Why do I so rarely hear a MAJOR 3rd in a bassline?

[Chrisk-K]

Most rock and roll basslines use a maj 3rd. Ex) Crazy little thing called love

 

[tpaul]

I blame it on dad bands.

 

[electracoyote]

Maybe OP meant for the thread title to read:

Why do I so rarely HEAR a major 3rd in a bassline?

 

[tradernick]

Heya @kesslari -->
I've worked on like 50 cover tunes in the last 2-3 years and I haven't come across a single major-3rd in a baseline... why not?

Wow.

Can you give us a list of a bunch of them?

 

[Bioflava]

Ok, first off... Thanks to everyone who has chimed in, I've learned a few things:

• Major 3rds are more common than I thought...
• Major 3rds are perhaps more common as passing tones in a lot of rock, but
• Depends on the genre

Agree with @hieronymous and @InhumanResource that in a lot of blues-based rock, maj-3rds just don't jibe with the tonal center or voicing of the chords -- but also appreciate that the points above. Thanks for all the contributions, learning a lot about rock theory by reading through.

 

[InhumanResource]

Ok, first off... Thanks to everyone who has chimed in, I've learned a few things:

• Major 3rds are more common than I thought...
• Major 3rds are perhaps more common as passing tones in a lot of rock, but
• Depends on the genre

Agree with @hieronymous and @InhumanResource that in a lot of blues-based rock, maj-3rds just don't jibe with the tonal center or voicing of the chords -- but also appreciate that the points above. Thanks for all the contributions, learning a lot about rock theory by reading through.

I'm glad you learned, but I want to be clear that in a walking line where it makes sense against the harmony (like a blues) major thirds work just great.

You have to pay attention what the harmony is doing when selecting a note. In most cases of rock where the root is heavily implied it can be difficult to get a different chord tone like a third to sound well. Gotta try it and find out.

 

[BobDeRosa]

Nice question and excellent responses. I find topics like this a whole lot more interesting than the "what color pick guard should I use" kind of nonsense.

 

[Flamingo21]

I blame it on dad bands.

I suppose this is going to be another recurring element on TB, like "fire the drummer" or "what's the best bass for metal".

 

[InhumanResource]

Nice question and excellent responses. I find topics like this a whole lot more interesting than the "what color pick guard should I use" kind of nonsense.

Don't forget. Only use 4 ohm cabinets to extract all those sweet watts and saw off your headstock to avoid neckdive and the dreaded tail lift.

 

[DuluthDank]

There's tons of major thirds in punk rock. I would assume that in other darker rock contexts a major third sounds too bright for the vibe.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Are you counting the major 10th also?

 

[inanimate_carb]

Are you counting the major 10th also?

Not a "Rock" song, but...,

 

[Bthebassplayer]

Ok theory heads, here's a question for you: Why do so few rock baselines ever have a major 3rd in them?

I'm sure there are exceptions, but I've been transcribing a bunch of classic and modern rock tunes (Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Radiohead) and I NEVER hear a major 3rd in these kind of songs!

And not only that, but when I'm comping under a guitar and piano, if I do try and work a major 3rd in, it almost always sounds like crap. OK, so I realize that I am answering my first question -- but, from a theory perspective, why is this so?

Thanks for any insight!

First off. I wanna say that I really think this is a great question because it's on my lips but didn't dare to ask. I always doubt my ears but maybe I can trust them a little bit more. So, I wanna thank you for asking it! You helped me feel better about myself!!

So I don't know if this already has been said but could it be that the melody of the lyrics/singer is often in minor?

 

[Jack Butler]

There is no war on Christmas.

There should be, but that's a subject for another thread.

 

[SteveCS]

... For instance, in Stuck in the Middle, the maj-3rds are passing tones.

If the chord is major then the major third cannot be a passing note.
What I hear loads of is bass players using minor thirds and minor sevenths when the harmony is major. Blue notes sound fine but if you are conditioned to them then getting your ear around the pure major tonality can be hard work...

 

[superheavyfunk]

If we survey the entire corpus of Western music, sure, we can find a few basslines with maj-3rds... but those are the exception to the rule! So my question again is: Why do maj-3rds sounds like crap under even major chords in a rock context?!

Of the entire corpus of western music, rock (and in particular, the specific style of rock that you listed) is only a small part. So maybe you should consider changing the title to "Why do I so rarely hear a Major 3rd in the kind of rock basslines that I tend to play the most?"

It doesn't roll off the tongue but hey, at least it's accurate.

 

[glocke1]

Ok theory heads, here's a question for you: Why do so few rock baselines ever have a major 3rd in them?

I'm sure there are exceptions, but I've been transcribing a bunch of classic and modern rock tunes (Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Radiohead) and I NEVER hear a major 3rd in these kind of songs!

And not only that, but when I'm comping under a guitar and piano, if I do try and work a major 3rd in, it almost always sounds like crap. OK, so I realize that I am answering my first question -- but, from a theory perspective, why is this so?

Thanks for any insight!

lots of Dead tunes have major 3rds in them

 

[Josh Kneisel]

I use here and there...

 

[Deleted member 165050]

I know what you mean, rock and blues basslines do tend to steer clear of 3rds in general but as always there are plenty of exceptions to that. I want to know why rock bassists avoid flattened 5ths and minor 6ths, they don't bite And as for minor 2nds...

 

[SLO Surfer]

I think your asking a question about an issue that doesn't exist, but these all seem like valid thoughts for you to ponder:

Lots of rock is based on power chords, so there's no third--just roots and fifths!

a lot of rock music is based in minor

the bass frequently drives the song along, and isn't there to be clever.

science says you are looking for a problem that doesn't exist.

Maybe OP meant for the thread title to read: Why do I so rarely HEAR a major 3rd in a bassline?

And probably the most accurate answer is:

Too pretty

Rock music is supposed to sound tough and rebellious, adding major 3rds and major 7ths make it sound too pretty to be tough.