Quote:
Originally Posted by Crazy Turtle  So I am playing for my church band now and having fun. I play for a youth group so our songs kind of have a pop feel to them. Most of what I play simply calls for me to play root notes. I was wondering though, what should I do if there is a Bsus or G#m chord in my chart what note should I be playing? Thanks a lot!  |
Pretty well covered so far. I'll just add this. You need to know what the notes (or intervals) are in any chord. Not a steep learning curve.
http://www.smithfowler.org/music/Chord_Formulas.htm
From the above the Bsus, (I assume Bsus2) would be R-2-5 and the G#m would be R-b3-5.
Here is another site that will help with that.
http://www.looknohands.com/chordhous.../index_rb.html I asked for the B sus2 chord and it gave me this:
B sus2
intervals: 1,2,5
half-steps: 2-5
notes: B,C#,F#
And for the G#m.......
G#m a.k.a. G#minor, G#min, G#-
intervals: 1,b3,5
half-steps: 3-4
notes: G#,B,D#
Generic bass lines to put to memory:
Major chord R-3-5-3 why the extra 3? 4/4 time you will need four beats or notes to fill the measure.
Minor chord R-b3-5-b3
Dominant 7 chord R-3-5-b7
Minor 7 R-b3-5-b7
Major 7 R-3-5-7
Code:
Major scale box with interval numbers shown
G-|----|--2-|----|--3-|--4-|----|----|
D-|----|--6-|----|--7-|--8-|----|----|
A-|----|--3-|--4-|----|--5-|----|----|
E-|----|-----|-R-|----|--2-|----|----|
Now the question is how much of that chord is called for, i.e. will just roots be enough or should you use the complete chord tone? That comes with experience. Keep using your roots and when that does not seem enough add some chord tones....... R-5-R-5 or try R-R-5-5 how about R-5-8-5 and work up to the full chord tone R-3-5-b7. Nothing wrong with roots - just roots will play a lot of bass.
www.studybass.com has a section showing several possible bass lines with audio.
http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bas...iad/exercises/ Check out # 3.
http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bas...7th/exercises/ Try # 3 here also and activate the tab button. Notice the notes used for those chords .........
Cmaj7 is C-E-G-B or R-3-5-7
Ebmaj7 is Eb-G-Bb-D or R-3-5-7
Abmaj7 is Ab-C-Eb-G or R-3-5-7
Dbmaj7 is Db-F-Ab-C or R-3-5-7, i.e. they are all maj7 chords so your generic R-3-5-7 will work for them all. Playing from chord charts is really rather simple, once we understand what notes make a chord, i.e. the chord spelling -- and are comfortable
composing our own bass lines.
Good luck.
