How do you write songs on bass?

[TheIndieKid]

Specific situation, but as someone who doesn't have knowledge on notes above the A string on bass, and doesn't have established knowledge of theory, but knows how scale patterns relate, how do you go about writing songs? I was humming some melodies at the bus stop today for some songs we currently have recorded, but I feel I could improve on. I was humming in a way a singer would sing the notes for the song aka in a melodic manner, and I was liking some of the things I was coming up with, but it occurred to me a lot of it would clash in the band. Also, bass lines can be hard to make melodic in a two guitar band. How do you go about it?

 

[hrodbert696]

Well, for one thing... learn notes above the A string! If you seriously want to write music, you should have enough motivation to learn more.

Second; record, even if just on a voice recorder app on your phone. If you're playing out, or humming, an idea you'd like to work up into a song, get it recorded (I assume, given your other frankness about your limitations, you're not going to to write it down in musical notation).

Third, it depends on the nature of the song. There's no reason a song can't be crafted around a bass line as its starting point. Certain styles of music will lend themselves to that better than others. For instance, you could easily do something Talking-Heads-like where the bass carries the song and the other stuff is window dressing.

Fourth... composition is a different skill from playing. Writing music would mean moving beyond thinking of yourself as a bassist and thinking of yourself as a musician. Which means you may do well to move beyond bass; learn your way around a guitar and a piano keyboard too. I'm a little hesitant to say that when clearly you have work to do on your bass knowledge, but if you want to write songs, you should think about bringing other resources to bear.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

The following is a paper I wrote years ago on how to go about writing a song. Perhaps you will pick up something you could use.

The following is a basic format you could use to write simple songs. Use as much of this as you need.

Decide on a scale. Yes just one. I sing in D if this is going to be my song I'd write it with D scale notes for the melody and chords from the key of D will give me the harmony. If you do not have any vocalist in mind C is easy - no sharps or flats. OK I want to write a Pop, Rock or Country song so Major scale and major chords will be a good starting point.

• Decide on a chord progression. Yes one of the cookie cutter progressions will be fine to get started. You can flesh it out later. Since this is my song I'd use a I IV V7 I or D, G, A7, D progression.

• Now the rest is chicken or egg. I chose lyrics, chords then melody. You may want to go melody then chords and leave lyrics for last. It's your song do it the way you want. The order you take does not matter all that much. However, you should touch on everything that follows. I'll give the lyrics first method.

• Get the story into verse format. The music I play is based around someone singing the song (vocals) so if I do not have a story to tell there is no reason for the song. OK that out of the way. Four line verse is a good format. You will need three verses and a chorus. Chorus is the hook, what you want them singing tomorrrow. Rhyme or not up to you. If you are writing an instrumental piece you of course will not have lyrics to anchor your verses, etc. The repeating head (tune) is your anchor for an instrumental.

• You've got the story into verse format, three verses and a chorus. Each verses brings up a thought, discusses it and brings that thought to a close; so the next verse can bring up another thought. Place your cookie cutter progression over the lyric words. This is my first draft approach. Start the verse with the I chord - you are at rest to start so the I tonic chord makes since. To get some interest into the chord progression we need to get some tension into the progression so move to the IV chord near the ending of the first line. Continue with the IV into the second line and near the end of the second line bring in the V7 chord. This increases the tension and acts as a climax. Since we have reached climax quickly end the 2nd line with the I chord. You moved the first two lines from I (rest) to IV (tension) to V7 (climax) and then resolved back to the I chord and rest. Repeat this for the 3rd and 4th line. I like to get two V-I cadences into my four line verse. Might as well use that same format for the other verses and what the heck use it for the chorus - remember you are doing a first draft.

Recap of Verse format -- one way could be -- first two lines bring up a thought then the 3rd and 4th line of the verse react to what was said in the first two lines and then bring that thought to a close so verse number two can bring up another thought. The chorus contains the overall feeling of the song and is normally repeated at least once. A suggested format could follow; Verse 1, Verse 2, Chorus, Verse 3, Repeat the Chorus and tag the last line to end.

• Play that progression and recite the lyrics. Move the chords around to where they match with the lyric words. Move them a little one way or the other - your ear will tell you. Here is an example of matching the chord progression to the lyrics. At this point the lyrics could be saying anything, we are just working on movement. Moving the verse through the song - Rest - Tension - Climax - resolution and return to rest:

D.............................G
"Four score and seven years ago,
G...........................A7..............D
Our fathers brought forth on this continent
D.....................................G
a new nation: conceived in liberty, and dedicated
G...................................A7.....................D
to the proposition that all men are created equal".

• Now it's melody time. I go to the keyboard for this. As I started with lyrics and then put a cookie cutter chord progression over the lyrics I now can draw my melody notes from those chords. Why do that? Our goal is to harmonize the melody line (treble clef) by having like notes in the harmony line (bass clef) - if we draw our melody notes from the chords both the melody line and the harmony line will share like notes and harmonize. Another help - one melody note per lyric word syllable is also another help we can use to come up with a melody line. Ma-ry and Lit-tle will take two melody notes each. Recite, or sing, the lyrics and find the notes you need inside the scale/key you decided upon. Yes stay in key for now.

• As a first draft use the chord tones as melody notes. For example under the starting D chord the notes of that chord will be D-F#-A and if you make it Dmaj7 just add the C#, Those four notes should/could make up your melody for the part of the song while the Dmaj7 chord is active. Want/need some more notes? Help your self to some of the non-chord tones, i.e. the minor 2 or 6. The G chord is coming do the same for it. Or use the D and G pentatonic......

• The chord's pentatonic will give you three chord tones, for harmonization, and two safe passing notes - more than enough to build a melody that will harmonize with the chords you are using. Yes your melody notes and your chord notes should share like notes - when they do you harmonize both the melody and the chord line. I find knowing the progression first then finding melody notes from within the chords lets me keep the chord progression's journey from rest, tension, climax, resolution and return to rest the verse should travel intact. Now I only have to find harmonizing notes for my melody from the active chord or it's pentatonic. Here is what I do. Recite a lyric phrase and see what chord tone notes sounds best over that phrase. Here is Mary Had A Little Lamb in C; notice it's one melody note per lyric word syllable:

C.....................................Dm.......... .....C
Ma-ry had a lit-tle lamb.... Lit-tle lamb... lit-tle lamb.
E...D...C...D.E..E...E..........D...D..D........E. .G...G

• That will get you a lead sheet, treble clef, chords and lyrics. A bass clef would be nice or just leave it as a lead sheet and let the bassist compose the bass line - as he/she wants. Let how the chord tones are played - up to the bassist.

Sit back open a bottle of your favorite beverage and start on fleshing out your first draft.

That is just a dirt simple format that could be used, help your self to what ever you like.