NancyJohnson Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Is there a musical term that covers an instance where a guitarist just holds down the main riff while the bass does something else in another key? Question in point - go here [url="http://www.lastthreestanding.co.uk/video.htm"]Video[/url] after you've read this (2nd video down). We were jamming on Tuesday, just before we were due to leave, guitarist starts a riff which alludes to have a root of G - I start playing a descending loop of EDC and it sounds nice. We put it down on video so we can remember it. I'm struggling to find a musical term that covers this expression. Anyone? Cheers P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clauster Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 You are (or at least could be) playing in the same key (EDC are all in G major) It's called harmony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I know what you mean...almost like a Slash chord - e.g. G/E, G/D, G/C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted February 8, 2008 Author Share Posted February 8, 2008 What I'm looking for is if there's a proper term, so I can just say to my guitarist, 'You hold down the riff and I'll do a <zandingo> under it.' Harmony...heh. P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wulf Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I think [i]zandingo[/i] is a great term to use for it. However, it seems to be a variant on the idea of a [url="http://www.answers.com/topic/pedal-point?cat=technology"]pedal point[/url]. Typically that would see the bass keeping to a single note while other instruments change the harmony above it. Here things are a bit different because (a) rather than a fixed note, it is a riff and ( the bass gets to add the colour rather than the foundation. You could just call it a descending bassline... but [i]zandingo[/i] still sounds cooler! Wulf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queenofthedepths Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 That sounds really cool and I'm definitely gonna refer to that as "zandingo" from now on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainsmee Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 i haven't listened to that recording yet, but the word may be counterpoint though i think zandingo fits much better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 harmony seems to fit best, but i think it should be called a zindango from now on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-T-P Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Well, you could just flip it on it's head and say that the bass is playing/outlining/implying a chord sequence of Em -> D -> C -> D and the guitar is playing a melody, in key, over the top of it. It's a similar effect as is on the intro to Where the Streets Have No Name, the guitar repeats a simple riff over an keys/bass pedals chord sequence of D - G - D - G - Bm - A - D Might not be quite as exciting in musical theory terms as you'd perhaps hoped, but console yourself with the fact that your new creation sounds ace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomfeed Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 (edited) aahh, that'll be a 'zandingo' mate! Edited February 9, 2008 by bottomfeed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted February 9, 2008 Author Share Posted February 9, 2008 Jeepers...zandingo...what have I started? P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metalmaniac Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Im thinking zen-dingo woul be a great name for an australian hippie rock acid 70's band! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7string Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 If the guitarist is playing the same riff over and over, you could call it a guitar ostinato. When you change what you were originally playing you're then reharmonising the guitar ostinato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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