The Only 4 TYPES Of Bass Lines You'll Ever Need To Create
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- Опубликовано: 26 апр 2018
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►► FREE: Get the tabs and notation for all the bass lines in this video → becomeabassist.com/the-4-type...
There are a million different ways to write your own bass lines. Every bass player does it slightly differently, but what if I told you that the overwhelming majority of bass lines could fit into 4 broad categories?
Just 4!
And each of the 4 categories does something slightly different to the music.
Do you want your song to feel big and powerful? There's a 'Type' for that.
Want to hypnotize your audience with your bass line? There's a 'Type' for that too!
Feel like just locking it down and making the music feel as good as possible? There's another 'Type' for that as well.
What about injecting your own personality into the music you're playing? Of course there's a 'Type' for that!
Now there is a bit of crossover between all the types. Very few bass lines are exclusively one type. They do exist, but most are a combination of 2 or more types.
Approaching writing your own bass lines in this way is great because you simply ask what the music wants, pick the corresponding type and go from there.
Now you have a framework - a structure - that you KNOW is going to work.
If you want all the tabs and notation for all the songs we went through in this lesson, you can get them for free here:
becomeabassist.com/the-4-type...
Just sign up underneath that page and I'll send you a PDF with all the bass lines, links to the actual recordings, plus my analysis of the bass lines and why they work so well.
Good luck with the lesson, and happy bass line writing!
Cheers,
Luke 
Видеоклипы
![Sean Rii, Karyon, Sharzkii - Taungule [My Love] (Official Music Video)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/eJoMuypbSzQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Hey Luke. I have just discovered your channel and I wanted to say that your work is amazing and has been like that for the past 3 years. Always going straight to the point, but taking the time to explain things that are not that obvious to everybody. Your videos tend to be long, yet they are not "stretched" like some other RUclips channels do.
Thank you for this amazing content. You deserve more people to know you than the ones that do now.
Thanks so much for the kind words Francisco - I really appreciate it. It can be tricky for me to figure out what to cut and what to leave in a lesson and I'm sure I don't always get it right. Haha! I'm really happy you like the balance of the videos though. That's really encouraging. Thanks again!
Less talking. More bass
@@BecomeABassist Hi Luke, for a french guy like me, always RUclips enthusiast for the real TVmusic lessons about the way to find the "handbook" where you would
find every little steps of the process, I think 15 minutes is a good size...
And you are amazing for that. Congrats !!!
Yeah I actually watch the whole video and I don’t have to skip to the chase.
@@mikeleago1 then it wouldn't be a lesson
Stage 1: the bassist is friends with the rhythm guitarist
Stage 2: the bassist is friends with the drummer
Stage 3: the bassist is friends with the lead guitarist or the keyboardist
Stage 4: the bassist has no friends
😂😂😂
Actually bass and drums is stage 1
True
Stage 4 the bassist wants to be the lead guitarist
You have now almost more likes than the video 😂😉
As a life long bass player you reminded me how important it is to keep it simple. We need to remember the bass and drums are the engine that keeps the song moving forward. Many thanks from Tucson!!
Thanks so much John - I really appreciate it.
Songs aren’t made by great bass player, but by great bass lines. Think Tina Weymouth
I would break it down differently.... I would combine your Types 1 and 2
Type 1 - Root Notes (Nirvana, ACDC, Smashing Pumpkins)
Type 2 - I-V-I-V (country bass)
Type 3 - Riffs (TOOL, Rage Against the Machine, Metallica)
Type 4 - Walking/Melodic lines (Paul McCartney, Motown)
Have you listened to the bass lines from 'Hairspray Queen' and 'lounge Act' by Nirvana? Far from being just root notes, those bass lines are melodies in themselves (Type 4) which are completely different to the guitar parts. Whilst I appreciate what you are saying as a general comment, trying to over simplify doesn't always tell the full story.
Type 4 Chris Squire
Don’t disrespect Krist Novoselic like that. He is such an underrated bassist. He has some really good bass lines.
Nirvana is type 3 and occasionally type 4
Gordon Bennett or Dumb.
I like that aging banana look.
I like bananas so that is my dream bass. What is it ? Looks Warwick.
So bass and drums hold it together when guitarist plays whatever.
