It's been a long time since I used audacity so not sure why it would sound an octave lower. Maybe try Reaper to see if it happens there. Reaper is free to try and is much more powerful compared to Audacity in my experience.
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Can't come up with basslines
- Thread starter Nicolas Moreno
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It's been a long time since I used audacity so not sure why it would sound an octave lower. Maybe try Reaper to see if it happens there. Reaper is free to try and is much more powerful compared to Audacity in my experience.
Not that simple. There are rests, octaves and rhythmic variations. Hence, there is an infinite number of possible bass lines for a given chord progression.
Start with roots major thirds major 5ths for each chord. Doesn't have to be a hook just has to be in harmony with the song.
1) Try singing bassline ideas
2) If you can do the above, lay down scratch tracks of your song and program (yes, I said program lol) the bassline with a bass vsti so you can hear it back. Use the MIDI Scroll to change notes around and try different ideas
This is what I do
2) If you can do the above, lay down scratch tracks of your song and program (yes, I said program lol) the bassline with a bass vsti so you can hear it back. Use the MIDI Scroll to change notes around and try different ideas
This is what I do
If you’re writing the rest of the music, what I usually use as a rule of thumb on where to go. The Rhythm of the drum part, the vocal melody and when and where the bass and guitar should be syncing up or if there’s a need to at all.
Another bare bones way to go. Match up with the guitar and play the percussive rhythm of the drums and branch out to compliment the vocal part.
Another bare bones way to go. Match up with the guitar and play the percussive rhythm of the drums and branch out to compliment the vocal part.
I was like that the first 8 years of playing bass, then it started to all gel for me. I played in originals bands for about 10 years after that. Even started being a songwriter myself.
Be patient. It’ll come eventually.
Glad you got a start. It's complicated, but you'll draw from your influences, you'll be working within what sounds right within whatever the style is of what you're writing on guitar, and once in a while hopefully something may come out that is your own thing.
It depends on what you're style is, which I don't know, but I think the best thing is to start by ear, feel, and letting your own head sound it out. Keep listening or playing it in your head. It may come while you're doing something mundane with headphones on. Then sit and play.
It depends on what you're style is, which I don't know, but I think the best thing is to start by ear, feel, and letting your own head sound it out. Keep listening or playing it in your head. It may come while you're doing something mundane with headphones on. Then sit and play.
I like to think that I'll get better at it the more I try, like with bass itself I guess.
I try to have a bass or guitar close by whenever possible so if an idea suddenly pops into my head I can write it down or record it ASAP
I try to have a bass or guitar close by whenever possible so if an idea suddenly pops into my head I can write it down or record it ASAP
you gotta listen to alot of good basslines, and learn them to see how they are constructed. you'll eventually learn the building blocks of a good bass line. also learn your scales and chords as most great basslines utilize them in one way or another. Many bassists skip learning chords, but when i finally picked that up it changed my game completely.
I played many years in a prog rock trio that did all originals - sometimes grooves came easy, but when they didn't I'd just ask myself "what would <xxxx> do?" - which for me was usually Jaco, Geddy or Geezer. It helps to be able to quickly remember what you like about how your inspirational bassist play, and then try to make your own contribution. Hope this helps. 
Learn the major scale and which chords are in which key; it will help a lot. Theory doesn't limit us but shows us how to play better. I've been writing punk songs in classical modes. They've given me more chord riffs and basslines than ever.
Play along with daytime TV. Sometimes with the TV sound on, sometimes off. I did this throughout the 1990s when my employment was "creative with holes in it".
I played many years in a prog rock trio that did all originals - sometimes grooves came easy, but when they didn't I'd just ask myself "what would <xxxx> do?" - which for me was usually Jaco, Geddy or Geezer. It helps to be able to quickly remember what you like about how your inspirational bassist play, and then try to make your own contribution. Hope this helps.
This does actually help a lot but at the same time when I try doing things like this I just don't understand why certain bassists do the things they do, or what they are doing at all hahaha.
In any case I managed to come up with a bassline by just taking the guitar part and playing around with it to get something different that fit the mood, but I'll remember all of this advice for the next one.
