How to employ counterpoint?

[Spin Doctor]

A general approach to counterpoint:

If the melody or solo instrument is moving up—- the bass line moves down.

If the melody or solo instrument is moving down—— the bass line moves up.

This is all it needs to be. There's no reason to overthink it.

 

[Spin Doctor]

I listened to some Scott LaFaro. Whilst his playing was like Coltrane's - very much 'across the barline' with unconventional phrasing - the idea of a bassline that moves in a way to add a lot of movement and texture appeals to me. It's just the conflict of my desires and the reality of 'meat and potatoes' playing being called for a lot of the time. I love playing with space - lots of whole notes and rests, but it's just figuring out how to combine it with counterpoint.

You're definitely listening to the right stuff... That is critical.

 

[Vinny_G]

any time the bass line does not follow the chords that can be counterpoint

On the contrary, true counterpoint rigorously follows the harmonic progression. The first example that comes to mind in popular music is walking bass. If you have two melodies that are freely overlapping without taking care of harmony, it's also a polyphony but it's not a rigorous counterpoint.

 

[Ric5]

On the contrary, true counterpoint rigorously follows the harmonic progression. The first example that comes to mind in popular music is walking bass. If you have two melodies that are freely overlapping without taking care of harmony, it's also a polyphony but it's not a rigorous counterpoint.

so ya like I said when the bass and guitar are playing different parts

 

[Vinny_G]

so ya like I said when the bass and guitar are playing different parts

Uh no, you said "any time the bass line does not follow the chords". This is the definition of free polyphony, not rigorous counterpoint. The counterpoint is a melody that strictly follows the chords. It is a chord progression of which all parts also form a separate melody.

 

[jthisdell]

There is a part in the Dead tune Morning Dew that we do where the bass and guitar start by playing the same decending riff, then after a couple of times the bass keeps playing the descending riff and the guitar starts ascending. Sounds extra cool if I play the bass part high with an octave pedal so there are still two descending parts and one ascending.

 

[Ric5]

Uh no, you said "any time the bass line does not follow the chords". This is the definition of free polyphony, not rigorous counterpoint. The counterpoint is a melody that strictly follows the chords. It is a chord progression of which all parts also form a separate melody.

God I hate when people go know it all and argue music theory on things that can be interpreted more than one way ….

I officially don't care

go play a diminished chord and feel happy

 

[Vinny_G]

God I hate when people go know it all and argue music theory on things that can be interpreted more than one way ….

I officially don't care

go play a diminished chord and feel happy

Are we talking about counterpoint? Because if so, your reaction is out of place. If not, and because you officially don't care, feel free to play your diminished chord whenever and wherever you want. But I doubt it will make you feel happy. Learning theory will make it, though.

 

[Ric5]

Are we talking about counterpoint? Because if so, your reaction is out of place. If not, and because you officially don't care, feel free to play your diminished chord whenever and wherever you want. But I doubt it will make you feel happy. Learning theory will make it, though.

the bass playing a different note is counterpoint … and you can't convince me otherwise

 

[fdeck]

The bass is the lead instrument, isn't it?

 

[jthisdell]

I think there is more of this than one may think. I was listening to Coldplay Troube today, there is a simple little melody over the chords H, Em, D. While the chords and melody go down t the Ek the bass goes up to the higher Em. Subtle but it makes the song more interesting