Writing basslines to original music

MistaMarko · #1 10-24-2006, 10:26 PM

I'm in a thrash/metal band, and sometimes I just find it's so hard to write a bassline that's unique as in not doing just what the guitar is doing. Most metal bands you cant even hear a bass, and when I try to write some more complex parts it sounds like too much. Does anyone else have this problem?

Swimming Bird · #2 10-24-2006, 10:53 PM

The challenging thing with being a metal bassist is being able to groove over anything. It's well and good to double a guitar on occassion, but it does get tiresome and sonically boring if done too often. I don't mean to play funk either, but it's perfectly cool to pick an underlying rhythm of the song and jam on it so long as you're harmonically tight with the guitarists. It all works out really well if your fills are reminiscent of or double the guitar part for emphasis.

PrimusNut · #3 10-25-2006, 07:28 AM

Listen to some of Cliff's stuff with Metallica, Rex's stuff with Pantera, or Dave's stuff with Megadeth.... All very good metal bassists that should give you an idea of what a metal bassline should be.

brianrost · #4 10-25-2006, 11:59 AM

1. Why do you feel the need for "more complex" parts? The simplest part that gets the job done should be the goal.

2. Work up lines that play harmonically interesting notes against the chords....use the 3rd and 7th instead of the root and fifth

3. Record yourself singing a line against the guitar(s) then work out what it is you sang.

Swimming Bird · #5 10-25-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianrost

1. Why do you feel the need for "more complex" parts? The simplest part that gets the job done should be the goal.

Because they're fun. It's thrash metal, not funk or R&B, so a complex part doesn't hurt here unless it gets too muddy. Whatever fits the music works, and that can be near anything. "Keeping it simple" is fine, but there is absolutely no need to play that way when the point of the music is speed.

brianrost · #6 10-25-2006, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swimming Bird

"Keeping it simple" is fine, but there is absolutely no need to play that way when the point of the music is speed.

Speed and complexity aren't the same thing, you know.

Grueber · #7 10-25-2006, 04:00 PM

Check out "Inferno(Unleash the Fire)" by Symphony X. Lepond's bassline line during the intro is a perfect example of something good that isn't just doubleing the guitar.

peaveyuser · #8 10-25-2006, 06:28 PM

iron maiden bass lines are different then guitar too.

MistaMarko · #9 10-25-2006, 07:45 PM

Good ideas. But another question...how does your band usually write music? Do you all sit down and come up with a riff and build off that..or does someone go home and write down ideas on guitar pro or whatever and bring it to the next practice..does someone write all the parts for everyone...does everyone write their own parts..does the bassist write the guitar lines..I mean, how do you guys do it?

tradition_2kill · #10 10-25-2006, 09:46 PM

check out my band www.myspace.com/traditiontokill { glad to say its not me on the recording}. i face the same type of situation in my band ive played guitar for about 25 years and switched to bass about 2 years ago. ive achieved quite a bit on the bass in my two short years but ive still much to learn. in my band the guitarist and drummer write all the music at practice and is usually based around the drums, i seem to have very little input in the process i usually just mimic the guitarist note for note and try to fit some quick fills in when i can, to keep things interesting i try to play the songs with one or two right hand fingers. it seems like alot of the musicians ive played with as a bassist cant hear the bass?? i think i play some killer stuff sometimes and yet i dont seem to get any feedback if ya know what i mean. ive resisted the urge to show up with a guitar and shred some face, in hopes that eventualy ill be able to gain a bit of dominance with me trusty bass.

Swimming Bird · #11 10-26-2006, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tradition_2kill

ive resisted the urge to show up with a guitar and shred some face, in hopes that eventualy ill be able to gain a bit of dominance with me trusty bass.

That's good, I think it would only lose you respect as a bassist. I could be wrong, but bringing in another instrument to show off on would only draw attention away from your bass playing. I had a friend who was fired from his band doing that -- they just thought his bass was sub-par after seeing him shred. So learn to shred on bass.

In response to how bands I've been in write music, I've only had it two ways: a member of the band (usually the guitarist) brings in a full composition, works it out with the other non-percussion instruments, then we practice and bring it to the drummer OR the produce sits down with the singer and hammers out a melody, hook and chord progression for the band to jam on.

My favorite band to have been in was a power trio where the guitarist was really into classical music and composition, didn't want a second guitarist, and fully trusted me to come with a part that would fill up all of the space left over (he actually left another band when they didn't put me in as bassist). This got me playing horrendously complex parts that covered rhythm guitar and bass and sometimes lead instrument. Very fun.

Anyway, I digress... if you decide to write for the band, it's better if you come in with a whole song in mind, not just a riff to jam on.

diechris · #12 10-26-2006, 06:47 AM

//im in the same boat as of now.. so im jumping on for the read//

EricF · #13 10-26-2006, 11:07 AM

My guitar player is a fantasic musician, and does most of our songwriting. Sometimes he has an idea for the bass line, but sometimes I'm left to my own devices. I always welcome his input if he has another idea.

If I'm writing my own line, I'll usually start by just following his progression with root notes (assuming it's a chordal progression). Once I have a feel for it, I'll add some flavor to my part in a way that's fitting for the song. It could be a syncopated rhythm, a counter-melody, an arpeggio, a walking line, or just some octaves. Sometimes just playing roots with a steady rhythm is perfect.

chaosMK · #14 10-26-2006, 11:10 AM

Not much you can do in thrash. Can you think of any thrash metal bands where the bass player does the type of stuff you have in mind?

If you guys are willing to move in other directions, you can start making it more bass oriented.

The trouble with thrash is there usually isnt much space. Open space is the progressive metal bassists friend. If you can work more "space" into the music, then you can fill it in with cooler bass parts. Also if you starting writing with more rhythmic stuff, you can start throwing in polyrhythms. You might be able to incorporate some simple tapping riffs into the music.

Also- you probably need to step up more. They may be expecting you to be a traditional root note metal bassist. My advise is to get a huge rig and drown everyone out if they disagree with you.