And it sounds really good ! Looks more like a spector
That's right Chuck - it's a Spector!
It's some kind of spalted wood, which is basically some rot in the wood. I had a spalted maple guitar.
Become A Bassist , yup. I own 6 Spector's, but after seeing yours, now I want 7 :-). I'm guessing that its a USA Model. Beautiful!
I've been a bass player for 20 years,I still learn something new every time I watch this channel,I've actually learned more on this channel than I have PAYING for Fender Play,keep it up Luke!
It is plain to see that you know your shit, my dude. You dissected the key points and presented them perfectly. It was enlightening to hear your thoughts along with the demonstrations!! THIS VID HELPED SO MUCH! Great teaching! Cheers
Thanks so much @Lutarius - really appreciate it. Glad you got something out of the lesson!
The man! I'm just getting back into my music and was wondering why everything was sounding complicated and hard to listen to. Gotta keep it simple but effective. Thanks for the tips man. Love from New Zealand.
One word...awesome.
A lot of beginning bassist out there will benefit enormously from your lessons. Even grizzled old bass players like myself can benefit.
Keep Groovin’
Very nice video. I have been playing bass and composing most of my life but you really nailed down a coherent explanation and formula of what most good bass players do intuitively. Kudos. Also, thanks for so many examples that older players can relate to.
You're welcome Craig. Happy to help out!
Thank you so much, Luke!!! All your videos are soooo well-done. You manage to explain themes which seem very complicated in such a very clear and simple way. Once again: thank sooo much and best regards from
Germany!!!
Awesome lesson! You have changed the perspective of bass playing for starters like me. God Bless you Luke
So interesting!
A good overview of the ways to make basslines. Good job!
Thanks a bunch. I'm happy you enjoyed it!
i literally knew all of this but hearing you put them in to types was somehow satisfying to the ears
Thank you so much for this video Luke. I'm a songwriter that has learnt music theory and I felt a bit lost on where to start when arranging bass for my songs. Your video is very clear with well known examples. This has given me what I need to move forward.😊
You have really good content , very charismatic and engaging as well. I share your channel to a few people I brought into the "Bass" player world. Thanks for helping keep them motivated !
Great rubric! I can always remember these 4 types: mono, drum lock, doubling, independent.
Awesome to hear! Glad it makes sense to you.
Type 5: Whatever the hell Les Claypool is doing
totally
I’ve been wrestling with getting a Bass and you’ve made it much more difficult to stay away. I’m a relatively new Guitar Player, but always hear the Bass first. Thanks for a great vid.
BTW, I just subbed!
I've been playing guitar half of my life now but have been just working on improving my bass playing. This is simple but just brings some clarity to what I want to do on bass. Good video!
I'm a drummer, but this is fascinating. I sent this video to my bassist and he loved it. It also gave me some insight into my own playing.
That's awesome Jonas! Thanks so much for watching - and for sharing it with your bassist buddy. I really appreciate it.
I'm also a drummer who is tryna learn bass because it sounds so darn good
Type 5: You forgot to plug your amp during the gig
Is that what they tell you? 😆
@@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn Yes...
@@AAAAAA-tv9wg Awwww...
and no one's even noticed
thanks, man. it's really helpful. hope your channel will get bigger. cheers from indonesia.
Thank You Luke ! Exactly what I was looking for. Simple and right to the point. 😊👍
7:16 nice save bro
Thanks for the video! It's very useful. Congrats!
Awesome ! Great to hear you found it useful!
Many thanks for the lesson. Well presented and delivered... 👍👍
I know quite a bit of music theory but am primarily a guitarist, so this video was very helpful for me just so I have a framework to better organize my thoughts. Sure, it could be an oversimplification, and I could just write by trial-and-error, but there are so many options that it is difficult to know where to start sometimes.
In fact, if you think coming up with bass lines is easy, you would do well to think more about why and how you select certain notes.
Hey from Dublin. This is an excellent bass video. Thanks so much for sharing
Thanks so much for watching!
