Do most bass grooves revolve around a root note?

[cire113]

I am trying to groove better on the bass... Is it just me or do most awesome bass grooves always go off of one or TWO roots notes...

or a chord progression...

For example i was doing a groove starting with F then going to Eb ... Usually most things i play either have 1 root note..... ive just learned to play with.. adding a 3rd note just means i cant do as much improvisation(within key) between the other roots..

It seems that i sound terrible when i play too many notes or do not return to a Root note or notes...

Now i understand there are some styles if music that dont implement this like jazz... Hopefully i made some sense?

[StyleOverShow]

Groove is more than just playing the root. It involves capturing and developing the bump of the hump, the feel of the tune. Rhythmically you address some of the issues, root note play stronger in rock and pop, but other music forms allow, encourage and require playing something else (like Jazz).

The groove also tonally leads the listener to the next change often by rising or dropping to it. Just listen to anything more complex than "7 Nation" and focus on the bass. Imagine it as a graph, pulsing with the beat and rising and dropping in pitch, then go play with that 'picture' in your mind.

[4bpauly]

as a basic place to start... play the root along with the kick drum... gradually let the groove develop and play "with" the kick drum (adding and subtracting shots when needed).... next try adding in some simple notes to help propel the groove... 5ths are always welcome in rock music and you won't get in the way too much

one of the problems you will face as a bass player is finding other players (for example guitarists) who use interesting chords... a lot of rock guys, especially beginners tend to use power chords (only the root and 5th) so hitting 3rds, 7ths etc tend to sound out of place.

you mentioned jazz... one reason other notes and melodies sound good with jazz is because they are simply using more interesting (harmonically speaking) and complex chords which include the other chord tones.

i hope that made sense haha

[mambo4]

Can't tell if you are using "root note" in its usual meaning: the root of the chord.

If that's the case, then yes, most grooves are based on the root (holding down the root is more or less the bassist's main task)- but the best grooves use chord tones and chromaticism in addition.

if you are using "root note" in some non-harmonic sense...as in " a single note that you just play a lot" .probably the answer is no. A Groove generally must follow the harmony of the song, so the root note will change as each new chord comes along.

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by mambo4

Can't tell if you are using "root note" in its usual meaning: the root of the chord.

If that's the case, then yes, most grooves are based on the root (holding down the root is more or less the bassist's main task)- but the best grooves use chord tones and chromaticism in addition.

if you are using "root note" in some non-harmonic sense...as in " a single note that you just play a lot" .probably the answer is no. A Groove generally must follow the harmony of the song, so the root note will change as each new chord comes along.

Great way to explain this. I wish more guitarists understood that a bassist can work off the roots to develop groove and fills etc. Sometimes i feel like i have Root handcuffs on

[onlyclave]

I - Ionian
ii - Dorian
iii - Phrygian
IV - Lydian
V - Mixolydian
vi - Aeolian
viio - Locrian

<circle of 5ths.gif>

[DudeistMonk]

Usually most things i play either have 1 root note

I think your a bit confused here, do you mean most things you play only have 1 chord? By definition you can't have more than 1 root note at any given time.

Root = Lowest note in a given chord Cmaj C-E-G the root is C. The third is E and the 5th is G.

Most bass lines, have the root note as the first beat of the measure and for the rest of the measure place emphases on the root and other chord tones, while mixing in other scale tones and "blue notes" from outside the scale.

Play some basic 12 bar blues, and examine the notes in relation to the chords, it'll clear a lot up.

[false404]

Lots of good advice here! I would only add that groove is not only about the notes that you play, but the rhythm as well. For heavy groove/funk style a big emphasis on the 1, mixed with syncopation on the other beats can be very effective.

Just because I'm thinking of it right now, the main bass line in Chubb Sub by Medeski, Martin and Wood is a good example.

[Erick Lam]

Now if pianists and guitarists could stop playing the damn root!