Need direction with bass

[waveofthinking]

Im in desperate need of direction..I've recently began playing with a pianist who plays in fast tempos. What do i need to learn so there won't be empty gaps that should otherwise be filled by the bass in the songs..I understand the concept of Roots, octaves, 5ths, 7ths, scales etc. But i don't know how to bring this all together so that im constantly playing something and not just throwing in a chord/fill here and there.

Here is an example of the bass style im trying to learn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i0Yons0NLM&NR=1…

[lavmonga]

no dice for me on the link

[waveofthinking]

My apologies, it should now be working correctly.

[derekd]

Upbeat gospel tune. Not unlike an upbeat funk tune. Just don't know what kind of technique they are gonna let you get by with. The organ takes up a BUNCH of space, so I don't know how much room there is for you to punch in fills.

I really don't hear much bass on this, but I am listening at work with laptop speakers, so it might be there. If you can keep up with the changes, I think you are doing your job. Any arpeggio/scale fills are gonna be short and to the point I would think.

[MalcolmAmos]

Here is what I'd do, now that does not make it correct just because I said it.

First I'd want to get my hands on some sheet music. Hopefully some fake chord or lead sheet music that will show the chord name used over the lyrics. Tie the chord changes to a lyric word -- so you can anticipate when to change chords.

Then as long as they are singing/playing over one chord you will use your bass riff, let's just keep it simple and say you have decided to use a R-5 tied to the clap rhythm. When the song moves on to another chord you move your R-5 to the new chord. In that song you posted I'd be playing a simple R-5 through out the entire song. Changing the root when the chord progression moves to another chord.

Don't worry about a R-5 not being enough to "fill the spaces". Listen to Nora Jones singing Cold, Cold Heart. The bass is using one 5 note riff through out the entire song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g35zS1tVO3o

Have fun.

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by waveofthinking

Im in desperate need of direction..I've recently began playing with a pianist who plays in fast tempos. What do i need to learn so there won't be empty gaps that should otherwise be filled by the bass in the songs..I understand the concept of Roots, octaves, 5ths, 7ths, scales etc. But i don't know how to bring this all together so that im constantly playing something and not just throwing in a chord/fill here and there.

Here is an example of the bass style im trying to learn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i0Yons0NLM&NR=1…

for that stuff maybe try hit on the one and then on the ands in two bar phrases...its not as busy but sounds cool

[waveofthinking]

Thanks so much guys for the advice. With your help I've finally figured something out. As derekd said the organ really is taking up a lot of space so there isn't a whole lot of room for fillers. I only managed to fit in about 1-2 seconds worth right before each chord switch. But apart from that I'm using the R-5 method through out the song with each chord change as MalcolmA suggested and It all fits in like a glove.