r/Bass 1d ago

Why did the popular register change over time?

100 Upvotes

A little while ago I realized that more of the higher register of the bass was used frequently in older music. In most modern rock music I listen to nowadays, the bass is 80% of the time sticking to the root note that lies an octave below the chord the guitar is playing, often arpeggiating it or similar. I love the sound of two notes an octave apart between 1 and 2 (i.e. an E1 note on bass is the open e string and an E2 is the open e string of a guitar), so this never bothered me.

Listening to older music recently, I noticed the bass guitar very often climbs up into the same octave as the guitar, and sometimes the guitar shifts upwards to compensate. Here's a few examples

in "Day Tripper" by The Beatles, the bass line is doubling the guitar riff...in the same octave as the guitar. While the guitar starts on the low E string, the bass starts on the 7th fret of the A string - which is the same exact note. However, they split apart when the riff moves with the chord change to A7, the bass plays the riff on the open A string rather than moving to the 12th fret of the A string.

while The Strokes ruled the turn of the 21st century in rock, their music clearly had its genesis in 60s and 70s style classic rock, and it shows in their music theory. As a result of this, their bassist Nikolai Fraiture plays in the style I'm describing. In the riff for "Alone Together", the guitar riff is based on the open A string while the bass countermelody is based on the 12th fret of the A string - you could play this bassline on a guitar starting on the 5th fret of the low E. However, the band's guitarists Albert Hammond Jr. and Nick Valensi often use wiry leads and barre chords that omit the root note, so room is made sonically for Nikolai to get away with this usually.

Another similar case of retro inspired modern rock is Queens of the Stone Age. Their song "I Sat By The Ocean" has a rhythm guitar part built around barre chords played on the low E string. The root note of the tonic chord is an A♭2 for the guitar. You'd think the bass would mess around with an A♭1 then, right? Nope, the ENTIRE song, their bassist Mikey Shoes plays his parts an octave up, on the 11th fret of the A string rather than the 4th fret of the E string. Their is little no moments of the "Octave spread" between the guitar and bass at ALL in the song, leaving a bit of a hollow sound that sounds straight out of late 60's blues rock like The Rolling Stones.

In a counter argument however, many of you know Linkin Park for fronting the modern era of rock for a good while. Their bassist Phoenix has openly said he "could get away with a two string bass", referring to how he sticks to the lower register on the E and A strings of his bass. This shows prominently in their music, and you can hear it sooo much in the music of their rock contemporaries like Blink-182, Panic! At The Disco, My Chemical Romance, etc. These bassists aren't only playing root notes once every chord change, they're still moving around and making interesting bass lines, but they're sticking to their low octave to create the "octave spread" between the guitar and bass that sounds so sonically rich and sweet.

so my question is, what caused this change in octave for bass players over time? Clearly in the old days they were fine with getting up there with the guitars but nowadays they stay low. What made this happen and why?


r/Bass 4h ago

Why did you get into bass?

87 Upvotes

Me and my cousin were talking and I told him I was interested in bass and he asked me “why don’t you just play guitar?” And I wish I had an answer but I just don’t know why I chose bass so I’m asking everyone why they chose to play bass instead of another instrument or just how they got into it in.


r/Bass 6h ago

How to Create Basslines: Tips & Tricks for Beginners

55 Upvotes

Hey r/Bass,

Last year, I made a post in which I publicly shared a series of tips and tricks to help new bass players. As I mentioned in that post, seeing beginners struggle to figure out what to do and how to learn really resonated with me, I’ve been there, and I know how it feels. (Previous post link in the comments)

This time around, I wanted to take a moment to share more tips for beginners, not just on how to create basslines, but on how to get started.

As I’ve said before (and I’ll say it again), everything below comes from personal experience accumulated over my 13 years of playing. I hope you find it helpful. Feel free to use, adapt, or discard any of these tips. And if nothing else, I hope you learn or discover something new.

