Figuring Out a Bass Line by Ear

Eyesee7 · #1 02-09-2011, 12:45 PM

I've been playing bass guitar, along with classical and finger-picking blues guitar for nearly 40 years and I STILL have trouble figuring out tunes by ear off a recording!!!

This has been very frustrating because there are so many tunes I want to learn but end up giving up when I can't figure them out (and when I can't get sheet music for them). I seem to have the most trouble on faster passages. Let's say I'm able to isolate the first note in a bass line by fishing around on the instrument while the recording is playing. From there I can usually figure out the next few notes, let's say I find the first note, A, and then hear a B and C# following.

Then I listen to the next three notes in the line and shut off the recording and try to find them. I can hear them in my head. Let's say in reality the notes are D, E and F - a whole tone interval followed by a half-tone interval. I may hear that and find a pattern of notes that have a whole tone followed by a half tone interval, but they're not the right notes! I may pick out E, F# and G and think that's right!

Or let's say a fast ascending pattern goes A,C,C,E,E,G. I'll be listening to that and wind up playing A,G,C,E,E,G in which the G is descending, and think that's the right line-- it's like I hear all these harmonics and ghost notes and overtones either in the music, or in my head, or from other instruments. Technically the line is still in key, but it's not the right sequence of notes.

Then when I finally get the sheet music or transcription and play it correctly, I always have this reaction: "of course this is the correct way, this sounds right, why couldn't I hear it this way?!"

Yet, if you want me to learn a new tune, and just hand me the guitar chords and let the guitarist run through it so I can hear the melody and changes, I have no problem constructing a bass line that grooves and fits the song perfectly, even if it's not the line from the recording (which I may not even have ever heard). I've had people compliment me for being able to come up with appropriate bass lines. But why the hell can't I figure out stuff off the record by ear???

millsbass5 · #2 02-09-2011, 12:57 PM

IMHO,I think you are analyzing things a bit too much. Now this is just an opinion,mind you. Try approaching the piece from a different "angle". Have fun with it! Don't approach it as a "do or die",type of thing.

Art Araya · #3 02-09-2011, 01:00 PM

I use computer software when I have a hard time figuring out a bass line. I use the software to slow the bass line down, loop the section I'm working on, change the pitch up an octave so it stands out clearer, and EQ up the bass frequencies. This process helps with some lines that I'm having difficulties with...

It's called Amazing Slow Downer and works with MP3s and CDs...

Martin89 · #4 02-09-2011, 01:04 PM

1st situation, Just listen to the song and sing the bass line in your head, to get used to the intervals. Find the key the song is in and then start thinking in numbers if you can(1 4 5/ A D E etc.). I find this is the easiest way for me to figure out basslines or any music as it is often repetitive.

2nd situation, again sing what you hear because your voice is less likely to descend into a harmonic/ghost note. Just keep listening and practicing, it get's easier.

Eyesee7 · #5 02-09-2011, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin89

1st situation, Just listen to the song and sing the bass line in your head, to get used to the intervals. Find the key the song is in and then start thinking in numbers if you can(1 4 5/ A D E etc.). I find this is the easiest way for me to figure out basslines or any music as it is often repetitive.

Thanks for the advice! I probably should have mentioned that I can usually figure out basic 1/4/5 or repetitive stuff, or at least figure what the root chord tones are. I'm talkin' more along the line of figuring out more complex stuff like ELP, Tull, Rush, etc. Sounds like I should check out the Slow Downer that Art mentioned.

Eyesee7 · #6 02-09-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millsbass5

IMHO,I think you are analyzing things a bit too much. Now this is just an opinion,mind you. Try approaching the piece from a different "angle". Have fun with it! Don't approach it as a "do or die",type of thing.

Good advice.

essentre · #7 02-09-2011, 01:21 PM

I have the same trouble. Alot of times I'll go to youtube to see people playing it. Even if it's not 100% correct, it gets me near where I need to be. From there i can play along and get it even closer. My problem is just getting to the notes from the start.

Martin89 · #8 02-09-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyesee7

Thanks for the advice! I probably should have mentioned that I can usually figure out basic 1/4/5 or repetitive stuff, or at least figure what the root chord tones are. I'm talkin' more along the line of figuring out more complex stuff like ELP, Tull, Rush, etc. Sounds like I should check out the Slow Downer that Art mentioned.

I just used the example of 1/4/5 because I wasn't quite sure where you were at. If you know theory along with listening, most lines are in a scale revolving around all of the chords or just the first. So depending on the style you'll run into a certain scale/pattern that's used quite often and can figure it out(a scale walk up, interval jump, chromatic walkup from 3-5 etc).

