Double Bass Which part of the harmony to emphasize?

[TDAN]

I have been learning some tunes and jamming in a pretty traditional format. Many of the tunes I am playing for the first time and I typically play a very simple part and focus on keeping the time and form of the song. As I get to know the material I have started to add a few passing notes to emphasize the changes.

Which changes do you choose to walk over/accent? the last 5? a fast 4? I would like to add some interest to my parts but am hesitant to play more notes just to play more notes.what do you do to support the form of the song and provide meaningful cues for the jam circle?

 

[Jake deVilliers]

I have been learning some tunes and jamming in a pretty traditional format. Many of the tunes I am playing for the first time and I typically play a very simple part and focus on keeping the time and form of the song. As I get to know the material I have started to add a few passing notes to emphasize the changes.

Which changes do you choose to walk over/accent? the last 5? a fast 4? I would like to add some interest to my parts but am hesitant to play more notes just to play more notes.what do you do to support the form of the song and provide meaningful cues for the jam circle?

You don't need to play more random notes, just play the song. You can play the song in a simplified way using the unique parts of the rhythm and the melody. Its easy and very musical.

See you at Wintergrass!

 

[TDAN]

Thanks for you answer. I guess phrased my question awkwardly. I am not interested in playing random notes that have nothing to do with the song because they "fit". I have been playing with some very simple 2 and 3 note walk ups/downs with cord tones and notes from the melody and am starting to find some things that work. I really like the root as a half note followed by a 2 1/4 note walk into the next chord that you hear on about of Flatt and Scruggs tunes.

It is fun to get a little momentum into the next chord and as a bassist on an informal pickup type jam I would like to be able to give cues to other jammers. for example if there is a fast four chord in the first part of the verse it is helpful to use a little run to help everyone hit it together.

I would be interested to hear which parts of a song you all choose to emphasize by adding to the straight root/5 style.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Thanks for you answer. I guess phrased my question awkwardly. I am not interested in playing random notes that have nothing to do with the song because they "fit". I have been playing with some very simple 2 and 3 note walk ups/downs with cord tones and notes from the melody and am starting to find some things that work. I really like the root as a half note followed by a 2 1/4 note walk into the next chord that you hear on about of Flatt and Scruggs tunes.

It is fun to get a little momentum into the next chord and as a bassist on an informal pickup type jam I would like to be able to give cues to other jammers. for example if there is a fast four chord in the first part of the verse it is helpful to use a little run to help everyone hit it together.

I would be interested to hear which parts of a song you all choose to emphasize by adding to the straight root/5 style.

I think we're on the same page here... I'm talking about using the melody notes to play your quarter notes, rather than chromatic or scalar devices that don't already exist in the song. If the song is based on arpeggios, play arpeggios, etc. A lot easier to demonstrate than write about!