happen before you work out any good lines

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by Infiltration12

I want to add some "bass fills" or anything else that will actually make the bassline interesting to listen to. Any tips, websites, or videos out there that will help me out?

Don't worry about fills until you've got a very good read on the complete structure, key(s), tempo, vibe and feel of the piece. If you've thoroughly learned what the piece has to "say", you won't have to dream up some fill - it will come to you spontaneously...

Originally Posted by craigb43

Many years here , dont think so hard, and while your playing listen to the sound and the whole song like your listening to a cd at home , remove yourself ( don't just listen to yourself while the song is being played ) your rhythm and theory stuff will naturally come in and think simple first , just a thought but this has helped me thru many a bass line , melodic thoughts , listen and relax , let your fingers do the talking ,

I agree that you shouldn't overthink this process, at least not at this point. The point is to hear the piece as music, as a completed whole (supplying the bass parts and other missing parts in your mind), then going where your musical instincts tell you to go.

When I'm developing original music, 90% of the time the first part that occurs to me is the one with which I ultimately stick. Even when I go the the effort of trying multiple other parts, it's almost the first one that turns out to be the best - because I listen from the heart - not from the intellect - and I allow the music to "speak" to me, to "tell" me where it wants to go. There'll be plenty of opportunity to do dig into the technical side, when it's time to fine-tune it.

Make sense?

MM

[pandaman37]

youtube. marlowedk.
tbh, im probably newer to bass than you, but im telling you, this guy is a genius. watching a few of his vids can shed light on some fills and scales, if thats what youre looking for. good luck!

[Bish42]

I'd just say listen to and learn a lot of other people's basslines. They'll become ingrained in your mind and before you know it, little riffs and fills will start coming out without you thinking about where they came from.

Eventually, as your personal style developes, you'll put your own twist on those ideas and make them your own.

[countrybassist]

For starters, arpeggiate the chord.

[Bassamatic]

Originally Posted by adamrobertt

Just listen to the Beatles and focus on the bass parts. Seriously. Paul was a genius.

Ahem - Paul IS a genius!

[Infiltration12]

Thanks guys, good stuff.

[millsbass5]

Just lock in with the drummer.Don't "step" all over the vocals.Take a recording of the song(s) home with you.Trial and error,friend.Trial and error.

[bass player 48]

I really feel you, man. I have the same problem! I'm a cover guy, and when I did originals in the past, guit player wanted me to stick to root notes (worked for the genre).

I could always follow the guitars and play that strictly root note line... but it doesn't add much. Depending on the guitars tone, it's very easy to be completely un-heard playing just the roots.

I'm just now having a little bit of success in breaking out of the root note rut.

For me - You gotta know the chords. If the guitar player says the progression is A to C to E to G - that's not enough info. You need to know if each chord is major or minor.

In time, you will be able to decifer that based on the progresion and your ear, or maybe I should say based on the key and your knowledge of the chords within that key. So, you'll be playing in Am and you will know all of the chords in A minor for example - You know the 1 chord is A minor, so you automatically know that the 3 chord is C Major because you've practiced playing all of the arpegios for each chord within the key of Am.

For now, don't be afraid to ask guit player what chords he's playing 'is your E chord Major or minor?' or 'What type of chord is your A chord?'

Once you know what chords make up the tunes, arpegios are your best friends.

Seriously, I made the very best strides when I realized I was jamming with a guit player who plays in Am a whole lot, so I went home and practiced the Am scale all over my neck, from my Low E all the way up to my high D and in every position.

Then the Am arpegio - and this is what REALLY helped. Again, not just 1-3-5 up and down, but at least know it up to the 9th and down to the 7th below the root. Basically, I got my head around this:

---------------------4-------------------------
--------------5--7-------7---5-----------------
----------7----------------------7--------------
---5--8-----------------------------8--5--3--5-

which is: A-C-E-G-A-B-A-G-E-C-A-G-A

and that is: 1-3-5-7-1-9-1-7-5-3-1-7-1...

You get all of that in your head, and that is an Am chord.

Add rythm and variations to that. Use the scale notes for passing tones, but really lean on those chord tones you know from knowing the arpegio.

that combined with a guitar player who plays in Am a LOT really helped me have a break through in imrovising and writing lines. At least for Am chords! LOL

[kraigo]

Go for a long walk. Think about the song and imagine what a cool bass player would come up with. Hum it. Find it on the bass when you get back home.

Your hands will lead you to the same old places. Use your head first.

KO

[LaklandBass]

Originally Posted by kraigo

Go for a long walk. Think about the song and imagine what a cool bass player would come up with. Hum it. Find it on the bass when you get back home.

Your hands will lead you to the same old places. Use your head first.

KO

That should seriously be on a t-shirt or something. Quote of the year.