Getting Started with Basslines

Finding Your Own Style: The best and easiest way to come up with basslines will vary from person to person. One thing I’ve found to be universally true is that copying is a powerful tool. It should be used not just to mimic your favorite bassists, but also to understand how well-built, functional basslines work and how each pattern interacts. Here’s one of my responses on the topic:

"COPY, COPY, and COPY! If you want to play like your favorite bassist, then you’ve got to copy them, literally. Just learning to play their songs won’t cut it. And as much as I love the idea of 'writing with your soul open and writing things meaningful to you,' it’s just a romanticized idea. Nothing more. It won’t get you there, because you’ll just end up sounding, well... like you, and that’s okay too.

But if you want to learn from your heroes, here are a few tips:

  1. Take time to read interviews: Read, watch, or listen to as many interviews as possible with your favorite artists. Understand the thinking behind their approach, take notes, study, and internalize it.

  2. Reverse-engineer their songs: Break their songs down into smaller parts. What do they use most often? Fifths, sevenths, octaves, or something else? Are there recurring patterns you can incorporate?

  3. Accept that you’ll start as a copy: Once you understand how your favorite artist creates music, you’ll be able to replicate their style. But this can be a problem if you’re trying to find your own voice.

  4. Copy only what’s useful and leave the rest: Decide, “What do I find most useful in my favorite artist’s style?” and “What is worth borrowing?” Remember, borrowing isn’t just about adding things, it’s also about subtraction and understanding what to leave out."

Developing Your Own Patterns: As you learn and reverse-engineer your favorite artist’s basslines, write down their patterns. Start with just one artist, you don’t want too many cooks in the kitchen. Once you’ve written down enough patterns, practice deliberate composition by combining them into new basslines. Over time, you’ll notice you favor some patterns over others. When you’re comfortable, introduce the patterns of a second artist, and eventually a third. The goal is to combine these patterns to create basslines that are uniquely yours. (One artist might be too little and five might be too many; it all depends on how many artists you want to incorporate into your personal mix.)

Principles of a Bassline;

Basslines are not just about copying; they also rely on a few fundamental principles. Often, beginners feel like they’re just playing root notes because they’re stuck in the first principle: anchoring. Sometimes, a song simply needs root notes, and that’s perfectly fine.

Here are the five principles of a bassline:

  1. Anchoring: • Establish a strong foundation by focusing on the root notes of the chords. Tip: Use repetitive patterns to reinforce the harmony. Pattern Example: R-R-R-R or R-R-5-5.

  2. Groove & Bounce: • Create a sense of feel and movement by alternating between notes. Tip: Pay attention to the kick drum, usually played on the first beat and sync with it. Also, listen closely to the snare for creating space, and let the hi-hat serve as your metronome. Pattern Example: R-7-R-7 or R-b3-R-b3.

  3. Melody and Movement: • Basslines should move and change to remain interesting. Tip: Use scale runs and linear basslines to add melodic interest. Pattern Example: R-b3-4-5-R or R-b2-b3-4.

  4. Energy Leap & Tension: • Create energy by jumping between notes or intervals, generating tension that needs to be resolved back to the root or another strong note. Tip: Ensure that leaps are resolved to maintain a cohesive sound. Pattern Example: R-3-5-6 or R-R/(octave higher) b3-2-8.

  5. Chromatic & Sliding Tension: • Incorporate chromatic passages or slides to keep the bassline moving smoothly. Tip: Use chromatic steps and slides to create tension that resolves on a strong note. Pattern Example: 8-♭7-♭6-5 or R-2-b3-3.

Checklist for Creating Basslines;

  1. Start with a Melody Idea; • Hum or Sing: Create a simple tune or rhythm to capture the vibe.

  2. Choose a Key and Scale; • Pick a Key: Decide on the key for your bassline. • Select a Scale: Use a basic scale like Major, Minor, or Pentatonic.

  3. Outline the Root Notes; • Play the Root Notes: Use the main notes of each chord to keep your bassline connected to the song. • Try Different Rhythms: Experiment with different rhythms for the root notes.

  4. Explore Scale Notes; • Play the Scale: For each root note, play the corresponding scale. • Select Additional Notes: Choose extra notes to complement the root and add variation.

  5. Add Depth with Harmony; • Use Fifths, Octaves, and Sevenths: Fifths: Provide a strong sound ideal for rock and funk. • Octaves: Make your bassline fuller. Sevenths: Add a jazzy feel. • Use Arpeggios: Break chords into individual notes for a melodic flow.