Amazing, im current making basslines to heavy metal songs, this helps a lot, type 3 is my style
I happened to come across this video unintentionally, today, and what a refreshing one it is. As a bass and guitar player for several decades, this isn’t new to me and, for that reason, I usually don’t watch more than a minute or so of these “basic techniques and knowledge” videos, because they usually present something with which I’m already very familiar. However, this one is so well presented that I had to watch it to the end, even though what was presented is not new to me. The thing that impressesed me most is that you keep stating the words “it serves the song well.” That is the #1 purpose of a bass, and all instruments - everything is in support of the vocal, or lead instrument in the case of an instrumental. In the case of the bass, it is to create foundation, reinforcement, and forward movement through dynamics - intensity and space. I see and hear way too many amateur bassists trying to fill all available spaces, and while many of them do have amazing facility on the instrument, which is commendable, they have no sense of space, which is not commendable, because it makes an otherwise great song less so, and doesn’t lift a mediocre song onto a higher plane. You mentioned James Jamerson; he is a wonderful example of knowing how to use space - he rarely used a flurry of notes on recordings, although he was more than capable of it. Just as with graphic arts, where negative (empty) visual space makes the piece more effective, and more pleasing to peoples’ eyes, so it is with the bass to listeners’ ears. A measured amount goes a long ways. When I learn or create a baseline to a new song, I have a tendency to overplay. Thus, I record it along with the song, then listen back to it critically. During playback I hear where the song needs more breathing room, and I simplify my bass line to accommodate that. Sometimes one sustaining note, instead of the three I used originally, creates a more effective and dynamic aural experience. Like life itself, keep a song breathing instead of choking the life out of it with overplaying the bass. The bass is there to enhance a song, not dominate it, unless it was specifically written for that purpose, such as being the lead instrument and, of course, during bass solos, but even with solos, pacing and “empty space” help to create an exciting listening experience by injection unexpected surprises to the listener, rather than just a flurry of notes for several minutes, which gets boring the longer it goes on.
You're spot on Hank. I love the comparison of negative space in the art world and how it relates to music too. Thanks so much for the comment.
Like the fact that you talk about songs, you really know your way, I'm not even a bassist but I enjoyed this, great class m8
Running with the devil by Van Halen is probably a great example of the 1st type. So simple, but gives the song so much power.
I was totally expecting him to use it as an example!
please make "how to make melodic independent basslines" video haha
btw. always found your videos soooo helpful thank you luke!
Thanks for the video, so well done and informative. Loved all the examples of each type of bass line.
That was an extremely well organized and professional instruction. Thank you very much.
That “Give it away” lick seems inspired by the Beatles “Come together”... Imo. No idea if it actually was but it just seems like maybe it was?
Awesome lesson. My uncle just got a bass a week ago. He is 59 years old and wants to play with me and has never played an instrument. Im gonna send him this vid. Cheers!
Its totally possible that flea was inspired by the Beatles he's a total hippie lol interesting take
Also thats awesome your uncle is getting into music even his later years totally inspiring
The Beatles stole that riff from Chuck Berry - he successfully sued, and won. O, how the mighty fall! But - to Luke - love yer work, as we say. I've had me LH Hondo bass for 30 years and have just started on playing it. Having a great time due to your videos, my son-in-law's great work restringing it and fitting new pick-ups and electronics, and covid-19. Many thanks!
Give it away had originally had a very complicated bass line but the producer worked with flea until they came up with the simplified version we have now.
@@sammott9169 Interesting. My uncle never did commit to bass. Such is life.
@@sammott9169that’s right! you can see it in that making of blood sugar s*x magic documentary with Rick Rubin coaching up Flea
Great lesson, what a wonderful teacher
Thanks so much Stephen - I really appreciate it.
Great lesson! This turned on so many lightbulbs for me. Thank you.
I found this very helpful. As a non-musician learning music.. late in life... there are techniques that seem 'obvious' to some, but not to new folks like myself. I spend most of my time on guitar... but it's fun to be able to contribute, in a basic way, with Bass while playing with other, more experienced musicians. These tips can help me do do that. Thank you for the video.
Thanks so much for the comment JEBoulder. I'm really happy you the video was helpful to you.
Love the beauty of simplicity in bass. Too many people want to be guitarists and over play. They could screw up Stand By Me.
The opening of the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" that Carol Kaye came up with..a PERFECT type 4!
I think she co-authored that bass line with Brian Wilson. I remember reading it was one of the very rare times that Kaye did not have free rein to play whatever she wanted. Brian Wilson give her pretty particular directions about what to do on that track (and on most of the Pet Sounds album too). But that's probably why the bass line on that song is so great. You put two musical geniuses together, you're gonna get something special.
