Currently I'm stuck copying the guitar and playing roots, fifths and octaves. What other things can I add to make my bass lines a bit more interesting?
Kind Regards
Jordy
Kind Regards
Jordy
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Tips and tricks to play better bass lines
- Thread starter Jordy4strings
- Start date
Other than finding a teacher or mentor to help you out, I would say: Listen to music you would like to play and analyze what the bass is doing. Steal that and practice it.
Okay, so learn the guitar part intimately, so that you know exactly what the guitar is playing and when
...and then don't do that. Try to conspicuously not play what the guitar plays. When he plays a long note, you play a short note (or several short notes). When he playes a fast run, you play a long held note...or you lay out (i.e., don't play at all; silence). When he goes up in pitch, you go down, contrary motion and all that. Think contrapuntally.
iow, rather than doubling -- or even supporting -- the guitar part, think about dialoging with the guitar part.
Play melodies. Any melody will do. The idea is to get your fingers moving in different patterns other that the classic 'box' and pentatonic shapes.
How many seasonal songs can you play? TV theme songs? Children's songs? Church Hymn's? National anthems? etc.
How many seasonal songs can you play? TV theme songs? Children's songs? Church Hymn's? National anthems? etc.
The secret to playing perfect basslines is fairly simple and straightforward:
- Listen to and play as many types of music as you can.
- Do this for a few decades.
Look at the chords in the song, and figure out one or more notes that help connect them. Play those notes in interesting places - for example, instead of playing G and then D, you could play G B D, and vary where you put the B. If you were going A to D, go ahead and throw a C# in there - or maybe a B and a C#. You get the idea, but make sure it fits with the song.
