Music Theory Question, recurring bass note

[Thomas C]

I am trying to find out what to call a particular musical pattern - an example is the "bridge" in the Beatles "Something".

That particular pattern is a bass walkdown with a repeating E on higher string. Basically:

A A E E | G#G# E E | F# F# E E | E E E E

I don't think it's a pedal note, because the note changes. It's almost a drone, but not quite.

Is there a proper and precise musical term for that?

 

[Bob_Ross]

The E note itself is considered a "common tone" and the entire phrase is considered a "line cliché"

 

[Thomas C]

The E note itself is considered a "common tone" and the entire phrase is considered a "line cliché"

That seems about right. Not to be obtuse, the only question I would have is a line cliche is defined as moving against a single chord. The chords for that pattern are described in available music as either: A | C#m/G#m| F#m | E or A | A7+ | F#m | F#m/E (which doesn't seem to include the G# in the second measure) . So there doesn't seem to be a common chord.

It's easy and fun to play, but as a hack musician I just don't know how to describe it properly to my bandmates.

 

[Bob_Ross]

the only question I would have is a line cliche is defined as moving against a single chord.

While that's true in the strict sense, it's worth recognizing that the purpose of a line cliché is to expand a single chord into an evolving sequence of colors (e.g., the descending chromatic line cliché from the root over a minor chord yields the progression N minor/N minor-major 7th/N minor 7th/N minor 6th...which are arguably four different chords) and common practice (lower case, not the proper noun "Common Practice") has expanded those evolving sequences to accomodate chord substitutions. (As well as incorrect chord naming!)

The chords for that pattern are described in available music as either: A | C#m/G#m| F#m | E or A | A7+ | F#m | F#m/E (which doesn't seem to include the G# in the second measure) . So there doesn't seem to be a common chord.

I've always thought of the bridge to "Something" as being A | A/G# | A/F# | A/E ...and while yes, technically A/F# is an F# minor 7th chord, and one could even think of A/G# as an A major 7th chord (in its worst possible inversion, LOL), it makes a lot more sense both functionally and from a performance standpoint to write it ^^^that way so that you see the descending bassline against the static chord. And I've always been taught that ^^^that is a "line cliché"

 

[Thomas C]

Interesting, following that the repeating E is the fifth, following that the notes accompanying a slash chord should follow the root, rather than the bass note.

Now it's got a rockabilly flavor!

However, the guitar player is going to follow: A|C#m|F#m|E. I'll see how it sounds against that.