I just stumbled onto your video off a link from a Gallien-Kreuger MB Fusion 800 demo (which I just bought :) this was the best introduction to an approach to bass lines.. WOW, I thought, so simplified and so many hybrid possibilities using them.. Thank you.. I'm a guitarist, this is one of the best instruction videos I've come across.. simple to the point, and eye-opening..
Great approach, never thought it this way, i think it'll help, thanks!
Thanks so much! I was writing bass lines electronically while producing and knew nothing about the dynamics of bass lines! This was a great way to get me started and understand how bass lines fit in the mix
Thanks Brenna. Glad I could help.
Yeah, bass can be really neglected in a song.
Type 5 : Primus bass lines
Ill say Type 6: Peter Hook basslines so!
Type 10: Ryan Martinie.
Type 0: Stuart Morrow
Primus sucks
@@Dobbersify primus are great bruh
When i started, I took the Geddy Lee or Chris Squire route: Play the root and then play extensions or key passing notes.
Or!
Arpeggio rhythms and passing bass melodies to using the chords dominate and use passing notes to keep the time moving. Easier said than done as a composer.
Much appreciated, thank you. I haven't been playing long. I play bass where there is no written bass line. There are chords and melody. It is helpful to think of them in that way. Quite often I get stuck playing type 1s and 2s (Even if there isn't a drummer!) And quite often feel that this is very boring and limited. But then the songs come up rarely and we don't get a lot of time to practice.
Sometimes less is more, Don't need to overplay if it steps on the vocals or guitar parts- Unless of course you are playing The Who. Then the Drums and Bass dominate the song and the guitar anchors the melody and Rhythm...
V
One word. Primus
The grateful dead all the instruments are equal
Like that invisible pick at 1:43
Literally just picked up the bass! Happened to stumble across your videos! Subscribed!
Of all the bass tutorials on RUclips, and I've watched hundreds. Many dozens of yours. This is of my top 5 EVER. This lesson has stuck with me for years. Thank you.
That's SUPER cool to hear @troysummerill3018. Thanks so much for letting me know.
Hi Luke. I love the sound of your bass, so what's your secret please, eg, cab plus Head or combo maybe and or your settings ? Love to hear from you, cheers for now, Col Atkinson
Hey Colin - there's not much of a secret I'm afraid. I don't actually use an amp when I'm recording the lessons. I just record straight into my interface and sync up the dry audio with the video lesson. No effects, no mixing - just the tone from the bass.
When I play gigs, I use an amp, but I usually set it flat and then EQ to the room. If it's too boomy, I take out some low end and if it's too tinny, I take out some high end. The tone is pretty much the same though - it all comes from that bass!
The secret is he's using fingers instead of a pick, and he has firm control of the muting and tempo. If you keep the notes concise and on time, you'll always sound better.
Cliff Williams from AC/DC was once called 'the eighth note wonder of the world' by GUITAR WORLD Magazine in exclusive interview,he was the least musician on earth I'd expect to see in that magazine
I honestly just discovered your channel just now and I want to say this right here has been such a great help I've been playing bass for a year and I enjoy it I wish I could play acoustic guitar for my fingers will not allow me to but knowing how easy it is for the bass player and everybody makes it sound and makes it feel like it's so Technical and so hard it's actually easy I want to say thank you for your lesson thank you for your guidance on this and also thank you for your Insight very insightful lessons here
Trying to write bass lines has always confused me. This is a great resource to start from. Cheers!
could you demonstrate how these 4 types of lines apply to Cuban tumbao in the Timba style and how the bass works with the piano and percussion? That I would like to see.
is that a touche'?
Awesome. This actually makes sense.
Fantastic! I'm happy you think so too!
Really essential to know no matter if you have played for years. It's helping me alot. Luke ❤
Thank you for this video sir!!! The way u teach and explain is priceless.
Good you know and use the term "Formulaic"
The bassline for "Give it Away" sounds suspiciously like "The Stealer" by Free.
I've only just started learning bass and I've honestly had no experience so these lessons are really helping me, thanks Luke, you're incredible❤️❤️
Many thanks for this, Luke! I've played other instruments (guitar and sax) and I'm just starting to learn bass guitar. This overview really helps me a lot.