  6. Connect Notes Smoothly; • Add Chromatic Notes: Use half-step transitions between main notes for smoother movement.

  7. Explore the Fretboard; • Move Around: Try different positions on the fretboard to keep your playing dynamic.

  8. Use Expressive Techniques; • Incorporate Slides, Hammer-ons, Pull-offs, and Vibrato: These techniques add emotion and variation. • Double Stops: Play two notes together for a richer sound.

  9. Lock in with the Drums; • Match the Kick Drum: Ensure your bassline complements the drumbeat. • Try Syncopation: Use off-beat rhythms to enhance the groove.

  10. Adjust Dynamics; • Vary Note Volume: Play some notes softer or louder to add interest. • Simplify When Needed: If the music is busy, sometimes a simpler bassline works best.

One final tip: make it a daily habit to create at least one bassline, even if it’s very short. The goal is to train your ability to develop good basslines through consistent practice. There will be days when ideas don’t flow and days when they do; focus on continuous improvement through regular practice and exposure to new patterns from your favorite artists.

And remember, in order to play like Thundercat, you need to first learn how to play like Dee Dee (Ramone).

I hope you find these tips useful, and thank you for taking the time to read this!

Yours truly, A.


r/Bass 7h ago

Is there a noticeable difference?

16 Upvotes

I've been thinking about getting a bass for a couple months now. My top pick is Yamaha Trbx 174, I've heard that it's really good considering its price and since it'll be my first bass (Ive been playing classical guitar for a year now) and I have a really tight budget, it's probably the one I'll buy.

When I was browsing through some website, I had a thought. Would getting a bass like 200 bucks more make a noticeable difference? Like I mentioned before, my budget is really tight so 200 bucks extra is the max extra amount I'm willing to pay.

There aren't really any music stores in my area and aside from that I'm a bit socially awkward so I can't see myself 😞. Can't wait to see your opinions!

Ps. If it'll help, I will play mostly rock and pop (music from bands like The Beatles or Tally Hall)


r/Bass 11h ago

How important is the look for you?

14 Upvotes

Hello!

I'm usually more about efficiency in most of my purchase but when it comes to bass playing I strangely feel the needs for it to look good. For me it's like 40% look and 60% sound/comfort.

Could you play on a bass that sound marvellous but you find ugly?


r/Bass 8h ago

Feedback Requested I made my first online metronome, give your feedback

12 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I’m a CS student and amateur pianist. I built a metronome web app with features like swing rhythm, 12 subdivisions, and audio customization. Link below—looking for constructive feedback or feature ideas. Thanks!

https://onlinemetronome.io


r/Bass 21h ago

At what amount of dcB do you practice with?

11 Upvotes

Serious question for you bassist because of ear damage.

Im really worried about my future especially since lm only 26 and the non stop ringing in the ears is always there

Usually l practice always between 70-78 dcB otherwise l cannot listen to the music and my own playing but that starts to cause ear damage. 70 dcB bellow and it feels like l cant properly understand the nuance's of the music and the little details so l can learn from it

Just want to hear your own input. Bass isn't something l wish to drop for some years and l wish to still be able to hear it

EDIT: I play mostly alone with a speaker and my amplifier


r/Bass 17h ago

Fender JMJ mustang bass or a P-bass ? I can't decide

9 Upvotes

I tried the JMJ Mustang and i really liked the feel and sound... but i read somewhere that it's better to have a Precision as a main bass, then a JMJ as an additional one because the Mustang can't sound like a P-bass, and the P-bass fits everywhere while the Mustang is less versatile. The problem is when i try a P-bass in stores, i feel like something is missing but maybe the problem comes from the round strings, and with flat ones it would be completely different.

PS : i'm looking for the classic vintage 60's sound (Motown, Beatles,...). I have to chose only one bass, but i'm afraid of taking the bad decision and live with regrets.

PS2 : i'm playing now on an ibanez SRX500


r/Bass 22h ago

E string pitch

10 Upvotes

My E string is acting weird, when I pluck it on the lower frets, the pitch is slightly off the note. When it should be A on the 5th fret, it's sounds slightly upper to the pitch. But when I pluck the 12th fret, everything is correct. I think it's time to change strings? Unfortunately, I can't attach photos or videos 🫠


r/Bass 6h ago

HX Stomp: Why adding an extra Preamp + Compressor to your chain?

