Chord Changes (Does this Work?)

[danjl131]

Ok, so in the band I am in we have a new song, and I have a question regarding our chorus. It's roughly 80 beats per minute, and the guitar (distorted) slowly strums the following chords: Bb5 Db5 Ab5 Eb/G. (One chord per measure, and repeat the progression once for an 8 bar chorus). A possible bass line I have in mind is the following rhythmically (S = sixteenth note, E = eighth note): S S S S E S S S S E S S S S. The notes are: F Eb F Eb Ab F Eb F Eb Ab F Eb C Bb. The line is played once for each measure. The bass is not outlining the chords, but the guitar is, and the line sounds different against each chord. The driving rhythm (bass) contrasted against the mellow strums (guitar) creates an interesting mood IMO, but is it too out of the ordinary, and would it be "frowned upon" for the bass not outlining the chords as well? I understand the role of the bass, but for this song I kind of stray away from it regarding following the changes. What do you think? Does this work or should I do something a little more "conservative"? Thank you for your time reading this long post, and please give me your opinion.

P.S. we haven't shown this to the drummer yet.

[Jake of Bass]

It's your song man, you play what you want. If you guys dig it, then do it

[trust24]

Originally Posted by danjl131

Ok, so in the band I am in we have a new song, and I have a question regarding our chorus. It's roughly 80 beats per minute, and the guitar (distorted) slowly strums the following chords: Bb5 Db5 Ab5 Eb/G. (One chord per measure, and repeat the progression once for an 8 bar chorus). A possible bass line I have in mind is the following rhythmically (S = sixteenth note, E = eighth note): S S S S E S S S S E S S S S. The notes are: F Eb F Eb Ab F Eb F Eb Ab F Eb C Bb. The line is played once for each measure. The bass is not outlining the chords, but the guitar is, and the line sounds different against each chord. The driving rhythm (bass) contrasted against the mellow strums (guitar) creates an interesting mood IMO, but is it too out of the ordinary, and would it be "frowned upon" for the bass not outlining the chords as well? I understand the role of the bass, but for this song I kind of stray away from it regarding following the changes. What do you think? Does this work or should I do something a little more "conservative"? Thank you for your time reading this long post, and please give me your opinion.

P.S. we haven't shown this to the drummer yet.

Might nick that for myself

No seriously surely if it sounds really good it doesnt really matter

[megadan]

If it sounds good, do it.

The only opposing advice I would give is, if the mood of the song is mellow, the drums are mellow, and you're playing busy 16th note lines, it might be a little over the top.

Maybe develop a slower quarter/eighth note line to start the song, then work up to the busier line with the drums.

[Deacon_Blues]

I think you can make this sound great rhythmically if you play in a relaxed way and the drummer pushes a slow and simple, but heavy, regular beat.

I took the time to record this to see how the bass and guitar fits together. One thing I'd definitely change, is the Ab you play over the Eb/G. The Ab clashes with the G there, so I'd recommend to turn the Ab into a G too.

Anyway, even when doing that the riff just didn't fit very well. So I moved the whole riff up on the neck and changed the notes a little, to this:

Bb Ab Bb Ab Db__ Bb Ab Bb Ab Db__ Bb Ab F  Eb
Bb Ab Bb Ab Db__ Bb Ab Bb Ab Db__ Bb Ab F  Eb
Bb Ab Bb Ab C___ Bb Ab Bb Ab C___ Bb Ab F  Eb
G  F  G  F  Bb__ G  F  G  F  Bb__ G  F  Eb C

To me, this sounded better harmonically, but it's your song and you're the boss who decides what to do. Just offered my point of view here, as you asked.

[danjl131]

thanks for the input! really appreciate it and ill try some of the ideas at the next practice.