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Experienced musician taking up the bass

J

John Flynn

Feb 28, 2011
14
0
#1
Hey there! I'm new to the forum and new to bass. I'm a fairly experienced mandolin, guitar, tenor banjo and harmonica player who has volunteered to play the bass at church. I got a Yamaha RBX 350 at a good price off of Craig's list and I've done some set up work on it. I've been practicing scales and arpeggios and that's gone pretty well. I feel I'm learning the fretboard at a reasonable pace. I also got though my first church service on bass and did reasonably well. I basically just played chord root tones unless the chord called for a different bass note (D/F# = F#) and was able to throw in a few passing tones based on the scales or the chords, although that felt kind of clumsy.

My questions are as follows: What I really need to figure out is how to take chord changes and put together smooth bass lines, even if they are simple. Like what is the basic strategy for the bass line moving from one chord to another? Scale tones? Chord tones? Pentatonics? I know those concepts well and can apply them "on the high end" but the "low end" I am clueless. I guess I don't have as good a feel for what I need to accomplish musically with the bass. Anyone have any advice? Additionally, are there any books, threads, sites I should check out? Thanks in advance. Any advice would be appreciated!
 
#2
Listen to the style of music you're playing. Listen for the bass part. Transcribe it if you want to/need to. Pretty simple. Books can give you gimmicks, but the only thing that can really help you improve is listening and writing down some of the things you hear.
 
#3
90% of the time the name of the game is moving from root to root (usually on the one) using chord tones and "other notes".
Which "other notes" are appropriate is almost more a matter of genre than theory.
For example, Country or folk may demand your "other notes" stay diatonic to the key, but Jazz ,soul,or funk allows for more chromaticism.
Snarf's suggestion is the way to learn whats appropriate.

but the simple fact is that Roots, 5ths, 8ves,+ the right rhythm gets you 85% there.

Given your experience, I'd be focusing on rhythmic feel more than tonal acrobatics.
 
#4
=John Flynn;10518857
My questions are as follows: What I really need to figure out is how to take chord changes and put together smooth bass lines, even if they are simple. Like what is the basic strategy for the bass line moving from one chord to another?
Click to expand...
Secondary dominants or chromatic run up's in a nut shell. C-F-G I IV V progression. Chord coming up is a G and D is the dominant (5th) of G so your bass line for the F chord you are now playing under could be F-A-C-D and the D takes you right into the G chord. Or chromatic walks to the next chord - target the next chord's root but don't land on it. Miss it and walk to it. Understand lot of bass will just use generic bass lines for all chords; R-R-R-R (roots to the chord being used) plays a lot of bass as does R-5-R-5. Then R-3-5-8 is an example of a generic bass line for any major chord so for the F chord it's good and then for the G chord it's still good, probably better if you had the G7 to use R-3-5-b7 - but, R-3-5-8 would still be OK, i.e you do not have to tie the next chord every time. Roots, fives and the correct 3 will play a lot of bass.
Scale tones? Chord tones? Pentatonics? I know those concepts well and can apply them "on the high end" but the "low end" I am clueless. I guess I don't have as good a feel for what I need to accomplish musically with the bass. Anyone have any advice?
Click to expand...
Understand this is my opinion. Depends on the type of music you are playing. Normally follow the chords and chord tones work best with Pop, rock or Country. Scale tones and modes take you melodic and this requires a more experienced bassist IMHO. I use the tonic pentatonic when I get lost, why, pentatonics give me three chord tones and two safe passing notes, so I'm almost still playing chord tones.......... IMHO chord tones when accompanying and scales/modes when soloing. http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bass-chord-patterns/chord-tones-are-primary/
Additionally, are there any books, threads, sites I should check out? Thanks in advance. Any advice would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
www.studybass.com has a wealth of information.
A lot of what you will be doing will come from fake chord or lead sheet - no bass clef - so composing your own bass line enters the picture. Ed Friedland's Building Walking Bass Lines is a good place to start your walking bass line study.

I'm sure the other guys will list some others.

Good luck, and welcome.
 
#5
I like to use the chord tones more then chromatics at church. But that could be because of the music we're playing. Like, for example, if you're moving from A to F#m, you could play A, G, F#. Put the G on four, or in anticipation of the F#. Those half step chord tones sound great for a walking feel, going up, or down.
And when I make bass lines at church, (that I think sound interesting), I find I use Root, 3rd, 5th, and Octave most. And when it's a 7 chord, I'll throw the minor 7, Octave, and 5th in there, and it sounds cool. If it's C2, for example, I'll use the 9th to give it a melodic quality. You could hammer on, from octave to 9th during 2 chords.
Bassists like to play off the drums more then any other instrument, so keep that in mind. Put your root notes on the one with the kick drum. Put your 3rds on the two with the snare. Just think like a drummer :p
But yeah, the possabilities are endless. Just try new things, and when it doesn't sound good, just remember to not do that again.
 

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