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Bass Line Making Tips
1.Old Skool House Bass line for beginners
An easily acheivable bass assuming a four four bass drum pattern is being used illustrated by the numbers. The bass line is represented by the mauve blocks. It can be repeated a multiple number of times provided the drums and melody lines vary enough to keep things interesting.
It is demonstrtaing the note A being played which is the root of A minor. It is on time to the 16th notes which lie between the bass drum 1,2,3,4 pattern. The actual pattern is play 16th note , rest 16th note, play 16th note, rest 16th note, play 8th note, rest 8th note, play 16th note , rest 16th note, play for a whole beat. The great thing about the A note is that any of the notes A,C,D,E,F,G from the key of A minor ( most modern music uses this key ) sound good with it. The note B can be used but with caution as when combined with other notes from the key will make a complex diminished chord BDF and it takes understanding and care to make a sensible flowing piece of music that includes it. For informational purposes the A is the root of the chord ACE the I within the A minor scale or the VI the C Major scale ( please see the tips section on chords )
2.Techno Trance Bass line for beginners
The trance bassline a more sophisticated riff is represented by the mauve blocks. It also can be repeated a multiple number of times provided the drums and melody lines vary enough to keep things interesting.
We are still using the A note from A minor but now in two octaves and we have also introduced some syncopation by putting some of the notes off the beat to add a rhythmic pulsing. The main difference that trance has to old skool house music though is all the bass notes are 16ths.
3.More complex basslines
Here is a variation of the first Old Skool bass pattern, but now the bass is changing from the root of the ACE I chord of the A minor scale to the root of the triad CEG the III of the A minor scale or I within the C Major scale.
4.A possible Techno Trance equivalent for the above pattern
As above the notes for the bass are illustrated by mauve blocks.
5.Jazz/Funk Bass example
As above the notes for the bass are illustrated by mauve blocks. Assuming this example is in the key of A Minor there is an accidental note G# in the first bar. It is quickly resolved to A which is in the scale to prevent a discordant or out of tune feel though as that section explains and also gives more examples. The trick of going out of key but quickly going back creates a jazz or funk sound. The reason for this is that live jazz bands slide notes and bend strings, which affectively creates a similar affect as playing a note flatter or sharper.
It is demonstrtaing the note A being played which is the root of A minor. It is on time to the 16th notes which lie between the bass drum 1,2,3,4 pattern. The actual pattern is play 16th note , rest 16th note, play 16th note, rest 16th note, play 8th note, rest 8th note, play 16th note , rest 16th note, play for a whole beat. The great thing about the A note is that any of the notes A,C,D,E,F,G from the key of A minor ( most modern music uses this key ) sound good with it. The note B can be used but with caution as when combined with other notes from the key will make a complex diminished chord BDF and it takes understanding and care to make a sensible flowing piece of music that includes it. For informational purposes the A is the root of the chord ACE the I within the A minor scale or the VI the C Major scale ( please see the tips section on chords )
2.Techno Trance Bass line for beginners
The trance bassline a more sophisticated riff is represented by the mauve blocks. It also can be repeated a multiple number of times provided the drums and melody lines vary enough to keep things interesting.
We are still using the A note from A minor but now in two octaves and we have also introduced some syncopation by putting some of the notes off the beat to add a rhythmic pulsing. The main difference that trance has to old skool house music though is all the bass notes are 16ths.
3.More complex basslines
Here is a variation of the first Old Skool bass pattern, but now the bass is changing from the root of the ACE I chord of the A minor scale to the root of the triad CEG the III of the A minor scale or I within the C Major scale.
4.A possible Techno Trance equivalent for the above pattern
As above the notes for the bass are illustrated by mauve blocks.
5.Jazz/Funk Bass example
As above the notes for the bass are illustrated by mauve blocks. Assuming this example is in the key of A Minor there is an accidental note G# in the first bar. It is quickly resolved to A which is in the scale to prevent a discordant or out of tune feel though as that section explains and also gives more examples. The trick of going out of key but quickly going back creates a jazz or funk sound. The reason for this is that live jazz bands slide notes and bend strings, which affectively creates a similar affect as playing a note flatter or sharper.