Martin89 · #9 02-09-2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by essentre

I have the same trouble. Alot of times I'll go to youtube to see people playing it. Even if it's not 100% correct, it gets me near where I need to be. From there i can play along and get it even closer. My problem is just getting to the notes from the start.

+1 I often resort to this if it is really bothering me.

gjbassist · #10 02-09-2011, 01:30 PM

Try using a computer program like Best Practice. It allows you to slow down the track without effecting the overall sound quality. It also allows you to loop a certain part of a song and change the key in half step increments.

http://bestpractice.sourceforge.net/

bassinplace · #11 02-09-2011, 03:18 PM

What I do is to listen to the line I want to play and then pause it and then hum it. Then listen back to make sure the rhythm and the pitch match. Then I take any note in the line, which ever one is easiest for me to find on the neck and navigate out the rest of the line from there. I have much success that way. Give it a go.

martyman5000 · #12 02-09-2011, 03:23 PM

I have exactly the same problem...I hate having to learn songs from a band that had a previous bassist. Most of the time I get a mediocre recording that I have to keep listening to over and over, sometimes I really don't think its worth the frustration.

Floyd Eye · #13 02-09-2011, 03:23 PM

Traditionally I figure everything out by ear. Since the dawn of the internet age though and considering my band is always adding new songs, lately I peruse the selection of bass covers on YT. Usually at least one guy on there gets it close enough for me to figure out the rest of it and sometimes there are guys that nail it. There's a guy called Hackbass who has a couple very good videos on YT.

I know, us old school guys consider it cheating, but then so is tab and when time is of the essence, you realize that ultimately it doesn't matter how you get there as long as you get there.

SaucyJackBass · #14 02-09-2011, 03:31 PM

A tool that is great for getting a jump start is DMM by www.sienzo.com, it takes any MP3 and gives you what it thinks both the chords and the Bass lines are. It can be as bad as 40% acurate as awesome as 99%, but either way it gets you started.

I also try the "sing the bass line" trick. I find learning the bass line without a bass in your hand is a good way to get through tough sections. You aren't trying to analyze and solve at the same time. Do it one step then the other.

eddododo · #15 02-09-2011, 03:41 PM

READ THIS!!!

first off get "the amazing slowdowner" or any music slowdown software- people think its cheating but its merely a chance to hone your ear-skills; ween yourself off of the slowdown software if you feel the need

THIS TECHNIQUE=USEFUL
instead of starting from the beginning of the riff, if you get stuck try learning the end and building it back
so if its C-Eb-G-Bb-Ab-Gb-F-Eb-D ("Ab-Gb" being altered tones of F7)
and you cant figure out the Ab-Gb, figure out the resolution at the end and then hear the half-step from Gb-F

Hope this isnt too rambly

klokker · #16 02-09-2011, 03:45 PM

The keyboard player in our band is like that. He hears a line and plays it back totally wrong and then says, "that's it".

From what I can tell its a kind of refusal to concentrate. He's just not really listening or has never really taken it to the next level.

The exercise that helped me the most was picking out chords on a piano. No.......not that its a G7 chord......the G7 chord with the exact voicing and intervals etc.

An idea would be to forget about bass lines for a while and just learn the melody by ear etc. Just pick out songs you already know and play them on your bass etc.

martyman5000 · #17 02-09-2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaucyJackBass

A tool that is great for getting a jump start is DMM by www.sienzo.com, it takes any MP3 and gives you what it thinks both the chords and the Bass lines are. It can be as bad as 40% acurate as awesome as 99%, but either way it gets you started.

I also try the "sing the bass line" trick. I find learning the bass line without a bass in your hand is a good way to get through tough sections. You aren't trying to analyze and solve at the same time. Do it one step then the other.

I'm shocked this program works fairly well!!!

TheSuzie · #18 02-09-2011, 05:09 PM

If you are having trouble recognizing the interval between any two notes, this website can help a lot.

http://www.trainear.com/

If you spend a month or two using this site for training, it can make a huge difference in your ability to recognize intervals. Fool around with the options and find the best way to use the program for your purposes. Of course, interval recognition is only one tiny but important of overall ear training.

Peace,
S

bassinplace · #19 02-09-2011, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klokker

An idea would be to forget about bass lines for a while and just learn the melody by ear etc. Just pick out songs you already know and play them on your bass etc.

+1 Very useful.

honeyiscool · #20 02-09-2011, 06:28 PM

Yeah, people can't pick out bass lines until you can think of a song you know but have never tried playing before, and then be able to play that melody. The key is not that important, honestly. Just think about, say, the vocal melody to Stairway to Heaven. Try playing it on your bass. If you can't figure that out, what makes you think you can figure out bass lines which are infinitely harder to hear?