[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1339153827' post='1684421']
In the originals band that I`m in, the singer/rhythm guitarist writes all the songs, and my way of writing the bassline is simply follow the chords with root-notes, until the whole band have "got" the song. From there, I listen to the areas where the drums are busy/quiet, and add my fills/runs/lines in those quieter spaces. No point in coming up with something that`s good if it will be overpowered if not placed correctly.
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admittedly in a rock/pop sense you don't want to overpower but in a lot of funk/ jazz it's a technique used to create a chaotic feel/ tension and then the release is when it simplifies.