How am I going to tackle this?

[Kickin'Fruit]

I don't have the best ear, and I have never written my own bassline. I don't know the rules at least I don't have the confidence in what I think the rules are anyway.

The band that I was just assimilated into, my friend gave me a cd of stuff he wants me to write a bassline for because he wants me to go with him to Albany Friday and perform with him! I think I pretty much suck and I don't know what to do. I'm thinking of getting a teacher to go over it with me. Any suggestions? This band is making me go at warp speed.

Lastly, I left my amp at the other guitarists house so I don't know how I'm going to hear anything.

[SlavaF]

Dude, confidence is the first thing you gotta work on... this whole "I pretty much suck" thing isn't gonna work when you're on stage performing for people. Have confidence in what you're playing, no matter what it is, and you'll automatically sound better IMO.

As for writing your own basslines, it's a tough thing to teach - I guess you just gotta learn some things and develop a unique style along the way. Just spend the next few days until your gig listening to as much music as you can, focus on the basslines, and start picking little things up, and PLAY as much as you possibly can. Also, when the time comes to play, make sure you know these songs good enough to not have to think about what you're playing all the time, and just let loose. When you're only thinking about the next bar, it will show and it won't sound very good.

But be honest with yourself... do you think you can realistically pull this off, or are you just better off practising on your own for a while working on your ear? A good ear is essential in writing original basslines, especially if you're playing live, so you might just want to put this thing off for a bit if that's what you think about your playing. I've seen unprepared bassists on stage, and it might have been just me, but it was easy to see as soon as the first song started.

What kind of music does your guitarist play?

oh about the amp thing, can you just plug into your computer? You can get at least a little bit of volume through your speakers... though that might sound really bad, I dunno

[Nick Ioannucci]

hey man i dont know the rules, just make S**T up. thats the way to go. and just act like its all good.

[iplaybassguitar]

not that it will get great sounding basslines, but if your really desperate and trying to learn this quick, maybe just play the roots...adding the fifths every so often is a really really easy way of spicing up a dull bassline, and sounds a lot better than just pounding roots. um, id say a definate +1 on the teacher thing, teachers will help your playing so much.

it might seem like a pain in the @$$ to be playing with guys making you go to fast, but i guarantee your progressing at twice your normal rate...i started playing bass in middle school and wasnt really friends with any other bassists, and now that i am, im better than them all(not to sound cocky, i just wish there was someone my age who was better so id be pushed harder to progress).

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by Kickin'Fruit

I don't have the best ear, and I have never written my own bassline. I don't know the rules at least I don't have the confidence in what I think the rules are anyway.

The band that I was just assimilated into, my friend gave me a cd of stuff he wants me to write a bassline for because he wants me to go with him to Albany Friday and perform with him! I think I pretty much suck and I don't know what to do. I'm thinking of getting a teacher to go over it with me. Any suggestions? This band is making me go at warp speed.

Lastly, I left my amp at the other guitarists house so I don't know how I'm going to hear anything.

I would be honest with your friend. Say, "Listen; I have limited experience doing this kind of thing, but I'm willing to work hard and do a good job." Ask him if he could sit down with you and give you an idea of what he's looking for. Performing on Friday sounds ambitious. Only you know if you can really make it work. Be honest with your friend and yourself. Don't put yourself down as a musician, just tell him the facts. You have limited experience writing your own lines.

Hope this helps. Good luck.
Joe

[Kickin'Fruit]

thanks guys, awesome advice from this forum. Honesty is the best policy and I think I have been honest with him this whole point and I keep telling him if it doesn't work out I'm cool with that, but he keeps telling me, that it's okay just have fun and it'll be easy.. I'm not sure if he's just being nice or if he's really being sincere. I just partied tonight with the other guitarist and he kept introducing me as his "bassist" really made me feel proud but i didn't feel like i deserved it.

[Insomnia_Junkie]

Originally Posted by Kickin'Fruit

thanks guys, awesome advice from this forum. Honesty is the best policy and I think I have been honest with him this whole point and I keep telling him if it doesn't work out I'm cool with that, but he keeps telling me, that it's okay just have fun and it'll be easy.. I'm not sure if he's just being nice or if he's really being sincere. I just partied tonight with the other guitarist and he kept introducing me as his "bassist" really made me feel proud but i didn't feel like i deserved it.

Of course you deserve it man you play bass and your in a band! Your a bassist! Besides I know you'll be alright, let us know how it goes

[Fontaine]

giver f**kin sh*t buddy.

[WillBuckingham]

Originally Posted by Kickin'Fruit

I just partied tonight with the other guitarist and he kept introducing me as his "bassist" really made me feel proud but i didn't feel like i deserved it.

less partying + more practicing = better bass playing . . .

[SlavaF]

Originally Posted by WillBuckingham

less partying + more practicing = better bass playing . . .

haha
words to live by

[caswin]

The best way to produce bass lines it actually when you singing the song that is what my band leader told me,then play it on the bass.For young guys started playing bass now that's the way to go.I really sucks when it come to bass lines although i am playingbass for the numbers of years.hope this will help.

