basslines

Discuss music production with Ableton Live.
kb420
Posts: 2772
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:35 am
Location: Cydonia on the 4th Planet

Re: basslines

Post by kb420 » Fri Mar 18, 2011 4:36 pm

If you're going to use Parliament as an example for a bassline, how could you not use Flashlight???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3flYZ6LOsw

Bernie Worrell is the man on the Mini-Moog!!!!!

Image
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger..........."
-Friedrich Nietzsche-

UncleAge
Posts: 677
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:50 pm

Re: basslines

Post by UncleAge » Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:16 pm

yeah, like kb420 is sayin, none of this shit happens in a vacuum. Check out some of the following. A lot of them are old, but so what. If you've heard them already then listen again. But this time just listen to the basslines. Most of them are nothing fancy. Just supporting the groove and melody. If you want to know WHAT to do then just do what they did and nobody will be mad at you.

Player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn-enjcgV1o

Grace Jones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72d5-xP5SnM

William De Vaughn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDTXljIqxRE

Jodeci
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9PCHWyf0Ac

Herb Alpert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ennMD1fPtXA

Chic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g6bUe5MDRo

Marvin Gaye
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j3okb3k ... re=related

Hall & Oates
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Red3R17FlUQ&feature=fvsr

Slave
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSZjR9_8 ... re=related

Bobby Caldwell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0EMUIvJ ... re=related

Brother's Johnson - Strawberry Letter #23
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbxUtFDK ... ure=fvwrel

Corrine Bailey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqntAyOjeyU

Bobby Womack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxCsIX6i ... re=related

Boz Scaggs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65EoK4OelZU

Earth, Wind & Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfLEc09tTjI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vIIZydX ... re=related

Angie Stone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaDkE-kO6kM

Average White Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn41X0bE ... re=related

Dionne Farris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlkJ7JXE ... re=related

Luther Vandross
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KraIB1z0 ... re=related

MJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jF7vmR5 ... re=related

Stevie Wonder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyFypz1l ... re=related

Rolling Stones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOf0FsA0Fio

josh rouse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRIhZi-Q53Y

Taste of Honey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9Wi2wfAiFw

Level 42
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK8JnEjVzr4

Thompson Twins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRgZaUr7 ... re=related

antarktika
Posts: 1006
Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 12:54 am

Re: basslines

Post by antarktika » Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:19 pm

RajahP wrote:
emotionz22 wrote:This may sound dum to experienced producers but I can't do a bassline for my life lol...and I'm not asking how to do a bassline cuz I know I have to figure it out myself...I was just wondering if y'all could help me out in understanding how a bassline works...I'm into mostly R&B for now but I plan to be versatile the more I progress...anyways it would be greatly appreciated if y'all can post links or just give advice because this is truly holding me back from finishing tracks smh :-(

Give the demo a try..

http://www.sugar-bytes.de/content/produ ... hp?lang=en
that is a step-sequencer that was posted for god knows what reason, just ignore it, it has little to do with your question.

e440hz
Posts: 52
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:18 pm

Re: basslines

Post by e440hz » Sat Mar 19, 2011 12:52 am

emotionz22 wrote:
scutheotaku wrote:First learn the minor penatonic scale.
Why is that
well... a pentatonic scale CLEARLY defines the tonality of a piece. those five notes tell the listener your tonic, which your bassline is supposed to do.


the rest is all rhythm man

Khazul
Posts: 3185
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Reading, UK

Re: basslines

Post by Khazul » Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:10 am

@emz - one really really simple rule of bassline for your kind of music - get a nice bass patch up, move a bit and play what you feel.

If the end result doesnt make you move - not even worth saving it, so you will know when its good and when it aint. You can play keys ok, so just play and exploit the spaces in the beat and under pin the melodies.
Nothing to see here - move along!