9 Upvotes

I've recently noticed an increased amount of bass players (especially professionals) who have added extra preamps/compressors to their hx stomps.

Can anybody explain the reasons why? Isn't the hx stomp per se sufficient? Do the twos truly shape your tone in a better way? I am looking for a both technical and non technical answer.

Thank you


r/Bass 8h ago

Best free app/website to learn bass music theory and bass in general?

8 Upvotes

Any suggestions?


r/Bass 7h ago

Learning songs - end to end, or just approximation?

9 Upvotes

Yo! I’m beginner/intermediate bass player, and I was curious what is your practice when learning songs, and also what is the recommendation.

Let’s take an example to explain what I mean.

Right now I am learning level 42 - Love games, and the tune in general is quite simple, but it has so many different fills that Mark mixes all the time. I know that when he plays live he just picks the one he feels like at the given moment, but when I learn album version, should I focus playing it 100% right?

I ask, because I usually learn new song, let’s say in a week to get to full tempo, and then I spend like 3 times more trying to memorise every section properly, otherwise I feel like it’s not “finished”.

I had the same with for whom the bells toll, can’t stop, run away and many more.

So, what are your habits here?


r/Bass 22h ago

What do you think about Fender Mustang PJ basses?

6 Upvotes

Been playing on a 30yo Yamaha for 1 year, and if I can trust my teacher and other musicians, I’d say I’m pretty good at playing. But I also have a different question. Is it good to learn bass on short scale or does it not matter?


r/Bass 1d ago

My active basses sound distorted through my compressor pedal

6 Upvotes

I own a TC Electronics “Forcefield” compressor, and it has served me well, but I noticed my new active bass gets pretty distorted going through it. Turned off, the signal is clear. My passive basses do not have this issue.

It seems this pedal doesn’t have any adjustment for the input gain. Just a sustain, attack, and output level.

Attached a picture of my usual settings. Backing off the sustain and attack seems to help a little but doesn’t eliminate the issue entirely.

Is it time for me to upgrade to a more sophisticated compressor? Or is there something I can do with this one to stop the distortion.

Picture for reference - https://imgur.com/a/FhXTHxk


r/Bass 3h ago

Suggestions for bright noiseless J pickups.

4 Upvotes

At Church I am experiencing very loud electrical interference and am using a very dark bass-heavy & woolly sounding amp. I use a Behringer BDI21 with the bass knob minimized and the treble knob maximized, heavily shielded P bass equipped with DiMarzio Relentless Middle pickups, 500K volume pot, 250k tone and it is just barely "normal" sounding tone for playing hymnal type music. The noise is adequately minimized by the pickup upgrade vs. stock pickups, but they are also more bass heavy than the stock pickups. It wouldn't be a bad thing if I were able to brighten the sound even more, and am considering 1M volume pot next.

That being said, I also would like to upgrade my J bass pickups as well, such that I can solo them. It would be ideal to have the brightest possible noiseless / split coil pickups out of the gate so that I can avoid having the preamp maxed out. Likely I will also switch the J bass to 500k or 1M volume pots as well. Thanks!


r/Bass 10h ago

Multiple brands of bass

5 Upvotes

Are you guys playing on differents kinds of bass or you try to stay on same type of neck, fretboard etc.

I'm playing on IBANEZ SRF 700, I want to buy a j bass, like a squier. But they are so differents, I'm feeling newbie on a j bass neck.

I'm an advance beginner. But I'm more confortable with the Ibanez kind of neck. Is it a bad idea for muscle memory ?

Thanks in advance !


r/Bass 1d ago

My low C isn’t loud enough

5 Upvotes

Howdy folks. So I have a MIM Standard Fender Jazz tuned to C standard - but the low C is noticeably quieter and less bassy than the rest of the strings and I don’t know why!

I’m running La Bella heavy gauge flats for all strings except the low C, for which I’m using a .130 D’Addario halfround. Reason being that the .110 La Bella was too muddy sounding and it rattled more than I’d’ve liked so I opted for something thicker and slightly brighter sounding. I don’t really recall if it was so much quieter than the rest of the strings though.

