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Need help with chord interpretation for bass

Discussion in 'General Instruction [BG]' started by Kamael83, Apr 14, 2012.

  1. Apr 14, 2012 #1
    Kamael83

    Kamael83

    Dec 7, 2011
    Cork City, Ireland
    Hi!
    I came across chords for this song:
    john lee hooker & carlos santana - chill out
    So I was trying to figure out a bass line to this song that will be similar to oryginal bass....
    I made one bass line made out of roots of these chords ,,,it sounds ok..but it is a bit boring that way...easy to play though :)
    Anyway my knowledge about chords is very poor..i only started messing with them...(and I know we play arpeggios).
    Anyway is it possible to make out of this base line that is played in original song?
    Is there a rule for it? I mean maybe play only root and 5ths or something like that (just guessing here)....
    My basic problem is...it is easy to fit in root note into a song while just following chord progression,,,but how you add notes in between? just check this song and chords and try to explain how this works in that particular song.
    Thank you very much in advance :)
    Link to the song : john lee hooker & carlos santana - chill out - YouTube

    Chords are:
    guitar intro Cm Bb Ab7 G7 Cm Fm7 D7 G7 4x
    Cm Bb Ab7 G7 Cm...


    Cm Bb Ab7 G7
    One of these days,
    Cm Fm7
    Things gonna change
    D7 G7 Cm Bb
    One of these daaaaaaays
    Ab7 G7 Cm Fm7
    Things gonna change
    D7 G7 Cm Bb
    You’ll try not baaaaby
    Ab7 G7 Cm Fm7
    But afterwhile gonna do mine, gonna be mine
    D7 G7
    One of these days, days
    Cm Bb Ab7 G7
    I'm old and lonely baaaaby
    Cm Fm7 D7 G7
    Cry Cry-y-y Won’t be long long
    Cm Bb Ab7 G7 Cm Fm7
    Things gonna change
     
  2. Apr 14, 2012 #2
    Ajak

    Ajak

    Mar 31, 2012
    Bern, Switzerland
    Well he basically starts with playing root notes and at the fourth chord - the G7, always the last of a "group of chords" (sorry, English is not my native language...) he just plays some of the chord notes, (starting with the third, later on he adds the fifth and so on). Make sure you play very little in the beginning and then increase your fills.
    Then he starts to play chromatic approaches on 3+ of every bar to the next chord.
    Then he does chromatic approaches before the G7 and so on...

    I really recommend you to start with playing the original bass parts (not necessarily through the whole song) that you get the feel of the songs and to get some fill-ideas. Then you can start to combine them in new ways and to change them and soon you will have your own bassline.
     
  3. Apr 14, 2012 #3
    MalcolmAmos

    MalcolmAmos

    Jul 18, 2009
    Deep East Texas Piney Woods
    That rule you are looking for:
    Code:
    Major Scale Box. 

G|---2---|-------|---3---|---4---| 1st string
D|---6---|-------|---7---|---8---|
A|---3---|---4---|-------|---5---|
E|-------|---R---|-------|---2---|4th string
    Root on 1. If you have time for something else bring in a 5, i.e. R-5-R-5. Need something more the 8 is always safe, i.e. R-5-8-5.

    The 3 and 7 add flavor. Natural 3 brings major and b3 brings minor. The 7 would be used in a maj7 chord. The b7 would be used in the dominant seventh chord and a minor seventh chord. The 2 and 4 are best used as passing notes, don't land on them or accent them. That leaves the 6. The 6 goes well with any major chord. R-3-5-6 - add a 2 and you have the major pentatonic scale (R-2-3-5-6).

    Root on 1, then add the 5. Need something else bring in an 8. The correct 3 and 7 fill out the whole chord tone.

    That piece has a bunch of chords, I would suggest you start with just the roots and groove with that. Follow the chords, hope for a groove, and stay out of the way of the solo instruments (vocalist). You do not see the drums, but they are there. Lock in with the drum.
     
  4. Apr 15, 2012 #4
    Already In Use

    Already In Use

    Jan 3, 2010
    Cool song..Been playing it this morning..Thanks for sharing...I'm playing the roots and walking around a bit...sounds OK to me.