A good
bassline is something i think many people
overlook in a
song. A bassline is, however,
essential in letting the
listener put certain
chords into
context. One song can sound completely different with different
bass notes, or with a different
style of bassline (as far as
rhythm,
instrument,
technique). Over the years i've learned a few techniques for making decent basslines in my
compositions. Some of these tips apply to all
genres, though in particular, they might be especially helpful for those who write
rock,
pop,
funk,
jazz,
video game,
ska, etc, anything with a good
beat, and maybe even certain styles of
techno.
Generally, a bassline can't be too
complex while a
melody (lead) is going on. It's a bit
taxing on the listener, i'd say. If there's a nice,
active melody and an active, (relatively) complex bassline, the two
clash, the listener has a hard time focusing on one thing and the
music begins to
suck. For the same reason, two people can't improvise solos at the same time in
jazz. Stuff clashes.
To start writing a bassline, make something simple for one or two
measures (or however long your first chord in the
chord progression lasts). What i'd do next is pretty much copy the same rhythm and the same
pattern the notes take, but with the next chord. Do this for all chords. After all of this is done, you can make a few
imbellishments. Maybe add a few
grace notes, or a few
variations from the maeo rhythmic
scheme.
For something a bit more
advanced, try
synchronising bits of the bassline with the
drums. A bass note sounds a lot
fuller and
supportive if it lands with a
bassdrum. It
kicks more and feels well
mixed, and
tight.
on the whole, if a bassline
interracts well with the
drumline, it proves even less taxing on the listener, yet more
enjoyable because the
groove is being held by both the drums and the bass. At other times, though, it can be good to establish a
solid,
repedative rhythm, and use the bassline as another
rhythmic source,
syncopating, going against the drumline.
When a
chorus comes, it's often nice to
dummy the bassline down a whole lot. Maybe just make it the bass note of the chord, repeated, with a simple rhythmic
pattern. Sometimes though, if the
lead in the chorus is made a bit simpler, a little bit more
room for the bassline is allowed. Most often, the chorus is the part of the
song most remembered. Often times, everything in the song gets simpler in a chorus, rhythms and
phrases get repeated a lot more, and lines become a lot less complex.
These are just a few simple tips... I've seen
friends begin
composing and they tend to go all out with
everything. Insane, complex drumlines with
intricate basslines and
intense,
crazy leads... Maybe try some of these tricks out, or tell your bassist a few of them. Sometimes
less is more.