Great read! Thanks, I really liked the notes on recording and creating bass lines. Creating a bass part for a song is one of my favourite things about being a musician. As you say it’s about listening to the track and finding what works and fits with the vocal and what the other instruments are going to do. I’m doing quite a lot more remote recording these days which is quite different as apart from the obvious lack of in person it’s often the case that you get a track with just the drums, guitar and vocal and there may be other instruments added later, such as piano, synth, strings, horns etc so I find it’s good to chat through with songwriters and producers as well when creating a part and get to hear what their vision is for the song. For example if they’re going to get a piano part that might alter what the bass part needs to do to avoid clashes on the lower register of the piano. All really interesting stuff but always ultimately about creating a piece of music that feels right or good for the vibe of the song. Also on the ear training point as I think you reference with Carol Kaye just learning songs and keeping at it regularly helps so much, as well as all the scales and arpeggios. If I’m lacking inspiration I just pick something random on Spotify and play along to it, might be a new track from Spotifys top ten or a Motown track, Zeppelin, whatever! Just something I’ve not learned before. All good fun!
Simeon, thanks for your detailed reply and supportive words.
I like your random song approach - may give that a go too 😎
It’s great we’re all still learning and curious enough to want more…
Great read! Thanks, I really liked the notes on recording and creating bass lines. Creating a bass part for a song is one of my favourite things about being a musician. As you say it’s about listening to the track and finding what works and fits with the vocal and what the other instruments are going to do. I’m doing quite a lot more remote recording these days which is quite different as apart from the obvious lack of in person it’s often the case that you get a track with just the drums, guitar and vocal and there may be other instruments added later, such as piano, synth, strings, horns etc so I find it’s good to chat through with songwriters and producers as well when creating a part and get to hear what their vision is for the song. For example if they’re going to get a piano part that might alter what the bass part needs to do to avoid clashes on the lower register of the piano. All really interesting stuff but always ultimately about creating a piece of music that feels right or good for the vibe of the song. Also on the ear training point as I think you reference with Carol Kaye just learning songs and keeping at it regularly helps so much, as well as all the scales and arpeggios. If I’m lacking inspiration I just pick something random on Spotify and play along to it, might be a new track from Spotifys top ten or a Motown track, Zeppelin, whatever! Just something I’ve not learned before. All good fun!