arabassist Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 Hiya, When playing to some songs ive noticed many basslines that have nice rhythyms and grooves but never change, as in it will simply be one or two bars repeated through the whole verse with bits of variations and fills to make it interesting. sometimes, the guitar chords will be changing (or whatever else is in the song). now does this mean the bass is not changing key, or does it not have any key in it? How would you know which note the bass part should be based on (no pun intended) whilst the other instruments/vocals are changing? I hope that makes sense If ya don't understand what i mean here's an example. In this song, the guitars doing some wierdo crap in the background. you've only got bass, drums and rap vocals that mainly audible. since the rapping and drums arent exactly in any key (or are they?) how does the bassist choose what notes to play? also, listen to the verse in this song I have a huge feeling ive completely misunderstood and missed the point here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_the_bassist Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 i think (from listening, not be reading up on them...i could be wrong) that RATM probably knock out a stonking riff, then wrap a song round it. Timmy C tends to do kinda the same thing(s) repeated throughout the song, and Tom morello gets his PedalBoard O' Doom out and starts squeeling over the top. The songs all seem to be in roughly the same place musically, to fit with Zach's natural tuning of his voice, much like the Dust Junkies tracks always seem to be in and around D, so the vox sound good. so, in a rambled, longwinded answer to your q, the riff the bass plays was the first bit, and everything else gets shoehorned in around it...it's not so much choosing what to play, but thinking of a wicked riff and letting everyone else to the hard work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 Every number has a key, except maybe the John Cage pieces pushing a sheaf of hay through the strings of his piano or his 2 mins of silence! Unless my bass isn't in tune, the RATM is in E. The chord might not change (many James Brown numbers) but you have to have a key because, in this case, the bass, guitar and vocals need to be together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 Higher & Higher by Jackie Wilson is a great example of what you're talking about, as well as a lot of Kool & The Gang Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wulf Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 [quote name='arabassist' post='531426' date='Jul 3 2009, 08:56 AM']How would you know which note the bass part should be based on (no pun intended) whilst the other instruments/vocals are changing?[/quote] If you're covering a song, your starting point for the bass notes are the ones the original bassist used. If you're improvising, keep that original bass part in mind and use it as a springboard. The technique is know as [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostinato"]ostinato[/url] (from an Italian word meaning stubborn). The bass (or it can be another instrument) stubbornly sticks to a particular riff (or "figure" if you want to talk in classical music terms) while other instruments define the harmonic movement of the song. Relatively simple chords can sound more complex because they are in tension against the ostinato pattern. Wulf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdgrsr400 Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 In classical music, if the pitch of the bass part does not change while the upper harmony changes, it's usually called a pedal point - after organ music where this technique is not uncommon, e.g. Bach's Toccata in F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earbrass Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Check out the bass part in Purcell's "When I am laid in earth" (Dido and Aeneas). It's the same simple pattern the whole way through; one of the great basslines of all time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 (edited) have we forgotten this one ? genius song, genius bass/piano line which really carries the song - an excellent example of ostinato as wulf mentioned. Edited July 7, 2009 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golchen Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 [quote name='wulf' post='534436' date='Jul 7 2009, 09:46 AM']The technique is know as [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostinato"]ostinato[/url] (from an Italian word meaning stubborn).[/quote] I guess that's where our word 'Obstinate' comes from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 (edited) Check out "When Doves Cry" by Prince, it's that ostinato, that it doesn't even have a bassline. Edited July 7, 2009 by steve-soar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beneath It All Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 [quote name='ahpook' post='534683' date='Jul 7 2009, 02:00 PM']have we forgotten this one ? genius song, genius bass/piano line which really carries the song - an excellent example of ostinato as wulf mentioned.[/quote] ....Hmmmm....when does the genius bit start??!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdgrsr400 Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 (edited) Well, for repeating bass lines possibly the best known popular piece is Pachelbel's Canon in D, which you can hear in an outstanding performance below. The first eight notes in the bass repeat throughout the piece - why not play along? Edited July 7, 2009 by sdgrsr400 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golchen Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 [quote name='sdgrsr400' post='535079' date='Jul 7 2009, 08:15 PM']Well, for repeating bass lines possibly the best known popular piece is Pachelbel's Canon in D, which you can hear in an outstanding performance below. The first eight notes in the bass repeat throughout the piece - why not play along? [/quote] Seen dis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 [quote name='sdgrsr400' post='535079' date='Jul 7 2009, 08:15 PM']Well, for repeating bass lines possibly the best known popular piece is Pachelbel's Canon in D, which you can hear in an outstanding performance below. The first eight notes in the bass repeat throughout the piece - why not play along? [/quote] hmmm. thanks...i'm all relaxed now. and a damn fine example of unchanging basslines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eight Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 [quote name='Golchen' post='535512' date='Jul 8 2009, 10:50 AM']Seen dis?[/quote] Doesn't matter how many times I watch that, I still laugh at every joke and song change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjb Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 (edited) Once In A Lifetime, Talking Heads. Utterly brilliant in its simplicity - two notes (with occasional slides and fills)! Though Tina Weymouth played it but I've always sensed a bit of Eno's ambient influence on this one. Edited July 9, 2009 by rjb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alun Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 [quote name='Eight' post='536023' date='Jul 8 2009, 09:40 PM']Doesn't matter how many times I watch that, I still laugh at every joke and song change.[/quote] Ha ha that was great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuNkShUi Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 [quote name='wulf' post='534436' date='Jul 7 2009, 09:46 AM']If you're covering a song, your starting point for the bass notes are the ones the original bassist used. If you're improvising, keep that original bass part in mind and use it as a springboard. The technique is know as [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostinato"]ostinato[/url] (from an Italian word meaning stubborn). The bass (or it can be another instrument) stubbornly sticks to a particular riff (or "figure" if you want to talk in classical music terms) while other instruments define the harmonic movement of the song. Relatively simple chords can sound more complex because they are in tension against the ostinato pattern. Wulf[/quote] learn something new every day nice one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stinson Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Public Image by PIL is pretty much the same all the way through, an absolute stonker from Jah Wobble. One of my favourite bass lines ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.