Root-5th-oct-6th= Rut

[Johnny Ezzo]

I am finding myself in a common pattern of Root-5th the octve & 6th, using approach and passing notes to move around (chord tunes). To me it sound really repetitive, but others tell me(during jams and such) that it sounds great. am I in a rut, or am I on the money and being petty? Mostly blues, kind of Duck Dunn if I were to label a style. How do I change it up with out compromise?

 

[TheBasicBassist]

if your doing this in a blues style maybe you could incorporate some embellishing tones such as if your patter is 1-5-8-6
So let's say.

C-G-C-A

embellishing the tones would be playing a halfstep above or below it.
so to embellish a
C you could use B or Db
G = F# or Ab
A = G# or Bb

just try to connect the two notes your going to and coming from.
just my two cents, sorry if that was a horrible explanation.

 

[Johnny Ezzo]

No, not a horrible explanation at all, I'm trying it now! Thank you!

Ok, I tried it (a few bars), to me and I might be really of base here, but it is sounding very Motown'ish, not Jamerson, but Motown'ish. I like it though, I'm going to play with it a while, Thanks again.

John-E