Members Giorgi Posted November 21, 2009 Members Share Posted November 21, 2009 Hello, I'm writing and recording songs (hard rock/alt/pop), but I'm alone, I don't have a band... I'm a guitarist and I don't nothing about specifics of bass: when should I deviate from guitar chords or riffs? Is it gonna really suck if I just stick with what I'm doing on teh guitar? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sugarskull Posted November 21, 2009 Members Share Posted November 21, 2009 I almost never follow the guitar. If there's some shots or a riff that needs everyone together for an effect I'll play the same thing he's playing, but that's it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fireball_73 Posted November 21, 2009 Members Share Posted November 21, 2009 Depends what you mean by following the guitar. I play in a pretty much straight up rock band. The role of the bass player is to drive the song and provide a solid support for the keys/guitars/vocals. In saying that I do throw in a few bits for my fun, but never at the expense of support the other instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bluescout Posted November 21, 2009 Members Share Posted November 21, 2009 As a guitar player, you probably know more about music theory than I ever will but bass is the foundation. The notes the bass player plays give the guitar player his options of what goes with that bass part. There's some songs where they go exactly together but for the most part, not so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Giorgi Posted November 21, 2009 Author Members Share Posted November 21, 2009 So for instance would you do a different riff for the bass or something like that? Or is there a system where you play the root of the chord, than the octave, than the fifth or something like that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jazz Ad Posted November 21, 2009 Members Share Posted November 21, 2009 As a guitar player, you probably know more about music theory than I ever willBased on personal experience, this is likely not the case. In most bands, bass players are by far the most educated regarded music theory, only topped by keyboard players. For rock/pop stufs, just play straight 8th or 16th root notes it shall work fine. It may not be the best line ever but it shall work in pretty much any situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sugarskull Posted November 21, 2009 Members Share Posted November 21, 2009 EDIT: ^^^ I was typing while he posted this, sorry for the repeat info. So for instance would you do a different riff for the bass or something like that? Or is there a system where you play the root of the chord, than the octave, than the fifth or something like that? Generally speaking the entire chord gets Arpeggiated in creative ways. Often times though, the root will just be pedaled in solid quarters or 8ths with licks thrown in at the end of every phrase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thrustin Posted November 21, 2009 Members Share Posted November 21, 2009 Post something. We'll help you out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FloydianAnimal Posted November 21, 2009 Members Share Posted November 21, 2009 For me, being in a hard rock/metal band, it's all about what fits the context. I might be busier when the guitar is less so and vice versa. Sometimes I double the guitar, sometimes I just follow the drums, and most often I'm doing something that kinda blends with the two. So for example, a simple part might be just following the guitar roots while also matching the rhythm of the kick drum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fingeringam Posted November 21, 2009 Members Share Posted November 21, 2009 Every 3rd Wednesday and twice on days ending in Y. Do what feels comfortable. Personally, I let my mood/emotions guide what I play. If my guitar player comes to practice and says he's got a new riff/idea, I just sit there and listen until it stikes something in me. If I'm feeling excited, I'll usually just play roots and jump and dance around. Other times when I'm serious I'll get a little more in depth and when I'm tired I generally stick around home. Whats really cool is that the line can change from day to day, thank god for MIDI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sonic1 Posted November 22, 2009 Members Share Posted November 22, 2009 The bass line is a sammich between the rhythm of the drummer and the key that the guitarist is playing in. Depending on the genre of the music you're playing, the bass line can either dance around to the drum beat within the walls of the guitar's key/chord, or the bass can add drive and power to the drum, within the key/chord of the guitar.I'd say lay down the beat. Put some bass notes/groove on top of the drums to color the beat.That's the foundation. Listen to what you have, get that neck bobin' a little. Now, since you play guitar, start useing the guitar's voice to sing in key over the top of your foundation. See what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stevesherbert Posted November 22, 2009 Members Share Posted November 22, 2009 good post there ^ i usually start out by locking into the kick and snare drum pattern using the chord changes the guitar is doing. sometimes instead of following the guitar chords exactly, i'll throw in a harmony note to add some tension or even preview a lick or riff that comes later in the song. sometimes i'll throw in some licks or fills that play off of the drum fill or a vocal line. when in doubt, i'll do a steady pulse of 8th notes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members collinwho Posted November 22, 2009 Members Share Posted November 22, 2009 When the song tells you to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted November 22, 2009 Moderators Share Posted November 22, 2009 Outline the chord structure, harmonize the melody, provide rhythmic interest. Or just pedal root notes under the guitar line. Either works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jealousblues Posted November 22, 2009 Members Share Posted November 22, 2009 hes a, probably stupid, question from another guitar player who is learning bass for fun: Say you are doing set of cover songs, do you learn each song note for note or do you learn the chord changes and just play bass (while keeping important riffs or signature parts) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonjohn Posted November 22, 2009 Members Share Posted November 22, 2009 do you learn each song note for note or do you learn the chord changes and just play bass (while keeping important riffs or signature parts) Depends on the band, If the others(band mates) are learning the songs note for note so will I. Some bands just want to get as many songs together as possible quick , then just learn the basics an {censored} round with it...can be fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FreestyleIntruder Posted November 22, 2009 Members Share Posted November 22, 2009 All the {censored}ing time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mr.Mow Posted November 22, 2009 Members Share Posted November 22, 2009 hes a, probably stupid, question from another guitar player who is learning bass for fun:Say you are doing set of cover songs, do you learn each song note for note or do you learn the chord changes and just play bass (while keeping important riffs or signature parts) I'm doing covers, was hit with a disc with 60 songs and 'learn em as quick as you can, there's another 50 at least' I started out trying to learn them note for note.. Realized there was no way known Id ever remember them, so I go through them write out the chord changes and listen out for any well known bits or signature riffs.. Having said that some song need to be learnt note for note as everyone knows them (my sharona is a hood example). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members frunobulax Posted November 23, 2009 Members Share Posted November 23, 2009 All the {censored}ing time i like your thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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