RajahP
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:13 am

Re: basslines

Post by RajahP » Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:49 am

antarktika wrote:
RajahP wrote:
emotionz22 wrote:This may sound dum to experienced producers but I can't do a bassline for my life lol...and I'm not asking how to do a bassline cuz I know I have to figure it out myself...I was just wondering if y'all could help me out in understanding how a bassline works...I'm into mostly R&B for now but I plan to be versatile the more I progress...anyways it would be greatly appreciated if y'all can post links or just give advice because this is truly holding me back from finishing tracks smh :-(

Give the demo a try..

http://www.sugar-bytes.de/content/produ ... hp?lang=en
that is a step-sequencer that was posted for god knows what reason, just ignore it, it has little to do with your question.

Ok...

Tone Deft
Posts: 24152
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:19 pm

Re: basslines

Post by Tone Deft » Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:21 pm

funken wrote:BOOTSY'S BASIC FUNK FORMULA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHE6hZU7 ... re=related
PERFECT!

when I first got a bass guitar I started googling funk basslines, they were all so damn simple. then I learned the lesson above. the best basslines I've laid down are just simple 2-3 note riffs, but I got the groove right. last one I did was just one note but I recorded it right and it rings out nicely on the one.

guitar players that think they can just pick up a bass and play get it wrong (myself included) like Bootsy said, it's the space in between. keep it simple, keep it funky.
In my life
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
-Moz

kb420
Posts: 2772
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:35 am
Location: Cydonia on the 4th Planet

Re: basslines

Post by kb420 » Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:21 pm

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger..........."
-Friedrich Nietzsche-

UncleAge
Posts: 677
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:50 pm

Re: basslines

Post by UncleAge » Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:37 pm

funken wrote:Taste of Honey btw is a classic, I used to play the guitar bit (not the solo). Here's a brilliant live version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PitCPrmE3hI
1. I think a woman playing the bass is hot. But a good looking woman in a red dress with slits up the front playing the bass is real hot!
2. I have much admiration for bass players that sing. I can play guitar or keys and sing but I find it almost impossible to do when I play bass. And to do something that's not on the downbeat like Roxanne (Police) is probably never going to happen for me. My brain can't nail it.

bartend7
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:12 am
Contact:

Re: basslines

Post by bartend7 » Sat Mar 19, 2011 7:19 pm

James Jamerson!!!! check out and learn the old motown basslines. I think there's a book for it, but listening is better than reading :lol: . Willie Dixon!!! excelent blues riff master. To me, the two of them are the root of bass lines in 20th century popular music. Check em out, study their notes but more importantly their feel.

emotionz22
Posts: 102
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:30 am

Re: basslines

Post by emotionz22 » Sat Mar 19, 2011 10:23 pm

Thank you for this video ...this definitely helped me understand basslines more...its greatly appreciated.

Saxer
Posts: 384
Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:43 pm
Location: Frankfurt/Germany

Re: basslines

Post by Saxer » Sun Mar 20, 2011 10:18 am

annother tip:
sing the bass lines before playing or programming it.
once you get used to, you can put out bass lines where ever you are.
that concerns other melodies too.
best ideas come somewhere driving car or watching tv...
get your cellphone to record it for later use.

kb420
Posts: 2772
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:35 am
Location: Cydonia on the 4th Planet

Re: basslines

Post by kb420 » Sun Mar 20, 2011 12:58 pm

bartend7 wrote:James Jamerson!!!! check out and learn the old motown basslines. I think there's a book for it, but listening is better than reading :lol: . Willie Dixon!!! excelent blues riff master. To me, the two of them are the root of bass lines in 20th century popular music. Check em out, study their notes but more importantly their feel.

Excellent choice!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqtELR5GyfI
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger..........."
-Friedrich Nietzsche-

DM1000
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Aug 20, 2009 5:09 am

Re: basslines

Post by DM1000 » Mon Oct 01, 2012 12:36 am

Hey I'm a keys player and do a lot of session work helping my friends with baselines and other melodies. I play very well by ear. If you're looking to get your ideas out faster, I could probably help.
I live Downtown Toronto but can also do session work via Skype if you're far.
Just offering my services

allmatisse@gmail.com

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