New user full of questions.

[40Hz]

This is all solid advice. I find myself playing scales a lot and it just doesn't have the right voice most of the time. I can hear it in my head better than I can translate it to my hands if that makes sense.

Scales are things you practice. Not something that should be played.

There’s lots of approaches to crafting a bass line. But the best way (IMO) is to think in terms of chords rather than scales or modes. Because bass is more a rhythm instrument than a lead instrument most times. So we’re effectively playing chords just like a guitarist or keyboard player does. But the key difference is that we’re usually not playing all the notes in a chord simultaneously. Our function is to outline the chords, provide direction and continuity between the chord changes, and to control the momentum of a song. And we do that through our selection of notes within the chord triads+7th, and which divisions of the main beat we play them with.

The above isn’t gospel btw. It’s just one of several good ways of approaching bass playing. But it can provide a solid foundation and framework to build upon if you’re just starting out.

 

[mrcbass]

It's tough to unlearn a behavior and realistically, I don't have enough hours logged to find a voice in a band yet anyway. I'll keep thumpin' away and seeing what I can do. I can play Rage Against the Machine and Foo Fighters stuff and a handful of random country tunes; anything you think I should try?

If you really want to become a bassist, I'd try learning the bass on some tunes that are not guitar centric. I know that's what you to play, but if you can listen to the bass in songs where the guitar is just another instrument and not really featured, you may be able to detect what the bass player is doing and how it fits into the groove.

I'd advise checking out some old school Motown and pay attention to some of the stuff that Jamerson is doing. You'll playing a different style, but perhaps once you get Jamerson, you'll be able to incorporate the concept of being a bassist into the music you want to play.

And no, you don't always play with every kick-thump. Yes, you want to do that a lot, but its not always by a very large margin.

 

[stringthrough]

Try adding some "grease" to your playing by sliding in and out of notes. It will add smoothness and "bluesiness" to your playing.

Also vary note and silence durations. This adds variety to your lines.

 

[CharlieHargrett]

I would suggest that you focus your attention on how to use space and syncopation to build the pocket within a rhythm section.

Totally agree. A couple of examples from one of my favorite bassists, Andy Fraser...
Free... The Stealer

The guy could build a great solo, too!
Free... Mr Big

 

[Ductapeman]

My two cents: Go buy a dvd of the movie "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" (better just buy it, you'll want to watch it a lot down the road)-- relax, blindfold yourself and just listen-- to how the bass fits with the drums and the meter. Rinse and repeat as necessary. If you do this enough you are certain to be hit by da Funk. No need to thank me.

 

[Pino-no-no]

What kind of music are you most interested in playing? How wide are your tastes?

I play a lot of genres on guitar. Blues, rock, country, some metal-ish stuff, classic rock. I’m having fun with country music but Pino is my favorite bassist. I’m not sure what my style is yet

 

[Pino-no-no]

I hope that the OP has enough experience with guitar forums and the internet in general to be able to sort the wheat from chaff here.

oh I do haha. I’m focusing on the positivity and breezing past the distractions.

 

[CallMeAl]

My two cents: Go buy a dvd of the movie "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" (better just buy it, you'll want to watch it a lot down the road)-- relax, blindfold yourself and just listen-- to how the bass fits with the drums and the meter. Rinse and repeat as necessary. If you do this enough you are certain to be hit by da Funk. No need to thank me.

Just got the book, came in the mail today!

 

[Malcolm35]

Howdy y'all! I'm new to the group and wanted to introduce myself. I'm new to playing bass, but I've played guitar for 6 years now. I'm having a tough time with phrasing though. I seem to like "riffy" base-lines but I stick out like a sore thumb when I record my own bass tracks. Any advice?

40HZ's post hits it on the head. My advise is to sing the lyrics under your breath. I bet you did not have trouble with phrasing when strumming your guitar, which was one beat per lyric syllable..... just be aware of the lyric flow and I thing you will be alright.

No lyrics, then be aware of the melodic head. I bet it has a flow, pauses, etc.

 

[Pino-no-no]

here's the rig

 

[RoaDan]

Brother, I think that the quote provides lousy advice because it is crude, reductive and simple-minded. Advising new players to mandatorily place notes according to one part of a complex instrument that is working within a larger rhythm section within a larger band — without any regard for genre, feel, instrumentation, dynamics.... it’s just not impressive advice to me. There are thousands of better pieces of advice all over TB, including most of this thread.

I appreciate what you have to say, and I agree, but we are talking about a beginning player. You don't want to heap too much on them right away or they might get intimidated and run away... they tend to be fragile like that...
Thanks for your response...

 

[lat]

I humbly suggest you begin your bass playing career by trying to exactly duplicate what is being played by the bass players on those songs.
When we are first learning to speak, we learn best by imitating others until we have enough vocabulary to put together our own unique phrases.

Well said.

 

[zontar]

Try adding some "grease" to your playing by sliding in and out of notes. It will add smoothness and "bluesiness" to your playing.

There are those who say I do this too much.
(Well I did when I first got my fretless bass)
But done tastefully & not overused it is a great idea.

 

[DeepFriedBass]

Less is more:

I burst out laughing at the tone he's getting.

Anyway a good bassline alternates between locking in with the kick drum and dancing or weaving around the melody.

Where there is no melody, the bass can take that role or solo.

If there is a complex vocal line, it can help to keep the bassline simple, perhaps hitting accents where the vocal or melody isn't, and as the vocal ends a phrase, have the bass echo the melody with it's own flavor and then back off again.

For example