The basic idea can be moved around to different scales.
You just pick a root note and alternate the root with a some kind of ascending or descending pattern in the scale (a minor pentatonicin this case), while maintianing a strict 16th note rhythm.
Here's the original riff with scale tones indicated:
Code:
A A A' A G A F A E A D A
R R 8 R b7 R b6 R 5 R 4 R
In this example, playing the root note for the first two beats displaces all the remaining root notes on off beats (if you count "1 e & a " it's the "e" and the "a")
this makes the melodic stuf a happen on downbeats while the unaccented beats hold the tonic.
You could reverse it , so the melody jumps to the off beats:
Code:
A A' A G A F A E A D A A
R 8 R b7 R b6 R 5 R 4 R R
Or you could play two scale tones for each root and create more rhythms
Code:
A A' G A F E A D C A B C
R 8 b7 R b6 5 R 5 b3 R 2 b3
Or you can throw in more traditional chromatic funk /blues runs somewhere
Code:
A A A' A E G G# A' E A D A E D D# E
R R 8 R 5 b7 7 8 5 R 4 R 5 4 b5 5
This is the general idea behind Chris Wolstenholme's very synthy bass line on Muse's
Hysteria.
It starts in A minor then jumps to E, D and back to A.
the first bar of A minor goes:
Code:
A A G A G A' A G A F A D E A C D
R R b7 A b7 8 R b7 R b6 R 4 5 R b3 4
hope fully thats enough info for you to explore other keys...
On a standard tuned bass, It is easiest with scales whose root is E, A , D or G since you can use the open string as your "pedal" tone.
But ultimately you'd want to be able to hold one Left hand position and cross strings to hit the scale tones, freeing you from open strings.
I have to say that I think of this kinda of stuff as "synth-y bass" -bass lines emulting synth arpeggiators and sequencers.
When I think of "trance Music" bass lines, I think of the down tempo 90's dub stuff, a la
Bill Lasswell
Which is more based around reggae and funk grooves.
. All those guys are trained jazz musicians and they make awesome trance music using that influence. Anyway, I've been studying Dan's basslines (the bass player for New Deal) and trying to get inside his head to learn how to create my own trance, electronica, dance, etc bass lines, and I'm having a really tough time figuring it out.
