writing acoustic songs on bass

[Jezz8me]

I am in a band which is me on Vox and bass, a guitarist who bassicaly only plays acoustic and another person on omg *** i cant believe she can pull that off vocals and keys (we don't have any songs that really show this vocal quality.)

As you would haveguessed we play indie/ acoustic kind of music.

The guitarist writes most of our songs and he is a great songwriter but i find that i allways write songs that require an electric guitar whether they be funky, rocky or mellow. I am fine creating basslines for my guitarists songs but how do i create my own songs to fit this genre?

i wan't to take up keyboard so that will help but i only have bass for now.

[Jezz8me]

^bump^ no tips no tips at all?

[meev992]

get an acoustic bass, and an acoustic guitar. Play guitar for a while, it'll be good for u when u move that stuff to the acoustic bass.

[Jezz8me]

thanks but i am more of a shins kind of bassist, you know an electric bassist in an acoustic band adding like a bit of a groove to the acoustic guitar and i don't plan on getting an acoustic bass for a long time, i am completely broke.

[meev992]

i have an ibanez acoustic electric, brand new, adds groove and growl...

okay, well i can see what you're saying, the ADG strings give it a chordal/acoustic guitar vibe.

Musicansfriend.com is letting dean ABG go for 150 now, free shipping.

I got one because I didn't want to feel left out in an acoustic number. I had to sacrifice my first electric guitar and first acoustic, but it was necessary. I just felt like I was missing something, and now I have it.

and I can see where you're coming from, u might want a second opinion. I approach acoustic songs using a more melodic, less groove-oriented approach. So hopefully someone else will chime in.

[theshadow2001]

Originally Posted by meev992

get an acoustic bass, and an acoustic guitar. Play guitar for a while, it'll be good for u when u move that stuff to the acoustic bass.

Getting an acoustic guitar might help. I don't know about an acoustic bass though. It's not like it forces a different mind set in your song writing. Essentially its the exact same thing as what he's already got with a different timbre. I can see writing the same stuff an acoustic bass as you would on an electric.

Having a chordal instrument would be a big advantage. I think you have the right idea of trying to learn some keys. It's a convenient instrument to get a well fleshed ideas down on (bass lines chords lead parts melodies etc) Plus it will take you away from the guitar riff sort of place as well.

If you want to write in a style you should become very familiar with that style. Start listening to music of the style you'd like to write. Look at the chords used. The feel of the songs the structure etc. Listen to it with an attentive ear.

You've got to remember that those that write generally have style of writing that they usually stick to. Very talented song writers might be able to go "I think I'll write something jazzy" or reggae feel or funk or whatever they choose but generally it's more less a specific style or genre.

If the roles were reversed how well could that guy write a funk or rock type song?

I think the best way about this would be for both of you to get together and try and collaborate more on the writing rather than bringing more or less a completed song to the band and tell everyone to write their parts around it. It will broaden the style of music but its definitely not an easy thing to do.

[bearfoot]

If you like the project, and like the guitarists' playing and the problem isn't just with his versatility(can he rock the acoustic?), then I suggest listening to some acoustic music with electric bass, like CSNY, Paul Simon, etc. to get some inspiration.

[meev992]

Originally Posted by theshadow2001

Getting an acoustic guitar might help. I don't know about an acoustic bass though. It's not like it forces a different mind set in your song writing.

I notice that i play differently, and play using more chords on the ABG. It sounds more pleasant than if I strummed chords on my electric. Although, one might be able to attribute that difference to the different material that I'm playing on each.

[Jezz8me]

thanks guys ll your advice has helped, i think when the inspiration comes i will find it much easier to write acoustic style songs

[lunarpollen]

it definitely helps to have a nice satisfying-sounding acoustic guitar to write songs with. I'd also recommend listening to stuff off the early Moody Blues albums; there were lots of songs where the electric bass guitar blends really nicely with acoustic rhythm guitars, while sounding distinct and clear.