Need help, suggestions for fills beyond root fifth octave, thanks

[shoulderpet]

Hi all
Am after some suggestions on fills/flourishes for songs, am a reasonably proficient bass player but when it comes to fills and flourishes I tend to fall back on Root, fifth octave or root, 4th, 5th and sometimes I throw in Root and minor 3rd , I think it is fair to say my ambition outweighs my ability when it comes to fills so am after some suggestions for some tasty fills I can use , thanks in advance

 

[Old Blastard]

Practice scales and chord tones so you have the movement in your fingers and then listen to Jamerson, Osborn, Dunn, Chess records and Motown. Lots of fills and stylings and once you hear them, it's easier to play them because they sound familiar.

Worked for me, anyway. I'm sure folks with more training can do better at being technical, but if it's in your head, it's easier to get to the fingers.

 

[bholder]

Add 3rds and 7ths and you've got basic pentatonic. From there, add scale tones. Then passing tones. "If it sounds good, it is good."

 

[Pyke]

What bholder said - learn your major and minor pentatonic scales WELL. They make a great building block for any run, and then you'll start noticing them in almost every song.

 

[BassChuck]

There's a lot of notes out there (12 at last count). You own them all. Just don't play the ones that suck.

(hint: the ones that suck aren't always the same notes, they take turns)

 

[MalcolmAmos]

I like chromatic runs. They are really a no brainer, target the next note/root/whatever and then miss it by three frets - then walk to it one fret at a time and be on it for the chord change. Above or below either way works. After that the pentatonic have been mentioned. Here is a review of some of the scales, perhaps you can pick up something here.

Scale spellings:

• Major Scale = R-2-3-4-5-6-7 Home base
• Major Pentatonic = R-2-3-5-6 Leave out the 4 & 7
• Natural Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7 Major scale with the 3, 6 & 7 flatted.
• Minor Pentatonic = R-b3-4-5-b7 Leave out the 2 & 6.
• Blues = R-b3-4-b5-5-b7 Minor pentatonic with the blue note b5 added.
• Harmonic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-7 Natural minor with a natural 7.
• Melodic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-6-7 Major scale with a b3.
• Major mode; using the major scale sharp the 4 or flat the 7.
• Minor modes; using the natural minor scale flat the 2, or sharp the b6.

Generic Notes - Beyond what you have already mentioned.

• The 6 is neutral and adds color, help yourself to 6's. Love the sound of R-3-5-6 with a major chord.
• The 2 and 4 make good passing notes. Don't linger on them or stop on them, keep them passing.
• In making your bass line help yourself to those notes, just use them correctly.
• Roots, fives, eights and the correct 3 & 7, which have been mentioned, will play a lot of bass.

OK fine, how to use all that I know is the question. How about some generic riffs and or grooves:

Google can find hundreds of riffs for you; get several into muscle memory. Here are some:
|6667 8555 5668|5538 6333 3378| The 6 is neutral, with major chords, so will go with the 7. The 8 and 5 are the same as the root-five. Yes throw in the b3 or natural 3 for the chord you are filling over.

Have fun.

 

[shoulderpet]

Thanks for the replies, really helpful stuff

 

[tshapiro]

I like to leverage simple concepts.

During your fill, throw in the same note twice in a row. For example, if you hit the octave up, hit it twice. (Listen to the Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate Love Song chorus for a great example)

When resolving a riff, hit the 3rd above the root followed by the 7th below the root, and than back to the root.

 

[Rock Salad]

Dont be afraid of the 4! Sonic power tensioner.
Also the bended 2. Allr rght under your R, 5 fingers