Quick question about Key.

[Faxxxy]

So a church has asked me to play for them. They have sent me their song list and the keys they play their songs in.

So the question is,
If they are playing in the key of D, Do I just play the notes from D scale on my bass? Or is there some freaky conversion to the bass clef?

Thanks.

[buddyro57]

Your question is a tough one and not easy to answer without knowing more about the tunes. In general, if the song is in the key of D and if it stays there (in other words the song doesn't modulate to another key), then you can assume that the pitch D is tonic or "homeplate" if you will. The tune might begin and end on D and probably spends a good deal of time on A The V of the key). But most tunes wander around to other regions than just chords built on scale degrees of the D major scale. Hope my answer doesn't just complicate things.....

[jefkritz]

buddyro is correct.

that being said, the quick and dirty answer is "yes, it's just the notes from the d major scale. no freaky conversion."

[ryco]

No, you play the appropriate notes for each chord as they come up.

Keeping in mind the song is in "D" will give you a clue as to which chords are more likely to be major or minor, etc.
But chord progressions don't necessarily stick to straight diatonic rules; esp rock, jazz & country which are more blues based styles.

What makes music sound interesting is chromaticisms from borrowing notes and chords from other keys.


diatonic = (of a scale, interval, etc.) involving only notes proper to the prevailing key without chromatic alteration.
• (of a melody or harmony) constructed from such a scale.

[JimmyM]

keys are general guidelines, and you can have notes out of the key's major scale and still be in that key. generally you follow the chord changes.

[Faxxxy]

Crap.

Thanks guys.

[Schlyder]

Don't panic man, look at the charts, count yourself in ...1... 2... 1, 2, 3, 4.... and just follow the roots, go through the tune... repeat, adding root and 5ths, then add
3rds and 7ths. With a little practice time it will be easy, don't panic, just practice.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Faxxxy

Crap.

Thanks guys.

it ain't brain surgery. you'll be alright

[Evil Undead]

Originally Posted by Schlyder

With a little practice time it will be easy, don't panic, just practice.

I second this

I used to be famous for trying once and quitting if I didn't get it right that first time, but once I realised that panicking is pointless and practice is everything, it changed my whole way of playing/learning

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by Faxxxy

So the question is,
If they are playing in the key of D, Do I just play the notes from D scale on my bass? Or is there some freaky conversion to the bass clef?

.

I'm always saying this on here and usually people take issue with me and say that nobody thinks you can just play notes from a key.

So - as bass player you have to outline the chords and not just play notes from a key centre - at best it will sound random and has an equal chance of sounding like bum notes - it will not sound like a bass line, unless you are moving the music forward by outlining the chords.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

I'm always saying this on here and usually people take issue with me and say that nobody thinks you can just play notes from a key.

So - as bass player you have to outline the chords and not just play notes from a key centre - at best it will sound random and has an equal chance of sounding like bum notes - it will not sound like a bass line, unless you are moving the music forward by outlining the chords.

+1 on chord out lining. Remember a bass line can be many things, a melodic line, a harmonic line, a rhythm, a root, a combination of some, or of all. Just make sure you do duty to the song and the other players.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Yes it can be many things - but what it can't be, is random notes from a scale!

[MalcolmAmos]

OK I do not think anyone has given you the "How you do this" ---- grab hold.

Our task in life is to play the root notes of the I IV V chords within a key.

If the song is in C the I IV V will be C F & G
If the song is in G the I IV V will be G C & D
If the song is in D the I IV V will be D G & A
If the song is in A the I IV V will be A D & E
if the song is in E the I IV V will be E A & B

All you have to do is know where those chords come in the song. Couple of ways to do that. 1. Get some fake chord sheet music on the songs. Fake chord will look like this:

Amazing Grace Various Artists

E..................A .....E..........................................B7
Amazing grace how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me
E.............. A ........E............................B7........... ......E
I once was lost but now am found Was blind but now I see

Start playing your E note. Playing all E's till they get to the word "how" change to the A note, then at "sweet" change to the E note -- keep going.

Ask for fake chord sheet music.

Good luck.

[Febs]

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

Our task in life is to play the root notes of the I IV V chords within a key.

Not all songs are I IV V songs.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by Febs

Not all songs are I IV V songs.

That's right and there are different qualities of chords - many hymns are in minor keys - it would be a very boring world of music otherwise!

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

That's right and there are different qualities of chords - many hymns are in minor keys - it would be a very boring world of music otherwise!

That's correct, however the OP has received a song list showing, I presume, only the name of the song and the key to play the song in. Not a lot of help. If he will rely upon I IV V until he can get something a little more detailed he will at least be able to jam a bass line from that.

Now if that is the case - all you have is the key. Here is another thing you can assume.

The first line of the verse will start with the I chord and the IV chord will come in close to the end of the first line.

The second line of the verse will start (continue) with the IV chord and move to the V chord near the end of the second line. The second line will end with the I chord.

I chord starts and finishes the first two lines in the verse. The V is the climax chord and comes into play just before the end of the 2nd line. The IV chord fills up the middle. Where each comes into play - good question and deals with where the melody notes fall. Just get them to give you some sheet music that will go into more detail.

This pattern will repeat itself in the last two lines of the verse. For the lack of better information assume that each verse and the chorus will have this same pattern.

Now that is close, but, close works in horse shoes, grenades and jamming.

I also assume you received just the song name and key, because the old bass only needed that, i.e. he jammed his bass line. I bet they have better sheet music, ask the rhythm guitar.

Another hint - watch the rhythm guitar's fretting hand and change chords when he does.