Where did the bass lines go?

Depends on what music you listen to. Current "popular" music, you may have a point (quotes because it ain't popular with me). Plenty of good bass lines still out there though.

 

I suspect they’re harder to find, but I think they’re still there.

 

Just found this in the 2018 SXSW artist. The bass and vocals in the chorus are divine.

 

How much new music are you really seeking out?

 

Some things reach a peak, and then have to be redeveloped so that younger generations can identify with themselves, rather than with what went before.

 

Oooo me like drool. Thanks for sharing.

 

I heard a rumor that Jean Jaques Burnel used the last available bass line in 1987.....

 

Would you like some recommendations? There is tons of newer music with killing bass lines but it might not be music that you previously might have liked (hip hop, EDM, indie pop)

 

Absolutely in popular music. It's been dumbed down to the lowest common denominator, any originality erased as completely as possible.

In the late 60's and 70's you didn't have to go on the hunt for a good bass line.

 

Here’s a fun bass line from 2017

 

For some really innovative use of Bass, check out Royal Blood

 

Late 60s early 70s was the period in rock with the bass lines were the best. But a couple of things:

1. Pounding roots is hardly new - Kinks, AC/DC, etc.
2. As music (and bass frequency especially) has gotten louder, and with better sound reproduction, a pounding bass line has more of an impact. Go back into them I'd 60s and earlier, and you had to struggle to hear a defined bass. Just hitting the roots would have added little to nothing to the song. Add in the fact that there was less overdubbing, so the bass had a very different role.

 

Here is one for you.

 

I agree with you 100%. I was talking to a friend of mine about this topic the other day. Even cheesy 70's pop songs like Bobby Sherman's "Easy Come, Easy Go" had an interesting bass line. Now it seems that all the creativity is gone. It's not just bass lines. Lyrics, guitar and drum parts have also become more simplified and less interesting. The lack of creativity has also impacted movies. It seems like all the movies are remakes, sequels and prequels with reliance on CGI. No originality at all.

 

"_______ from my prime is way better than it is now. I spend little effort to disprove this notion and am familiar all caveats of the subject -- no good _______ these days!. Get off my lawn."

 

In much of pop music the bass just hits the root and reinforces the kick drum as in 1*2*3*4, etc, etc. You cannot distinguish between the bass and the kick (if indeed it is a bass and not some sort of synth).

Partly as a result of this, much of pop music sucks. Simple, boring 4/4 rhythm, little in the form of discernible melodies or harmonies, much in the way of over-singing.

Gotta go, time for my afternoon nap!!

 

Swing is a double edged sword. Some have really melodic lines, like the Glenn Miller stuff. Then there's root five lines all over the place with a major third every eight bars or so.

 

I think we need a crossover band doing metal versions of Glen Miller tunes! Still with all the trombones though!