Crafting bass lines by ear

[Whousedtoplay]

This is what I thought and was hoping to hear.
I understand that with jazz it's a whole different thing.

Many thanks again.

Michael

Let's check some exceptions when the bass does not play the root of the chord (or maybe does)
In one of my examples - Kane Brown's, "Georgia On My Mind," the bass is "pedaling" D while the chords are changing. It's around 1:15.
Dmin/D - Gmin9/D - Dmin6/D - Bb9/D
Dmin/D - Gmin9/D - Dmin6/D - G7/G

Now, I'd say, the bass is "pedaling" D while the chords are changing, but, someone could argue with me that
the chords are as follows and the bass is playing the roots:
Dmin - Dmin#5 - Dmin6 - Dmin#5 - or Dmin add(b6)

Around 2:45, we have the same section of the song, and the bass clearly pronounces (formerly-implied) chords.
(That change of the bass line from just "pedaling" D
to emphasizing/pronouncing the chords is a part of "developing" the bass-line.)
Dmin - Gmin9 - Dmin7 - Bb9
Dmin - Gmin9 - Dmin7 - G7

 

[mjnyc]

Makes sense. I've seen this sort of thing recently.

I think these are often written as slash chords, and for those I play as if the slash part is actually the "root" of the chord (for me), so I'm still sort of playing roots.

Michael

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Play the root and then, for a more standard approach use chord tones and chromatic approaches.

Let's take a look at the Number 1 song on Billboard Hot 100.

I Had Some Help - Post Malone Featuring Morgan Wallen.



The bass-line is a solidly-standard one, based on a simple 8th (country) rock rhythmic pattern - roots, plus some chromatic approach notes, some gliss, etc...
The chord movement is trivially-repetitive - F - C - Amin - G7, etc...
This bass-line could be from the 70's or 80's - nothing new. The bass player is playing it with some "behind the beat" attitude.
What has caught my attention, was the chromatic approach note/s and some bass fills that one could mimic for other songs.
The bass-line moves from F to C (syncopated) through a chromatic note of F# as:
(The 8ths) F F F#C - something interesting to me.

Here is the same track but slower (in order to better hear that chromatic note/s) and with the bass-line "in-your-face."

https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...1/?temp_hash=218aeca2584604141db6312576ccc8e2

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Here is a song - Number 21 on Billboard Hot 100.

Billie Eilish - CHIHIRO

It has a "real" bass; therefore, I'm posting it right here.
As a (simple) bass-line, it has nothing new, nothing special. It could have been from the late 70's or early 80's.
It has a clearly defined bass groove pattern/template (the use of octaves) within clearly emphasized song's sections.
No unnecessary noodling.
One could pay attention when the bass is moving straight to the root of the next chord, and when the bass is walking to the next chord.
Simple but on the Billboard Hot 100 list.

Here is the same version with the bass as "in-your-face."

https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...9/?temp_hash=f9dcd278a49d8099037acd07bf46742d

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I think these are often written as slash chords

Here is "slash chord" chart, provided by Chris Fitzgerald.

 

[mjnyc]

This is all incredibly helpful, many thanks.

When I'm learning rock/pop songs, I like to understand a little bit of what's going on, beyond just learning the song. There is often some bit of music theory behind the song, I get a little "aha" moment from these. Your examples are exactly what I'm talking about.

I've played a minimal amount of jazz with some other people, and the theory that they bandy about is just a step too far for me. I understand the words they use but the overall picture is over my head.

Thanks again.

Michael

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I promise it's the last posting for today.

I really like a new (intricate) approach to arranging songs by Jacob Collier.

Jacob Collier's cover - In My Room (Transcription)
Just follow the video and write down the chords and bass notes.
You'll see a few slash chords also.

Try to mentally grasp the vision of the bass line - its articulation, glissandi, embellishments, fills, etc...
Figure out when the bass plays those fill-ins.
Is there a difference in the bass-line notes between the song's sections?

The song's texture is light and thin.




And here is the same track for us, the amateur bass players. It has the bass-line "right-in-your-face."
https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...3/?temp_hash=d9b23a1511e09e9aa12cd0b08e110ef1