Glad it's helping @Mike Morrell - it's always great to hear about people using the ideas from the videos.
You forgot about another common Style/Technik which is: Playing off the bassdrum. I think this should be considered as a standalone between 2 and 3
Interesting - what do you mean by playing 'off' the bass drum? Do you have any examples in mind? I'm curious.
ruclips.net/video/ygLKayPwRZA/видео.html
pgpete - The video you posted is a classic type 4 bass line. It's not monorhythmic (type 1), it's not playing the same rhythm as the bass drum (type 2), and there's nobody else playing that bass line (type 3). It's an independent melody, so I'd say it's a type 4.
Become A Bassist But does a Type 4 Bassline not rather have a sort of hookline character?
The one I remember is from a Patitucci lesson vid with Dave Weckl... cant find it at the moment, sry.
Hey Uli - I think pgpete linked to the video of the Patitucci lesson in his comment above this one. Was it this video? ruclips.net/video/ygLKayPwRZA/видео.html
I replied to that comment above saying that I thought the bass line was still a type 4 because it's still an independent melody. I can see what you're saying though with the relationship between the bass and drums.
Type 4 can be dangerous, last time I saw RHCP (californication tour) the whole concert sounded desperately lacking some type 1 grooving low end, that actually exists on recording. Type 4 is very satisfying for a bassplayers ego, but is to use moderately.
For sure. It can be overused to the point where the song breaks down a bit. This is a common beginner mistake - overplaying all the time without referencing the actual groove enough. I did this for way longer than I'm proud to admit and I still have to reel myself in sometimes.
I think that's probably alot to do with Flea's tone. The vast majority of the low end is covered by the kick drum in RHCP. Even playing his more simple root note based stuff live sounds weak (I love Flea by the way, just always wondered why he's always opted to have so little bottom end because a fair few of their songs would be much more powerful with it)
Blood Sugar Sex Magik has alot more bottom end on the bass then any other RHCP album, but I imagine live he used his usual very low mid and top end heavy tone. Imagine that song slowed down and played by a dub or reggea band, would be well heavy.
Luke so clear and concise even for a very basic bassist like me I've learnt more off you than anybody else more lessons please
Hi Luke, thanks for putting the bassline design approach(es) into perspective. This is also useful for interpreting and evaluating baselines in existing songs by mental categorization. Good stuff!
Best Regards,
Gary.
No worries Gary. I'm happy happy to hear you're finding it all useful. Thanks for watching.
“Let’s go into type 4” And I just am yelling PRIMUS!!!/LES CLAYPOOL
Type 5: Tony Levin
I'm very late to this video, but this helped me out so much! Thank you for this!
My favorite example of type 1 is Kiss me good-bye by Buck-Tick
Yutaka uses two rhythms (then it would be bi-rhythmic haha) and changes them between verses and the chorus, he only adds some fifths on the verse from time to time, and it sounds absolutely amazing
Does everything have to begin and end with "Yeah?" "Nice bass line....Yeah" Sounds amazing.....Yeah.
I see what you mean...yeah.
James Hetfield likes this comment
great vid mate
Cheers Ilias!
Hey bro, we're name mates
Where was this video when I was so desperately learning how to use bass in a song. You just showed how to use the simplest base an have them be so good and explains where it is to use them. Thank Ü!
Just found your channel and subscribed after the first video! Well put together and very helpful for a "learn on my own" bassist. Thank you!
No worries Tyler. Cheers heaps for subscribing too - I really appreciate it!
dear prudence
Root to Fifth style bass line? That's way too common for you not to include! Major oversight my friend!
Are you talking about a country-2 type bass line? Alternating from 1 to the 5th? If that's the case, then that fits nicely into Type 2 because the bass drum would be playing the same rhythm. If the bass drum isn't playing the same rhythm, then that would make it a Type 4.
The types don't have anything to do with specific notes - it's more about how bass lines fit within the context of a song.
Exactly check out Folsom Prison Blues 1 5 15 the fifth is under the root.
I've always heard the Root Fifth relationship as very similar to the kick snare relationship... something to think about.
