Bass Seminar • Ideas for TASTEFULLY going beyond the root

note • Based around ’10,000 Reasons’• All material taken from the Musicademy DVD

video lessons also available via our streaming site 

Bass Seminar

• All material taken from the Musicademy DVD video lessons  

10,000 Reasons: Verse 2

Beyond marking chords

Use 8th notes to add tension and release

Divide the bar length – half low half high

10,000 Reasons: Chorus 3

Kick Drum • Clap the kick drum with track then in isolation

with drums • Clap the groove - which beats are the bass

groove on?

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

10,000 Reasons: The Groove

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a/ / / / / (/ /)

10,000 Reasons: Chorus chords

|A E |B/D# C#m |A E |B riff ||A C#m |A B C#m |A B |E |

Tasteful Additions • Ghost Notes

• Passing Notes – step wise (7ths and 2nds) – chromatic – between 4th and 5th – Using the 5th – v important!

• Riffs

10,000 Reasons: Riffs - Note choice

• Riffs should be based around chords not scales

• recommended riff notes - 1st 3rd 5th 7th 8th (octave)

• Major chords - note choice order = 5th below, 5th above, octave, 7th 2nd p3rd in that order

10,000 Reasons: Chorus 3 Riffs

Riff 1 (B chord) – 5th and octave ‘power chord’ shape – Use 2nd (9th to add colour)

Riff 2 (B chord) - ‘pull’ riff using 6th 2nd 1st (then passing

note to new A chord)

10,000 Reasons: Chorus 4

• 8th notes in from verse 3 • Ghost and passing notes

• Riff 1 (B chord) as per chorus 3 • Riff 2 (E chord) chord tones = 3 4 3 2 1 5 1 • Riff 3 (B chord) chord tones = 3 4 3 2 1 6 5

Which sounds better - Riff 2 or 3?

10,000 Reasons: Chorus 4 turnaround

• Minor chord riffs - Feature b7th and b3rd

Chord tones 1 1 7 1 3 1

E scale for understanding notes to use

Scale 1 2 3 4 5 6 7Notes E F# G# A B C# D#Chord maj min min maj maj min dim7th maj min min min dom min ½ dim (b7)

basic chord (triad) makeup 1 E F# G# A B C# D#3 G# A B C# D# E F#5 B C# D# E F# G# A

7th D# E F# G# A B C#name maj7 min7 min7 maj7 dom7 min7 ½ dim (b7) 

10,000 Reasons: Outro

Playing in a higher register

• Works with a more delicate dynamic • Gives room for more melodic phrasing– Still always focus on chord tones

• Works well when the drums have stopped

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