5 Golden Rules of BASS

John Rhodes 2015 5 Golden Rules of Bass 1

5 Golden Rules of Bass


Bass Players only?

not really

we all need to know how basslines are created

this skill will help transcribe chords accurately

and make your compositions sound valid


your task as a bass player is

SUPPORTEACHCHORD

Am7 D7


RULE # 1

• SUPPORT THE CHORD• PLAY THE ROOT• for Am7 play A• for D7 play D• SIMPLE as


RULE #2

• SUPPORT THE CHORD• PLAY THE ROOT• followed by some/all of the chord notes• Am7...A C E G. D7.....D F# A C


RULE # 3

• SUPPORT THE CHORD• PLAY THE ROOT• followed by Scale Notes• Am7 and D7 are in G Major. • use any notes from G Major after the roots


RULE #4

• SUPPORT THE CHORD• PLAY THE ROOT• use a Pentatonic Scale• for Am7 use A Minor Pentatonic• for D7 use D Major Pentatonic


RULE #5

• SUPPORT THE CHORD• PLAY THE ROOT• followed by a Walking Bassline• use the notes of the scale to join each root• use chromatic notes to ensure you arrive on 1• too close? jump to a chord note then proceed• Am7.. A B C C#• D7...D C B Bb


my favourites

• Rule #1 any AC/DC simplistic genius

• Rule #2 Hotel California c l a s s

• Rule #3 any Bruce Thomas(Elvis Costello)

• Rule #4 any Andy Fraser (FREE)

• Rule #5 Noel Redding (Hey Joe / Hendrix)


TIPS• guitarists generally get the chords from a track wrong

• they don't listen to the first note of each bar played by the bass player

• they end up off on a tangent

• if the chords are accurate then apply a variety of rules

• listen to McCartney

• he uses RULE # 6 DISPLACING THE ROOT

• USING A NOTE IN THE CHORD INSTEAD OF THE ROOT

• Great for the same chords over and over

• change the root to a chord note next time round

• analyse wonderfully crafted basslines

• don't forget James Jamerson simply one of the finest

Education

5 Golden Rules of BASS