Gospel bass fill

[GangstaBean]

I want to know how people play the gospel/hip hop (not rap, like r&b?) fills on their bass. I know theory and stuff, it's just that when I try, it doesn't sound musical.

[Raynier]

It really depends on whats happening when I decide to do a fill Like a Do a fill sometimes when Chord Changes happen to lead into the new chord.

Also if the same chord has been played for awhile Ill take the liberty of throwing out a lead part if no one else is and most importantly,

Feel the Fill and play it as if it is your last fill with the most heart u could ever put into a note.

If u put some heart into it it might sound more Musical to u.

[bottomzone]

You need to spend some serious time listening to the masters. Here are a few:

Sharay Reed:
‪Sharay Reed @ Chicago Gospel Musician Jam‬‏ - YouTube
‪Thank You‬‏ - YouTube
‪Sharay Reed - Thank you (Run 1)‬‏ - YouTube

Darrell Freeman:
‪High Praise - The Anointed Pace Sisters‬‏ - YouTube
‪The Anointed Pace Sisters "It's Already Done"‬‏ - YouTube (poor sound quality)

Justin Raines:
‪Gospel Bass Lesson @ GospelChops.com featuring Justin Raines (HD)‬‏ - YouTube
‪Justin Raines in New Breed soundcheck(PE Africa)‬‏ - YouTube
‪Freestyle bass by Justin "Rafiki" Raines‬‏ - YouTube

That's just the tip of the mountain!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

[mtb777]

Don't forget Freddie Hammond's early stuff that he actually played on. He slams it!

[bottomzone]

Absolutely!!!!!! Fred Hammond is a given! Also, Joel Smith and Andrew Gouche.

‪ANDREW GOUCHE FEATURING JOEL SMITH ON BASS NAMM 2007‬‏ - YouTube

‪Andrew Gouche Plays Bass Player LIVE‬‏ - YouTube


A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

[Basshoofd]

Gospel bass fills, like any other fills, are learned by doing the work. Transcribe the greats.

[mtb777]

I usually play with 2 to 3 acoustic guitars with a possible one of those playing a Strat so I'm usually open to playing whatever I want fill wise, but usually will accent the chord changes and occasionally throw in some multi-bar lines to counter what the lead guitarist is doing. It's like the bumper sticker I saw the other day that made me laugh for a while..... Everybody follows the Bass Player. Gotta find me one of those.

[mtb777]

One of the reasons I got back into playing was most of the CCM music recorded in Nashville was played by Jackie Street and a couple of other guys whom I can't think of at the moment. They played some of the best stuff I'd heard in a ballad/pop type stuff format short of the fusion stuff I was usually listening to. Really good lines and phrasing that was really in the pocket and melodic as well. Very inspiring to say the least. Jackie also did the arraignments and production too. Very tight.