Writing Tip - Practicing with a Pad (synthesizer) sound in background

[Chicken Wing]

For me, it's difficult to write creative bass lines at home without other instruments in the mix.

One solution is to play along to a Jam track, which there are plenty of on YouTube by Quist and other players.

Recently, I found a YouTube channel that is just Pad sounds (a category of synthesizer which produces a soft, pleasing sound). The sounds are all in a certain key, and it helps put your ideas in context. One video might be in the Key of C, the next in A. And then you just go off and riff away.

In full disclosure, I did discover this YouTuber through Scott's Bass Lessons. Scott linked to one of his videos.

I'd love to know if anyone else has found this to be helpful...

 

[StereoPlayer]

For me, it's difficult to write creative bass lines at home without other instruments in the mix.

One solution is to play along to a Jam track, which there are plenty of on YouTube by Quist and other players.

Recently, I found a YouTube channel that is just Pad sounds (a category of synthesizer which produces a soft, pleasing sound). The sounds are all in a certain key, and it helps put your ideas in context. One video might be in the Key of C, the next in A. And then you just go off and riff away.

In full disclosure, I did discover this YouTuber through Scott's Bass Lessons. Scott linked to one of his videos.

I'd love to know if anyone else has found this to be helpful...

Nice! Thanks. I sometimes use garage band for this.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Thanks. That's actually a really cool idea... can easily inspire stuff.

I'll add with something a bit different that I feel helps me get creative (and is great groove practice). Pick a random song you know well, then pick a random beat and play the song to whatever the beat is - and make it work!

I can be easy at times, at other times a bit of a challenge. Playing with tempos adds to the fun.

 

[BassChuck]

A YouTube search for Vishal Bohjane will turn up quite a few other sources for the same kind of thing.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=vishal+bhojane