Supporting the guitar - Writing music - Improvisation

[Dundeebarefoot]

NB. I have found it difficult to establish a good practice routine that will allow me to develop musically. I decided to force myself to play in a little jamming group to give me a reason to pick up some theory.

What approach would you recommend someone take when creating a simple bass line? What method would you give to a beginner that wouldn't overload them and would allow them to develop their music theory and knowledge of the fretboard?

For instance, you have a sequence of chords like in the video below, What road map would you suggest for making something straightforward to play along?



I don't need specifics, just broad information to feel less option paralysis. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[themickster]

Learn the major scale. It's not that hard and helps you make up baselines. I've only heard 'You don't need to know theory' from someone that doesn't know any theory. Every bit I've learnt has given me more baselines and fills. My writing's been the better for knowing more theory.

This will get you started

 

[JRA]

whether i was just beginning or playing advanced = i'd check out what orlando ‘cachaíto’ lópez played, and then i'd play that, or something close to it. :



in the beginning: learning what others are doing is the best way to stimulate your own creative process. good luck with your bass parts!

 

[FatStringer52]

First, learn your chord tones. They are the meat and taters for bass players. Initially, stick with triads. You can make a lot of music with just triads.

Second, learn the chords of a key. For example, in a major key the chords (triads) are 1) Maj, 2) min, 3) min, 4) Maj, 5) Maj, 6) min, 7) dim. In a minor key, 1) min, 2) dim, 3) Maj, 4) min, 5) min, 6) Maj, 7) Maj.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I've only heard 'You don't need to know theory' from someone that doesn't know any theory.

QFT

 

[mrcbass]

When it comes to "theory" there's coupe of tricks that make it easier to digest.

First, it's not the end all and be all of music. "Theory" was devised to essentially explain why something sounds good (or bad) and provides a bit of a road map for how to go about recreating a feel. It's not a rule book as much as it is a guidebook.

As a newb musician, we're taught scales. They are the heart of all musical roles (except perhaps for drummers). The scale provides the foundation for chords and arpeggios (chord tones). These just happen to be the source for the starting point for bass lines.

When digesting improv or on the fly lines, it's common to start slow and add to what you've already figured out. The simplest bass line is one where you just play the root (the named note of a chord: E would be the root for an E major, E minor, E diminished etc) note of every chord, so that's where you start: figure out what the root of each chord is and just play that. Once you can do that, try doing something with roots and fifths (the fifth note of the scale of the root; there's that pesky reference to scales.) Once you get fifths figured out, you can start playing with adding thirds (the third note of the root's scale). Then add 7ths. If you know the Root, 3rd, 5th and 7ths, you can now play an arpeggio.

So in just the paragraph above, you understand why scales are so important; understanding them allows one to be able to construct chords and arpeggios that fit the key you're working in. A typical chord is the root (first note), third note and fifth note. Often the 7th is added. There are a bunch of variations (major, minor, diminished, etc), but if you can understand triads (R/3/5) and 7ths chords (R/3/5/7), you'll be able to get around pretty well.

Yes, this is work; understanding things usually is.

If this doesn't appeal to you and you're more of an ear player, the next best way to write bass lines, is to listen to what others do on songs of a similar style. Try to play what they are playing. Eventually, you'll start noting patterns in your fretwork, which you can then translate into ideas for other songs. IMO, the pattern realization comes faster if you're working your theory out, but it can be done without that.

Ultimately, it wouldn't be a bad thing if you get yourself a few lessons. Theory understanding can progress much quicker if you have someone to bounce questions off of when you start. Once you get the hang of things, it's pretty easy to continue study on your own.

 

[Williethump]

NB. I have found it difficult to establish a good practice routine that will allow me to develop musically. I decided to force myself to play in a little jamming group to give me a reason to pick up some theory.

What approach would you recommend someone take when creating a simple bass line? What method would you give to a beginner that wouldn't overload them and would allow them to develop their music theory and knowledge of the fretboard?

For instance, you have a sequence of chords like in the video below, What road map would you suggest for making something straightforward to play along?



I don't need specifics, just broad information to feel less option paralysis. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Great tune! Love me some old Cuban players from the old school, BVSC rules.

 

[mambo4]

What method would you give to a beginner that wouldn't overload them and would allow them to develop their music theory and knowledge of the fretboard?

First, learn your chord tones.

Yep. Support the chords!

Actually I would insert Know what chords are being played before that.
When jamming, others will often play without declaring (or knowing) what chords they are using.
Hard for a beginner to deduce what chords are happening in such cases.
If you can suggest chords ("Lets try going back and forth between Amin and D7") You'll have a leg up on successful jams.

--

With your example, Cuban music is wonderfully (& deceptively) simple for bass
If you learn the tumbao rhythm you can build lines with roots, 5ths and octaves that drive things.

Finally don't underestimate the power of just Roots + Rhythm
Cachaito is playing mostly root notes ( in the right spots! ) in the second clip.

 

[dreamadream99]

What approach would you recommend someone take when creating a simple bass line?

There is no easy answer to this. There are no shortcuts for beginners. To create good basslines you have to become an expert in your genre. Here is what that entails:

1. Learn as much as you can about music.
2. Listen to, and play the best songs in your genre.
3. do this for a decade or more.