This subdivision is incorrect just like if I subdivide all people on 4 types: those, who eat, those who having sex, those who have two hands and engineers
Become A Bassist
Great lesson! I love how you re-cap at the end! You are a really good teacher! :)
Thanks friend - I'm happy you enjoyed the lesson!
This was a wonderful lesson! Thank you!
I am a bassist and I don't know what you're talking about. I need more lessons.
@@avatacron60 wash your upper lip then
@@avatacron60 Take your mumbo jumbo and ram it up your snout.
Cliff never overplays and he just supports the song which is important ,unless you're in a band called Primus ha ha
Thomas Farmer cliff is overrated
Nevermind I thought u meant cliff Burton sorry
+Diego Higuera Cliff Burton.....I always though that too....but his use of wah wah in 'Pulling Teeth' was cool
Don't forget Cliff died when he was young only 24 and still growing as a bass player he was a great musician for hes age
How can one tell if Burton was overrated? He was usually so buried in the mix ya couldn't even make out what he was playing.
monorythmic root note bass lines are the bread and butter... You can honestly throw that type of bassline on pretty much ANY song and it will work. Its not gonna grab anybody's attention, it's not gonna stand out from the crowd, but it will work with pretty much anything.
Absolutely @Ryan Wright - if it's functional and works with the song, that's always going to be a good thing, even if it's not the flashiest thing in the world
Great video! Talking about type 4 (if I got it right), Duran Duran's Save a Prayer can be a good example. For me, the bassline there leads the whole song.
You forgot Cliff Burton (Metallica RIP Cliff), Duff McKagan(Guns 'n Roses), Lemmy Kilmister (Motörhead RIP Lemmy ya bastard) and Steve Harris(Iron Maiden). They are known for doing their own thing, but also play with different instruments. I know these were really specific bassists, but you get the idea
I believe the Master of Puppets bassline is just intervals without a link to the other instruments or being a melody. I guess that's a 5th type of bassline ?
bs as well as Orion. That's a type 6, when the bass creates and commands the entire song
GEEZER BUTLER, John Paul Jones,
And what about john paul jones?
No, not really. Cliff mostly followed the guitars while playing sometimes straight up mono rhythmic lines (type 1 + type 3). Obviously he had some amazing fills and clever lines but that's part of type 4. Duff did exactly the same thing. Lemmy mostly played chords on bass because he acted more as a rhythm guitar...but he still played type 1 lines (mono rhythmic, fast lines).
So no, they weren't "doing their own thing". I know you're probably still new to music and those are your idols and there's NOTHING wrong with that. But there's a lot of better bass players out there...
You want guys who did something totally freaky who are very hard to study? James Jamerson, Jaco Pastorius, John Entwistle, Les Claypool...and I'm only mentioning some names the list could go on and on. All of those wrote huge, different basslines who fit the song perfectly. Jamerson was the OG melodic bass player, check out his line in "I was made to love her" by Stevie Wonder. To do that in the 60's you had to be super talented - remember there was no examples of bass playing like that before or any tutorials with tabs.
So what type is reggae bass?
It depends on the song, but a lot of reggae bass lines are type 4 or type 3. There's no hard and fast rules for styles and the types though. You can probably find all 4 in reggae - same as rock, funk, country, jazz etc.
pappa fattig g
Excellent video - very helpful, thanks a lot.
Spector?
Absolutely!
Become A Bassist I've got 3 I love em
This like telling people who want to become racing car drivers that there's only two types of cars in the world - manuals and automatics.
pgpete well what else is there?
Seems to me like he forgot about walking basslines
Might want to watch the whole video TheGuyvatzian. I talk about walking bass lines specifically around 11:25.
OH wow I'm so sorry! My apologies!
How so? This lesson is clearly not intended for very advanced players. If someone wants to become a racing car driver and then goes to 3 driving school classes and complains they haven't taught him how to race, it's his fault for going to the wrong place, not the school's for serving their intended purpose.
I really like this guy he’s super cool at explaining his methods and he’s a great player too
Brilliant teaching! Getting me really pumped to play more! 👇🏻🎸
yeh?
Yeah.
Glad we got that misunderstanding cleared up.
Haha! Me too.
Explain Primus now.
Mostly Type 4 and Type 2 since Claypool typically plays a lead instrument while the guitarist backs the bass by playing mainly type 1 and type 4.
