Playing melodic bass lines.

[Greywoulf]

Well, I'm not that good a (re-learning) bass player (yet!) so maybe this is too simple? Or perhaps not what you're asking? But I've had some fun in the past by simply reading the melodic notes of a song from a piano or guitar staff and transposing them for bass. For instance with Clapton's "You Look Wonderful Tonight" it's not too difficult to transpose the main melodic notes, and I found it enjoyable fun to play on bass...

 

[Spin Doctor]

My idea of a melodic bass line is something that could be an "earworm." That's a musical idea that you can't get out of your head. I don't believe any formula can help create one. Instead, +1 to the idea of listening to lots of music and transcribing it (or at least being able to play it). All those ideas create a musical vocabulary that you can draw upon in the context of improvisation or composing bass lines. Being able to hear an idea in your mind just before you play it on your bass can take lots of practice, depending on the genre.

You might consider listening to Charlie Haden. His roots were in Old Time music, even though his reputation was in jazz. RIP.

In my opinion, LeeNunn has the answer. I feel that playing a "melodic bassline" isn't really something you set out to learn how to do. It's just something you do because you have studied and assimilated enough music to simply play the instrument, vice playing a bassline. In that regard, my all time go-to guy is Max Bennett. I was digging his sound long before I ever picked up a bass. His playing here on Joni's tune is sublime.

 

[bfields]

That's a lovely track, I didn't know it. They really leave a lot of space for the bass and vocals. The bass is interesting even when he's just playing a lot of roots and fives.

 

[Spin Doctor]

That's a lovely track, I didn't know it. They really leave a lot of space for the bass and vocals. The bass is interesting even when he's just playing a lot of roots and fives.

Max could play whole notes for an entire song and it would be beautiful. He's one of the unsung heroes of bass. A lot of people don't know about him , but if you Google him, you'll see that he's played for literally EVERYBODY. He just passed away last year and I wore a black arm band the entire day.

Max Bennett (musician) - Wikipedia

Anyway, concerning "melodic basslines", the phrasing is what makes it. The notes are the least important aspect.

 

[40Hz]

David Paton on the bass.

Wow! One of my favorite bass players.

One of the truly great and under appreciated bassists out there. Superb guitarist and excellent singer too.