Being more creative when the guitarist uses power chords

Guz2 · #1 10-20-2010, 02:41 PM

As a metal bassist, I personally hate it when other metal bassists simply follow the guitar line 100% of the time. Of course, playing a whole loads of fills in something like a Decapitated song wouldn't work and would make the song sound cluttered, as the guitar work is already really complex but I still find myself trying to think up more creative lines to accompany the riffs. One thing I was wondering is how do I know what notes will work under the power chords? I know I can play the root and the fifth but that's really boring.

Thanks in advance for any help

**pacojas** · #2 10-20-2010, 02:48 PM

it's not really what you play,.. but how you play it! those roots and fifths or whatever it is can sound like magic with the right approach. gl.

puddin tame · #3 10-20-2010, 02:58 PM

What notes will work under power chord?
Any note will work under any chord depending on how you use it. Of course typically you want to emphasise the chord tones more on the 1 and 3 beats. All a power chord is is a root and fifth, use those as your 'home' notes and just fill in whatever you feel.

You can think about numbers and that all you want but if you really want to be good you've just got to feel it - hear the sounds you want in your head and have your hands go there. You think metallica is up there on stage doing fret math in their heads?

MrDOS · #4 10-20-2010, 02:58 PM

Your arsenal includes more than the 12 notes -- you have time to work with too. And you can look at the rhythmic interplay with the drums too, all without looking for another note that "fits."

puddin tame · #5 10-20-2010, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrDOS

Your arsenal includes more than the 12 notes -- you have time to work with too. And you can look at the rhythmic interplay with the drums too, all without looking for another note that "fits."

If you're going to look at it like that you also have dynamics, tone, articulation, feel etc

There are more factors that go into the music than what notes you play

tangentmusic · #6 10-20-2010, 03:06 PM

Metal can be a challenge for a bass player to do anything but follow the guitar player.
Due to the fast paced power-chord changes, it can leave little space to work in.
If you have songs that have a slower pace or section within a song, you may be able to get creative there. Or try to incorporate a line that transitions from one chord / riff to the next. The only way to find if it works is to try out as many approaches as possible. eliminating bad ideas along the way...

Guz2 · #7 10-20-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangentmusic

Metal can be a challenge for a bass player to do anything but follow the guitar player.
Due to the fast paced power-chord changes, it can leave little space to work in.

Exactly this.

My teacher told me that finding out what key the piece is in would help?

liquid sunshine · #8 10-20-2010, 08:02 PM

listen to obscura if you want a good answer

dave64o · #9 10-21-2010, 06:00 AM

Here are some things I tried that I found to be VERY effectively when playing with a guitarist who loves to hammer out power chords...

- If the guitarist is playing nothing but power chords, then that opens up a huge opportunity for you. Assuming you know enough theory to figure out the key signature you're playing in, simply playing an appropriate 3rd (major, minor) once in a while will go a LONG way.

- I agree that it's sometimes hard to do anything but follow the guitar if it's playing fast power chord changes. But maybe if the guitar hits a point where it plays an ascending line, you could pick some points where you DESCEND going from one note to the next. Now all of a sudden you're playing in a different octave, with an even greater separation between you an the guitar,

- Obviously, the opposite is also true. If the guitar is playing a line that is basically descending, you can play the same note but ascending. Again, you're suddenly playing in a different octave than you were, and may now be in the same register as the guitar, giving you the opportunity to play some lines as unisons.

- If the guitar is playing lightning fast, slow down what you're doing - maybe playing quarter notes or half notes

- If the guitar is playing slowly, play a faster bass line.

- If the guitar is hammering out a rhythmic pattern with the same power chord for a longer time ( a measure or two, or even more), you can do a simple ascending or descending walk up to or down to the root of the next chord.

That's just a start, but hopefully you get the idea - a guitarist who basically plays power chords leaves a LOT of room for you to do some very simple things that can make the song a lot more interesting than just loud, distorted power chords. YOU have an opportunity to add some melodic content the wall of mud your guitarist is blasting out. Look at it as an opportunity and run with it!