Isaac Riggs Type 5 - Les Claypool
He didn't say those are the only bass lines that exist
Type 4
My Best Attempt
Les Claypool’s Bass Lines
Type I - Rhythmically Follow Chords
Type II - Follow Kick Drum/Drummer
Type III - Follow Instrument
Type IV - Melodic
Too Many Puppies - III/IV
Tommy the Cat - II/IV
Jerry was a Race Car Driver - IV (Bridge II/III)
My Name is Mud - II/IV (Bridge II/III/IV)
Kalamazoo - II/IV
John The Fisherman - IV (Chorus III/IV)
DMV - II/IV (Bridge I)
Welcome to This World - II/III/IV (Bridge I/II)
Mr. Krinkle - II/IV (Pre-Chorus I)
Eleven (II/III/IV)
Excellent explanation and presentation. Thank you.
Very helpful! Thanks for sharing.
*And then Tool/Meshuggah appears.*
Serge Volkov primus.
Tool is often type 4 or 2 or some hybrid. Don't know about Meshuggah but when I listen to them their music seems to be too busy for a type 4 so they're probably one of the other three or some hybrid. Nothing that the video didn't explain.
That's because of lame subdivision. There's no such type "4" without 1, 2 and 3. The thing is though you may have half a song with "type1" but ending which has insane fill through 10 bars and vice versa. 80-90% of ANY bassline EVER is locking with drums and defining chord changes, and this is cool, nothing shameful or something - the feeling when you PROPERLY play root note locked with drums is incredible and similar with sex. Overplayed = bad played
And then wild Lightning Bolt appears
I think this is oversimplified! It won't help you learn bass lines. It's helpful for creating them I guess, but once you know your theory this is a given.
It is a little, but I think this lesson is very much aimed at beginner/intermediate musicians and bassists. I can see this being useful for explaining some basic concepts in thinking of contextually good bassline creation. If you have been playing and thinking about music for years and know basic rhythmic and harmonic theory, then this is indeed obvious stuff and too simple. But to someone with little to no experience in any kind of theory, with maybe a year or two worth of playing under their belt, this could help their approach in thinking about basslines and creating them.
You're absolutely right Steve. It's aimed at the player who doesn't know a ton of theory or the 'obvious' things that players with more experience take for granted.
Anything that organizes your thoughts will help
Yes I agree. After all, everyone learns in a different way and with different understanding. And yes, I understand that the video is aimed at the beginning player. Creating categories and organizing your thoughts is of course always good! I guess my adversity towards categories stems from the fear of loosing individuality in ones play, or missing the interaction with the band, which defines the song. My apologies, for the (admittedly) destructive sounding comment. So, to add a more constructive tenor, I'd just like to add as a tip for all beginning bass players: the interaction between you and the drummer gives the song its character. This is mainly the reason why these 4 categories work. Listen to your drummer (kick and high hat) and your other band mates. If there is a lot going on, maybe its better for you to pedal on one note. If there is lots of space, experiment and go off on tangents (type 4 stuff). You are the (often overheard) center piece of the band. You tie everything together and depending on your choice of how to play with (or against) the group, you will form the nature of the song.
Anyone serious about learning is going find themselves with friends jamming long before it's possible for them to absorb all the theory. I think this is a great way to get beginners to think about their role as a bass player and how they can contribute to a song.
Thank you! This is a very thoughtful and practical analysis. I needed it.
You're welcome Red! I'm happy it helped!
Become A Bassist, I liked how you broke down the bass lines by how they functioned in the context of a band rather than by music styles. I found myself nodding my head a lot through the video. It was easy to draw my own comparisons even between bass lines of different musical genres when I noticed the functional commonalities between them. Also, I'm finding this more applicable to arranging bass lines for songs I'm writing rather than worrying about whether my bass line "fits" the genre/style. Thanks again! This is good stuff!
Absolutely! You can find all the different types in all different genres. It's all about what the song wants rather than any 'rules' about a certain style of music. It's great to hear you're using the ideas from the video too - that's fantastic!
John Wetton's bass on King Crimson's "Starless" is the ultimate example of the type 4 . Fripp's guitar is simply strumming chords while Wetton plays the lead line on the bass. It is one of the most haunting tracks in the history of progressive rock and considered by most Crimson fans as the highlight of their career..
#1 Play anything you want.