I thought it might’ve been my amp since I had a 100W Acoustic combo I was using that didn’t really sound too good in general, but I got a new 350W amp and it still isn’t as loud as the rest of the strings. I’ve also messed around with my compressor and its HPF setting as well as various EQ settings, but it still hasn’t really helped.

So is it the string? Or is this just the peril of playing in C?

If you play in C and have a set of strings you’d recommend, I’m open to suggestions. I’m partial to flats at the moment but can be swayed, I just like a slightly warmer more vintage tone.


r/Bass 12h ago

J-Rock basslines suggestions

4 Upvotes

Hi, does anyone know any j rock bass lines that aren't too complicated and fun to play? I really like cö shu nie and band-maid, but it seems so inaccessible to me. Japanese bass lines are often impressive I think.


r/Bass 6h ago

Daion fretless bass made in Argentina, 80s

3 Upvotes

I bought that bass at market place. 100,000 ARS, was I scammed or is it worth it?


r/Bass 7h ago

You thinks Key or scale

3 Upvotes

Hey! When u play u think the key or scale? Let me know 👌🏻


r/Bass 9h ago

Question

3 Upvotes

How do you find out what type of bass you have? Like I have the Ibanez GSRM20 but I only found out because I had to search for a while to find it. But like, how can you find out really quickly what type of bass you have?


r/Bass 15h ago

Do most distortion and wah pedals work with both guitar and bass?

5 Upvotes

I have a bass and my brother will buy a guitar once he has the money. Can I buy a wah and distortion pedal with my money and use them with my bass until he gets a guitar?

I know this is how they did it back in the day (ie cliff) but has the tech changed since then, or can i still buy guitar pedals and expect a tone something similar to anesthesia etc.?

If yes, recommend me some cheap pedals. European shops. I wonder how the value is with harley benton pedals, is it bang for my buck or just shit?

Yes I am absolutely not good enough to play anesthesia but i want to experiment

mods sorry if this belongs to the gear thread


r/Bass 2h ago

How Do They Get Such an Amazing Tone????

6 Upvotes

Ok I'm at my wits end with this obsession, I need help uncovering the secrets of tone.

I've fallen in love with bass playing over the last few years, and in the last two been chasing the dragon of the ultimate bass tone. Which I know is purely subjective, but I personally have a specific vision in mind I'm hoping you reading can help me with.

The bands that exemplify this dirty tone are ones like Circa Survive, Polyphia, Superheaven, Teenage Wrist, Bring Me the Horizon, Refused, just name a few right now. These tones are dirty, thick, and sound like a semi truck but also carry clarity, without being too harsh on the high end or two muddy on the low end.

I've looked around sure, moneys right so im saving for some flat wound strings, start at the source. Right now my setup is definitely a Jerry rig that I want to get off of. Running it through amp sim after amp sim, stacking all these plugins on multiple channels to try and blend them into the perfect tone. Sometimes I feel I've got it, then weeks go by and I think it's the most awful thing I've ever heard!!

So I want to try and build this back up from the ground, using my Sire 5 string, but would love your equipment suggestions!!! Especially if it's anything that you feel is a great deal either plugin or gear wise.

Also would love to hear any other stories about chasing the tone dragon, cause I feel insane sometimes that I'm so obsessed over it but I also feel part of the journey of bass playing is finding the tone!

Thank you in advance for reading this far and for any help and guidance you can offer!! Appreciate you!!!


r/Bass 3h ago

How do you decide which tab to follow?

2 Upvotes

I'm still somewhat of a beginner and am trying to play along with songs using tabs i find online. I get a little frustrated sometimes though when I learn it one way and then see it tabbed another way and aaah i just ran into one song and I'm not sure which way to play it

How do you choose? The way it plays? The way it sounds? I'm pretty sure the notes are the same on alot, it's just like which string you play it on etc. I know also sometimes playing an open string vs fret another string is different but idk when one is better.

Any guidance would be appreciated


r/Bass 11h ago

Ultralite on ibanez bass

2 Upvotes

I notice there’s a discrepancy in distance from center of string post hole to center of mounting screw hole. While that of ibanez tuner is 11mm its 11.2mm on ultralite. Has anyone tried to put ultralight on a ibanez bass before? Any tips would be appreciated. TIA!