hip hop bass

loonj91 · #1 12-11-2006, 06:58 PM

Any one know what goes into making hip hop bass lines? what kind of scales/rhythms/intervals/changes/grooves/etc. are used into like how to form them. I am going to be recording real soon for this kind of stuff and i don't know anything about it... i play jazz mostly so does anyone know how i can transfer this, ive been too locked into seeing something and walking on it a million bpm and i need to be able to do more grooving simple, but still complex enough so that its me not a machine doing the playing for this project.

ryco · #2 12-11-2006, 07:28 PM

I'm not sure what exactly you're looking for. I punched in hip hop in Google and found:

a sample bank for ideas

http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/s...loopsp01.shtml

an article about producing hip hop

http://remixmag.com/mag/remix_bomb_tracks_hiphop/

and a hip hop bass book by Josquin Des Pres

http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/017985/details.html

hope there is something helpful for you in here!

MikeBass · #3 12-11-2006, 07:31 PM

Paging Woodchuck!!!

MikeBass · #4 12-11-2006, 07:32 PM

Paging LaMarquis J

MikeBass · #5 12-11-2006, 07:36 PM

Those two guys have played on (especially LaMarquis) more Hip Hop stuff than you could ever want to know about.
Try dropping them a PM.

For guys who have played on number one gold records by some of the BIGGEST artists, they are two of the nicest, down to earth cats to pass along some real pro advice.

loonj91 · #6 12-11-2006, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryco

I'm not sure what exactly you're looking for.

basically anything that grooves and will be rapped over. I want it to be complex and human enough that they actually need me and not a computer to play bass. just Whatever intervals or rhythms are used commonly in the music. Kind of general stuff so i can form my own lines.

also anyone know the progressions of "the revolution will not be televised"- gil scott heron I have a terrible ear

Kickin'Fruit · #7 12-14-2006, 09:30 AM

When I try to come up with a hip hop bass line or basically anything that is going to get people jumping, just start jumping yourself, think of what the drumbeat would be like, and imitate it. One simple on I do is two 8th notes, a quarter note rest and then a quarter note.

Spoiled Grape · #8 12-14-2006, 10:10 AM

My advice? Listen to hip-hop. It's a groove thing.

What type of stuff will you be playing with though? I sometimes do stuff with a producer who samples alot of old funk-jazz-rnb-soul stuff on top of hip-hop beats. I usually double over some bass stuff to give it a little more human element.

gkbass13 · #9 12-14-2006, 10:16 AM

i think it is a lot more about rhythm and selectively timed playing if that makes sense. throuhgout college ive done a lot of playign behind mc's for rap battles and freestyles, it is about creating lines that make someone want to move but also allow breathing room. this can be done quite well using a very small selection fo notes or using an entire scale. my best advice would be to listen to as many hip hop bass lines as possible and then go form there... you'll get it. but deffinitely listen to the advice of our TB hip hop pros as well, i know i cant wait to see what is said...

markjazzbassist · #10 12-14-2006, 11:23 AM

Hip-Hop is like R&B with more space, in it's simplicest form. It's all about the interaction with the drums too.

Sandwich Man · #11 12-14-2006, 11:52 AM

The bass in hip-hop drives the song a lot of times. If you listen to some of the great hip-hop lines, they contrast with the rest of the song to keep it moving. Also, you could adding space by making a line staccato.

steveb98 · #12 12-14-2006, 12:15 PM

Get some hip-hop and listen to it to absorb the feel. If you play Jazz then none of the chords will surprise you. Hip-Hop groove is of foremost importance and notes are second.

I dig Snoop Dogg he is a trip and he has real bands. Not a handful of keyboards and a drum machine. I like Roots too, Hub and Amir the bass and drummer a slammin'.

MakiSupaStar · #13 12-18-2006, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveb98

Get some hip-hop and listen to it to absorb the feel. If you play Jazz then none of the chords will surprise you. Hip-Hop groove is of foremost importance and notes are second.

I dig Snoop Dogg he is a trip and he has real bands. Not a handful of keyboards and a drum machine. I like Roots too, Hub and Amir the bass and drummer a slammin'.

+1. Snoop also samples a lot from P-Funk. So listen to some PFunk too. You'll feel it eventually.

steveb98 · #14 12-18-2006, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

+1. Snoop also samples a lot from P-Funk. So listen to some PFunk too. You'll feel it eventually.

I have no problem feelin' Funk, I was just making suggestions to the original question. I listen to lots of Bootsy and Parlament, but I think of that as Old School Funk versus Hip Hop.

MakiSupaStar · #15 12-18-2006, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveb98

I have no problem feelin' Funk, I was just making suggestions to the original question. I listen to lots of Bootsy and Parlament, but I think of that as Old School Funk versus Hip Hop.

Yep. I agree. My .02. The discipline of Hip Hop lies in keeping it simple, heavy and groovin. Less is definitely more.