How do i follow chord changes through a song?

[skipster619]

I have read a great many threads here, and don't seem to find the answers I seek.....well, either that or I'm just incredibly bad at music! ;(

I'm fairly new to the bass, about a year. I listen constantly, trying to filter what i like and don't. I have several books and practice my "boxes", or the positional note sets that match a key...for example, playing at the 5th fret in the key of A. I think I've gotten very good at those. What I DON"T understand is what I do with it!!

I think I understand all of this, so far, but as a newbie to this I want to ask something...let's say the group is playing in A...and playing through a 1,4,5 progression.....SO, I'm working on the notes in the 5th position, maybe working off of the root, 5th and octave....when the guitarist changes chords, do I stay there and keep a simple groove going in the 5th position, or do I move my pattern to the appropriate location for the new chord?? Am I working the root of the key the group's playing in, or following the root of the chord at the moment??

The books all seem to show me the set of notes for a certain chord or key, but none of them seem to explain how those boxes of notes work their way through a song.

Sorry...I love the bass a lot, enjoy playing it immensely, but I am stuck making the transition from home player and scale runner to being able to play with others....and that was the reason I took up the bass in the first place, to be able to join others and make music!

If anyone can offer any help, it REALLY be appreciated!!

[pointbass]

You will need to switch to the chord that is noted. For example, if you are playing what you described (A) and the next chord is a D, following your example you would need to play the D, then the 5th (A) and then the octave (D). Staying in the A position, your 5th is an E which is not consistent with the root-5th-octave for the D chord.

[Eublet]

I suggest you get all three of Ed Friedland's instructional methods, which cover things like this. Anything instructional book Ed does is great.

[ealtdharkon]

Originally Posted by skipster619

when the guitarist changes chords, do I stay there and keep a simple groove going in the 5th position, or do I move my pattern to the appropriate location for the new chord?? Am I working the root of the key the group's playing in, or following the root of the chord at the moment??

To an extent, I'd say that would depend on the song.
Sorry to state the obvious here, but the reason playing the root of the key the group is playing in (I'll stick with A as the example) sounds good, is because they're in A, and you're in A. Simple and makes sense.
So if they change chord, then it might be wise to play around the root from the new chord, that way you can be sure it'll sound well together.

However, if you play cleverly, you could well get away with keeping around the root of the key, as you'd still all be in the same key, just concentrating on different areas of it, which could create quite a nice contrast. But that's something you'd have to experiment with, and that would vary from piece to piece.

Your best bet, the safe and easy choice - is yes, always work around the root of the chord.
I suppose in a sense if all you're doing is playing around the root, your basslines are close to written for you by the rest of the groups choice of chords.

So if you do see yourself as a beginner, then that's probably your best bet.

[Joe Nerve]

From a theory challenged person who's playing for over 20 years:

Using your example, you CAN play in the 5th position if you'd like - yet you'd be really limited. I believe the idea is to know the notes of the key you're playing in and then stay within those notes using the roots or 5ths of the changes that you're going to on the first beat of the other chords. That's in it's simplest form. There are pickup notes that aren't in the scales that will also fit, and there are lots of times that something other than the root or 5th will sound musical, but if you want to keep it simplest... well, what I said before. I agree that Ed Friedland's books will help with this stuff, but more importatntly - I think you should practice using your ears.

IMO getting caught up in "how to" make music can get in the way of actually making it. I think it's more important to NOT know what you're doing and be able to do it, than to know what your doing and not be able to do it.

As for playing with others I believe that's something ya gotta just do, whether you think you're ready or not. Initially you probably won't be needing any of the scale knowledge anyhow. You're going to need to be able to play the songs they throw in front of you, and make them groove and sound good. The stuff you're studying will only come into play if the band wants to jam, and when you start writing songs. In both instances your ear, your heart, and your ability to get what's in your head to come out of your amplifier will be a lot more important than this stuff. And the only way I know of to develop those skills is by just doing it.

[chasfr]

What Pointbass said at #2. And in some styles of music, notably punk rock, you can often get away with just playing the root note, or 1, of the chord. (This can also be a good way to approach a new song.) Change your note to the new chord's root when the chord changes. Once you get that down, you can get more complicated and choose other notes from the chord, or from the scale the chord is built upon. "Bass for Dummies" has a pretty clear discussion of scales and chords and how to apply them, if you can get hold of a copy.

Have fun!
Chas

[Dogbertday]

Playing along with records will also build your understanding of what can be done. Off the top of my head (in easier to harder order) some records would be: The Ramones debut (also called "Ramones"), Social Distortion's Self titled Debut, and (the very fast) Tyrannosaurus Hives by the Hives... of course these are just sugestions.. play what you like

You gotta play other people's music before you can find your own..

that and playing songs off recordings is SSOOOO much more fun then playing out of a book

[hunta]

when the guitarist changes chords, do I stay there and keep a simple groove going in the 5th position, or do I move my pattern to the appropriate location for the new chord?? Am I working the root of the key the group's playing in, or following the root of the chord at the moment??

It depends. If they're playing tonal chords, for example if you're in the key of A, the 1 is major, the 4 is major, and the 5 is major (dominant), then every note they're playing is going to be in the key of A. Even if as the bass player you're changing your "root", it's still all in A. Technically, you should be playing the A ionian mode for the 1, D lydian for 4, and E mixolydian for 5.

If that makes no sense at all, you want to start learning your major modes. I think if you learn nothing else about theory, you want to learn your major modes. It will open up lots of new possibilities for you. Each chord has several different scales or modes you can play on top of it, some being more consonant or dissonant. There are many ways to be "correct".

[DocBop]

I think I understand all of this, so far, but as a newbie to this I want to ask something...let's say the group is playing in A...and playing through a 1,4,5 progression.....SO, I'm working on the notes in the 5th position, maybe working off of the root, 5th and octave....when the guitarist changes chords, do I stay there and keep a simple groove going in the 5th position, or do I move my pattern to the appropriate location for the new chord?? Am I working the root of the key the group's playing in, or following the root of the chord at the moment??

This is why I highly recommend people start playing and listen to Blues. It will help develop that sense of feeling of bars going by, you learn listen to melody and everyone to know when a chord is changing. Then you will know if the guitar changing chords or just d comp'ing some chord riff. Learning Blues bass lines are a great way to learn the basics about chords and the notes that work. They make good starting points for coming up with your own bass lines. Then Blues will teach you about locking in and playing with a feel.
Go to Blues jams and play the music is simple enough you can get your feet wet playing with others and learning to keep eyes and ears open to whats going on. I don't care what kind of music you are into what you learn playing Blues will help you.

[Asa Samuel]

Originally Posted by ealtdharkon

Your best bet, the safe and easy choice - is yes, always work around the root of the chord.
I suppose in a sense if all you're doing is playing around the root, your basslines are close to written for you by the rest of the groups choice of chords.

+1