I'm staying on roots most of the time when playing live?

[Herbal]

Playing in my room with just me and drum machine I have the space to add fifths 7th's 9ths whatever's I want.

Playing live with band I find that I just stick to roots most of the time & adding much more than an occasional fifth to a root is about all I need, playing anything else often gets in the way or adds too much sound.

Is this 'normal'?

I know people say add chord tones, but for the stuff we play if often doesn't fit.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

There's nothing "normal" about playing music.
Ask a question that has an answer.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Normal? I don't know... ask Dee Dee Ramone.

If you want to be playing more than just roots though, I suggest 4 things:

1. Jump into some Motown and start incorporating some Jamerson into your playing. Learn 5 or 6 songs, then find another melodic player you like, and do the same. McCartney would be an excellent 2nd choice IMO.

2. Record the songs you're playing only roots to- with the band, listen to them without playing and envision bass lines that you think might sound good- pick up your bass (on your own time at home) and figure those lines out. Practice them, and incorporate them.

3. Get your band to jam for 10-15 before each rehearsal. Make it simple, sticking to one key (like just play in Am without changing it up) and push your comfort zone with playing. Listen closely to what the others are doing and try to make your note choice compliment whatever that is.

4. Pick up Ed Friedland's book, and work with it:

 

[Jrussblues]

I think it's pretty normal to hover around the root.

 

[Herbal]

Normal? I don't know... ask Dee Dee Ramone.

If you want to be playing more than just roots though, I suggest 4 things:

1. Jump into some Motown and start incorporating some Jamerson into your playing. Learn 5 or 6 songs, then find another melodic player you like, and do the same. McCartney would be an excellent 2nd choice IMO.

2. Record the songs you're playing only roots to- with the band, listen to them without playing and envision bass lines that you think might sound good- pick up your bass (on your own time at home) and figure those lines out. Practice them, and incorporate them.

3. Get your band to jam for 10-15 before each rehearsal. Make it simple, sticking to one key (like just play in Am without changing it up) and push your comfort zone with playing. Listen closely to what the others are doing and try to make your note choice compliment whatever that is.

4. Pick up Ed Friedland's book, and work with it:

We play mainly 90's rock type sound I suppose would categorize it, nothing too complex, so the verse would be G D Em C for example.
I tried walking bass over it it just clashes with guitar in a not good way.
I read some people say "keep it simple" & others "simple sucks" its hard to find the happy medium ground.

 

[Herbal]

There's nothing "normal" about playing music.
Ask a question that has an answer.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

 

[HandsFree]

For me it's not so much adding chord tones, but connecting one chord to the next.
The bar that precedes a chord change is usually where you can let go of the basic pattern and do something adventurous/imaginative/interesting. Depending on style obviously.

 

[Grumry]

so the verse would be G D Em C for example

All I heard in my head was Wagon Wheel.

Curse you, Herb, curse you I say!

 

[Zooberwerx]

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To prove to the possum it can be done.

Riis

 

[Chicory Blue]

If your ears are telling you that venturing beyond roots is getting in the way, but sticking to the roots sounds good to you, then it's possible the song just calls for that sort of sound. So long as you're making the band sound better by being there, you're doing it right.

Still, if you want to add more to the sound than just roots, practice along to the specific songs your band usually plays, and figure out through trial and error where something special can be added. You don't need to be playing something fancy all the time to sound good, but the occasional shining moment of "by the way, I'm pretty good at this thing" will sound nice to all parties involved.

--^@

 

[lfmn16]

If you are playing cover tunes, play the bass lines from the original recordings. If you are playing originals, learn bass lines from songs similar to yours and apply them to what yo are playing. Either way, the best thing to do would be to find a good teacher.

 

[jchrisk1]

Joe Nerve's second suggestion is great advice. I do this every time I'm not happy with my bassline for a song. At rehearsal, before we pack up for the night, I have the band play the song without me so I can take it home to work out parts. Sometimes it's quick and easy figuring out a good line, other times it takes forever it seems. I've been working on one song lately for months. It's kicking my arse!

 

[brianrost]

Noone ever was fired from a band for playing the root.

 

[Ewo]

All I heard in my head was Wagon Wheel.

Curse you, Herb, curse you I say!

Dunno if this helps, but those are the same changes as in Pink's _Perfect_... Better?

 

[PimasterPearson]

I can't say without hearing your band's songs, but maybe roots are all they need? My current band recorded our first album early this year, and the producer (who has played keyboard live and in the studio with some big-name artists) really encouraged me to simplify my bass lines, especially during the first verse and chorus of each song. Our singer/guitarist writes soulful pop-rock songs with some jazzy chords, so playing the root helps to anchor and establish the song, and then in the second and third verses there might be room to expand the range and add chromatic runs or other passing tones. But then on one of our slowest and simplest songs, I ended up just playing the root and occasional fifths, and *nothing* else. It's a little boring, but it fits the song. Remember, cello players are the only people who complain about the boring cello part in Pachelbel's Canon in D. Everyone else thinks it sounds great, because it does.

If there's a really catchy guitar riff in one of your songs, you could double it for one measure and then go back to the root. Or even try doubling the vocal melody for one phrase, in a high octave on your bass, then drop down to the root on the one.

Of course what works for me and my band won't necessarily be the best for you and your band. Talk to your bandmates and see if they can help you work out what works. See if you can set aside some time at practice for arranging. Good luck!

 

[buldog5151bass]

You build. No one is saying walking likes in a rock song necessarily.

- roots
- passing notes to connect chords
- fifths, sevenths, etc. to flavor
- echo or harmonize the guitar
- add your own melody

Rinse and repeat.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Why did the chicken cross the road?

It was stapled to the punk rocker.

 

[InhumanResource]

Playing in my room with just me and drum machine I have the space to add fifths 7th's 9ths whatever's I want.

Playing live with band I find that I just stick to roots most of the time & adding much more than an occasional fifth to a root is about all I need, playing anything else often gets in the way or adds too much sound.

Is this 'normal'?

I know people say add chord tones, but for the stuff we play if often doesn't fit.

If the embellishments don't fit then you are doing the right thing. This probably just means you are actively listening to all of the music and playing appropriately. You'll "know" when a lick is called for vs keeping to the root.

 

[Kerplunk]

Lots of great posts.

I reckon Joe Nerve's suggestions are cool, and would add, listen to the drummer. Incorporate that with what HandsFree said about the bar before the chord change. That's when the drummer might do a roll, so, using your chord progression of G D Em and C, lets say the drummer kept a steady beat until you hit the C and did a roll. You could run down the scale from C to begin again at the G, or up the scale to the octave G. Mix it up, change it around.

Keep it simple, once you know the song layout, feel the groove, take audio cues from the drummer, add a run you've practiced, ask your guitarist/keys to show you what they're playing or if they can show you some lines that might work.

Keep holding down the bottom end, yo.

 

[ThePresident777]

Depends om the song.