TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
It's not. I use chords all the time. Three strings. Fifth, octave, third. Leave out the root. The E string screws it all up.think of it as a bar chord without the top string.i know that there are very few people who use cords on a base, but how bad would it really be?
It's all about 10ths. If your root is on the low fourth string, then the 10th is on the 1st string. You can lead into it with the 9th or the 11th while playing the root. It sounds sweet and full with just those two notes. You can totally Comp like that while the guitar solos, even on upright.
If you wanna spice it up, the 6th, 7th and octave are available on the second string, and the 5th and third are there on the third string.
Mark does a lot of root/10th in this great piece of his (other stuff, too that makes this a very cool song to learn, as I did many years ago).It's all about 10ths. If your root is on the low fourth string, then the 10th is on the 1st string. You can lead into it with the 9th or the 11th while playing the root. It sounds sweet and full with just those two notes. You can totally Comp like that while the guitar solos, even on upright.
If you wanna spice it up, the 6th, 7th and octave are available on the second string, and the 5th and third are there on the third string.
This very talented TB user has tons of YouTube uploads that employ lots of rich and beautiful chords, such as:
Thank you for posting about Damien Coccio.The first thing I thought of regarding chords on bass was "Damian Coccio on a 6-string."
The chording on some of his latest work is pretty kickin'
(And I believe he's from the Philly area, so I'm always up to give props to killer musicians in my neck of the woods.)
Two notes on the same string in a chord? I'm going to have to work on that, and maybe change physics a littleTo elaborate:
On guitar, you play chords with notes on adjacent strings. With the higher frequency of guitar notes, this sounds good. On the lower frequency of low bass notes, this sounds like mud.
Fewer notes in the chord, spaced widely apart, are your friend. So for example, root on the E string, third and octave up on the G string. That sounds pretty great.
Hey man, thanks for sharing. I always like to hear what others do. Inspiring.Here are a couple of examples of the chordal work I do on bass. These are from my "Stream of Unconsciousness"™ series.
Bass Noodle #1215 Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2016 All rights reserved.
Bass Noodle #1486 Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2017 All rights reserved.
It's fine. You just have to spread the closer intervals out a bit if you want them to sound good (i.e. guitar voicings aren't ideal due to the lower note threshold).i know that there are very few people who use cords on a base, but how bad would it really be?
You mean the third, right? You don't call it a tenth. It's just the third on top. It doesn't get the same treatment as nines or elevens because it's too integral to the harmony. The third decides the function of the chord, whereas 9s, 11s, and even 13ths are all truly extended in that they don't affect the basic function of a chord. You're gonna get shot down hard if you walk into a classical or jazz gig calling thirds tenths.It's all about 10ths. If your root is on the low fourth string, then the 10th is on the 1st string. You can lead into it with the 9th or the 11th while playing the root. It sounds sweet and full with just those two notes. You can totally Comp like that while the guitar solos, even on upright.
If you wanna spice it up, the 6th, 7th and octave are available on the second string, and the 5th and third are there on the third string.
Thank you for posting about Damien Coccio.
As a six string bass player,this is the direction I am going.
Exactly what I do, I call them box chords.I play a (root, 5th, octave) when I think the song calls for it. Once in a while I use the (root with the 3rd up an octave) "Walk On The Wild Side". Chords add a nice effect if used tastefully.
Jazz players refer to 10ths when discussing double stops, in order to clarify the interval to be played. It's a lot simpler than saying "3rd raised an octave".You mean the third, right? You don't call it a tenth. It's just the third on top. It doesn't get the same treatment as nines or elevens because it's too integral to the harmony. The third decides the function of the chord, whereas 9s, 11s, and even 13ths are all truly extended in that they don't affect the basic function of a chord. You're gonna get shot down hard if you walk into a classical or jazz gig calling thirds tenths.
Stu Hamm's got some woodshedding to do, yet, I see!
