Your thoughts on repetitive basslines?

[fdeck]

If it's just a couple tunes, and a repetitive bassline really supports the concept of the tunes, then I'm fine with it. But if it's every tune, and doesn't really serve a creative purpose, then I'd guess the band is going to have a hard time keeping bassists.

 

[adi77]

repetitive basslines (fela kuti, leftfield etc) create a great trance-y effect that i really dig.. if i'm playing a repetitive bassline i can enjoy the song through an outsider's perspective..whereas, if there are too many changes i have to remain inside the frame of things.

 

[Javaral]

repetitive basslines (fela kuti, leftfield etc) create a great trance-y effect that i really dig.. if i'm playing a repetitive bassline i can enjoy the song through an outsider's perspective..whereas, if there are too many changes i have to remain inside the frame of things.

^ This
As shown in this masterpiece by Fela, 15:43 of music, everything changes except for the (great) hipnotic bass part

 

[Brother Goose]

Many of Sade's greatest hits come to mind- "Paradise" "Sweetest Taboo" "No Ordinary Love"

Paul S. Denham is an immortal in my opinion. (and what a snazzy dresser too!)

 

[jazzyvee]

I play a lot of reggae and repetitive bass lines are pretty much the staple diet of the genre. And whilst the notes may not seem challenging to an onlooker there is a lot of skill required to get the right feel for authenticity. It can be subtle but get it wrong and the band will notice. That said I also love reggae that has more melodic and changing bass lines like Aston Barrett from the wailers.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Many of Sade's greatest hits come to mind- "Paradise" "Sweetest Taboo" "No Ordinary Love"

Paul S. Denham is an immortal in my opinion. (and what a snazzy dresser too!)

Also "Hang On To Your Love". That song grooves like nobody's business.

 

[davy4575]

its really cool to see all the variety of music in here with it. I find it masterful when a song can have super powerful dynamics with a simple repetitive bassline:





and probably one of the most brilliant examples of this:

 

[fishdreams]

I am most doing free improv these days, I get into very few situations that require that type of skill and focus. But repetitiveness done well is awesome. Here is a personal fave, from Zimbabwe, IMO both simple and complex, the way it fits into music: Thomas Mapfumo and Blacks Unlimited, Shumba

 

[cronker]

Some of the very repetitive bass lines are magic for getting your strength up.
Try playing some of the Duck Dunn stuff (Everybody Needs Somebody to Love eg and even a decent player will have aching hand by the end. Being able to keep it going solidly for 5 minutes or so is tough, and a good workout.

 

[TigerInATrance]

Most of what I play requires a bass part that is reactive and melodic as opposed to repetitive. I find, however, that many of the lines I play will repeat themselves, just on a larger scale. So, instead of one bar that repeats, I will have 32 bars that repeat.

I can play the simple stuff, but it doesn't work within the idiom. It also doesn't bring me much joy. The only good thing I can say is that those sorts of parts give me a chance to muck about with my EQ when needed and meditate a little... I run a kaleidoscope on my iPad for just such an occasion.

 

[obimark]

Like everything else, if done well, playing a very repetitive bass-line throughout a certain songs can be massive. If done on every song, not so much.

It does take a lot of self discipline and groove to do well. Many never get there.

 

[Mike Sorr]

I play roots reggae. If I couldn't play a convincing repetitive bass groove I'd be out of a job.

Here's some great reggae bass. Repetitive bass lines set the meditation.

 

[Asher S]

Your thoughts on repetitive basslines?

Keep the groove.

That's my only thought on the subject.

 

[Gaolee]

Low Rider is one that's a mental workout to nail, especially if you are playing right next to a loud, but sometimes rhythmically challenged rhythm (yeah, right) guitarist.

 

[cnltb]

If the line works in the musical context it is set in, I'm happy;
Repetitive or otherwise.

 

[nukes_da_bass]

I like em
Yeah, I really do
I like em
Yeah, I really do
I like em
Yeah, I really do
I like em
Yeah, I really do

 

[SBassman]

I love them.

A large part of the time - it is our Job.

 

[klejst]

In reality there is only so many frets and notes on a fret board, and this holds true on guitar as well, so you are bound to run into some similarities. There is a difference between a similarity and a total rip off though. Often I find myself hearing a lot of the same bass lines in country music especially however it's really how it's played that makes it just a little different from the next.