writing songs with only your bass?

[Icey101]

it happened to me a few weeks ago....someone at rehearsal said play us a groove and we jam along...so i did some simple walking bass line root and fifths....with a drop D slide up and back into it, the rest of em started playing over the top of it for a bout 15 min until my fingers were burning. Couple of weeks later our band leader has a song down and lyrics. Now they want me to make up another one

[Epitaph04]

I wish I could have an experience like that with some musicians. Now, no offense but you're saying it was a simple walking bass line, yet your fingers were hurting while playing it?

[Icey101]

yeh i'm a wimp, i have sustained a bit of finger damage over the last few years that i need to keep in check

[mindinspace]

To be honest, i find that what i write on bass usually ends up sounding more like a guitar riff, which isn't necessarily bad, it just seems odd after i listen a few times. Maybe its because thats just how i think, or maybe because walking or playing the root notes bores me (not saying those are "bad" either). Either way i usually turn to my acoustic to write stuff and then i have a much easier and dare i say more fun time writing bass lines to go with the guitar.

[dhsierra1]

interesting reading the responses to the OP. First, please be careful, you don't want permanent nerve damage or have to go in for ligament surgery later on, it ain't pretty.

Secondly, in response to one of the above posts mentioning that what they do sounds like guitar riffs when they write on bass, may I suggest listening to Eberhard Weber's "Pendulum" album. Yes, it's ECM and he's using an EUB and may not be to your taste but it's remarkable how he's able to use the bass, and only the bass, in loops and overdubs to create very cogent and coherent tunes.

To my taste he does it the best in the solo bass world, but check out other monsters like Michael Manring if you've not already. The way those guys can create whole tunes out of the bass could be helpful in your journey through writing on bass, obviously it can be done and done well.

Just a suggestion, IMHO, YMMV etc......

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by Icey101

it happened to me a few weeks ago....someone at rehearsal said play us a groove and we jam along...so i did some simple walking bass line root and fifths....with a drop D slide up and back into it, the rest of em started playing over the top of it for a bout 15 min until my fingers were burning. Couple of weeks later our band leader has a song down and lyrics. Now they want me to make up another one

Another bass line or another song? Sounds like your band leader wants another bass line to work with. If so pick an interesting chord progression - in the key your vocalist will like - and build a groove from that.

Here are some ole classics:
I-IV-V7-I or...
I-vi-IV-V7-I or... I-vi-ii-V7-I or...
ii-V7-I or...
I-viidim-iii-vi-ii-V7-I or...
The ole 12 bar blues progression is always a good choice. You may want to not have all dominant seventh chords, but, the chord movement is a good structure to use.

Now if a complete song. First, on just your bass, is doing it the hard way - IMHO. Here is a way of getting a dirt simple first draft. Start with one of those progressions and then your melody line and your bass line come from the chord tones and your lyrics are one lyric word per melody note. Two syllable words get two melody notes.

Four line verse, rhyme or not up to you, three verses and one chorus should do it. A V-I cadence in ever two lines of the verse works well. Start with the I then near the end of the first line bring in the IV. Continue with the IV into the second line and then near the end of the second line insert the V7 and quickly end the second line with the I tonic --- the third and forth line repeat this same thing, i.e. a V-I cadence every two lines of the verse.

Like others have already said, I would use my 6 string rhythm guitar to work out the chord progression and the lyric word flow - then move to the keyboard for the melody. Melody notes on a keyboard come a whole lot easier... IMHO, one finger hunt and peck works. Write it down as you go. Once I have all that - which would be the same as a lead sheet - then I would work on the actual bass line.


Good luck, sounds like you and the director are going to have some fun.

P.S. "simple walking bass line root and fifths....with a drop D slide up and back into it" Talk to me about the drop D slide up and back. Not familiar with that.

[fearceol]

I just love that smiley Malcolm !!

[hyp.spec]

I have a habit of coming up with licks at band practice and it gets stuck in everyones head to the point where they all go "Dammit, i can't get this out of my head!".

They usually end up being some pretty tight songs by the time we are done too

[Icey101]

yeh its more a bass line and i am working on the second now, i am trying to kick start the guys in writing some originals for a change, thanks for the tips too Malc

[Russell L]

I haven't finished one yet, but, yeah, I write songs by just playing bass. It's like, first get the groove I want, then some changes come to mind, and I go on from there. I never woulda thought it possible, but I'm starting to prefer this method.