Need help with bass lines please

[shawshank72]

I have been in a grunge rock band for many many of years and so my style has been just that(think krist novoselic), lots of note riding, following the guitar with the occasional quick note runs.
I have recently started playing in another band that plays an indie, experimental, and melodic sound with a little bit of rock thrown in at times.
The problem im having is i have never been able to just play a bass line that has its own melody and grove that is totally different from what the guitar is playing. If the guitarist is just picking inside of chords going from a D to a C, how do you create something that is totally different from that to make a melodic bass line that stands out on its own and creates a mood or groove or melody? I use a pick when i play, and i dont slap or finger as i can see that giving me an advantage, i dont want to quit as they seem to like me and also a fact is bass players in my area are very hard to come by. Is there any advice someone can give me please? I want this to work very badly.

[maturanesa]

a good start point is trying to connect D and C notes with others notes of the scale. D - (your melody) - C

[bwoodman]

Chris Squire and Paul McCartney come to mind - both pick players and melodic as hell. Start checking out Yes - and Squire's solo album Fish Out Of Water - and Beatles + Paul M. and Wings. Don't forget about Rush - Geddy has some great lines that weave in and out of what the guitar is doing.

[Mike M.]

One approach I sometimes use that works is this: I'll have the song in question playing, I won't have my bass in my hands but I'll work out bass lines mentally. Once I "hear" something I like I will then pick up my bass and will find what I heard.

Sometimes with no instrument in your hand your mind can be more free to roam making it easier to hear what you're looking for.

May work for you, may not.

[codeinedreams]

this requires thinking outside the box. one idea: look to the vocals for ideas, if any, and play off of that, like as if you were harmonizing with the vocal. or think of what you would do for a vocal and do it on bass. or come up with different notes other than root notes that would fit with the melody line and make connections between those notes. or study counterpoint by listening to Bach. sorry, it's hard to give suggestions without hearing the song, otherwise I'd just say "do this...." but hope the ideas stirred some thought. the important thing is to develop your own voice on the bass and believe that the bass is equally important as guitar and everything else.