[Kickin'Fruit]

Hey guys, I completely forgot to update on my situation with the band. Well, lately it's been going pretty good, we are really nailing down some songs, originals and covers. For the originals I am basically laying down the root in 8th notes. This is what I started off for the most basic.

Tell me if this is perfectly acceptable to "jazz it up":

I have sometimes been deviating from what the guitarists are doing for the root and just laying the root down to the beat of the drummers bass kick.

Also I have been venturing off into jumping to the 5th of the chord on the down beat 1-and (5th) 3 and (5th).

Lastly, for chord changes I have been either anticipating the chord change and ending my measure beat with a note from the next chord. So if it's E then C - I'll throw a C in on the last beat to kind of lead to the next chord.

Also for dynamic I've been trying to follow the idea of (less is more) and adding quarter note rests into my measures or for a more dramatic pause using whole notes.

Does that sound good, even though it's really basic?

How would I go about constructing a fill? Play something in key and try to fit a 4/4 measure of it in? Thanks.

P.S. I also noticed that when I change up the beat but play the same chords, the guita*ists follow along to a similar beat! Is that fine or is that just me screwing them up?

[iplaybassguitar]

Originally Posted by Kickin'Fruit

Hey guys, I completely forgot to update on my situation with the band. Well, lately it's been going pretty good, we are really nailing down some songs, originals and covers. For the originals I am basically laying down the root in 8th notes. This is what I started off for the most basic.

Tell me if this is perfectly acceptable to "jazz it up":

I have sometimes been deviating from what the guitarists are doing for the root and just laying the root down to the beat of the drummers bass kick.

Also I have been venturing off into jumping to the 5th of the chord on the down beat 1-and (5th) 3 and (5th).

Lastly, for chord changes I have been either anticipating the chord change and ending my measure beat with a note from the next chord. So if it's E then C - I'll throw a C in on the last beat to kind of lead to the next chord.

Also for dynamic I've been trying to follow the idea of (less is more) and adding quarter note rests into my measures or for a more dramatic pause using whole notes.

Does that sound good, even though it's really basic?

How would I go about constructing a fill? Play something in key and try to fit a 4/4 measure of it in? Thanks.

P.S. I also noticed that when I change up the beat but play the same chords, the guita*ists follow along to a similar beat! Is that fine or is that just me screwing them up?

that whole thing about the leading notes to the next chord sounds great, but it would sound even better if you picked a note that was a half step away from the next chord...so in your example from E to C, you might play a B, or a C#...get it? there is a lot of that in jazz and blues music.

[pretaanluxis]

Originally Posted by Kickin'Fruit

Tell me if this is perfectly acceptable to "jazz it up":

If it sounds good it is good

P.S. I also noticed that when I change up the beat but play the same chords, the guita*ists follow along to a similar beat! Is that fine or is that just me screwing them up?

That depends, but since your a noob it's more likely you are screwing them up. But if you stay on the time with the roots you should be able to change it up on all your fills with no problems

[Kickin'Fruit]

Originally Posted by pretaanluxis

If it sounds good it is good


That depends, but since your a noob it's more likely you are screwing them up. But if you stay on the time with the roots you should be able to change it up on all your fills with no problems

Well I was playing the same roots just a different way.

[barthanatos]

Originally Posted by Kickin'Fruit

Well I was playing the same roots just a different way.

You should totally be able to play the root note in a rhythm that is different from what they are doing and it be okay. That could very well be them playing "follow the leader" with you as the unwitting leader. If they can fix themselves, good. If not, you might want to do something a bit more in sync?

[barthanatos]

Originally Posted by Kickin'Fruit

Does that sound good, even though it's really basic?

Listen to Sting, from The Police. Much of what he does is super-simple, and sounds good.

[thumbzilla]

Seems like if no one is scowling at you, you're doing OK. Look at the crowd if you can see past the lights. Even the simplest groove can get them bobbing their heads. If you see that, you are doing your job. Keep layin' it down, cat!

[steveksux]

Originally Posted by SlavaF

Dude, confidence is the first thing you gotta work on... this whole "I pretty much suck" thing isn't gonna work when you're on stage performing for people. Have confidence in what you're playing, no matter what it is, and you'll automatically sound better IMO.

This is very true. Play it like you mean it, not tentative and scared, it will sound better.

But when you're NOT on stage, don't be afraid to keep reminding yourself that you suck, cause it'll motivate you to get better.

I've been playing for 30 years, I can hear a song and play it, I can hold my own in most any situation except for hard core jazz. But when I hear a great bass player, I still think I suck.

No reason to get down on yourself, there's always going to be a better player. Learn from them. Once you think you know it all, you stop learning.

Always remember, succ-ess begins with sucks. We've all been there. Victor Wooten was there.

Randy