Annoying Twit Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Are there any interesting bass lines which are basically rootnote only? "Interesting" in any particular way, though clearly rhythm is probably going to have something to do with it. I can think of "One of these Days" by Pink Floyd, which I presume fits, but are there others? I'd appreciate hearing people say why they think the bass line is interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrenleepoole Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Most fat dub tracks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodaxe Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 [quote name='Annoying Twit' post='948164' date='Sep 7 2010, 12:00 PM']Are there any interesting bass lines which are basically rootnote only? "Interesting" in any particular way, though clearly rhythm is probably going to have something to do with it. I can think of "One of these Days" by Pink Floyd, which I presume fits, but are there others? I'd appreciate hearing people say why they think the bass line is interesting.[/quote] Most of Cliff Williams' career has been spent following the root. Boring? Nah. Same goes for Alan Lancaster & a fair swedge of Roger Glover. The rest of the band can rock, but only [i]we[/i] can make it roll. P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Anything by Status Quo and ZZ Top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Relax - FGTH, just for the sheer bloody mindedness of a one note bassline, and the fact that it somehow makes for a brilliant song... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 [quote name='derrenleepoole' post='948178' date='Sep 7 2010, 12:16 PM']Most fat dub tracks [/quote] Nah, most good dub pedals around root 5th octave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrenleepoole Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 [quote name='silddx' post='948190' date='Sep 7 2010, 12:26 PM']Nah, most good dub pedals around root 5th octave.[/quote] Close enough though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue is a master at this. Sometimes he not only sticks with the root note, he doesn`t even follow the guitar on root notes, staying with the original. For example, Looks That Kill, Mick Mars does G, F#, E, all in bar-chords, the Sixxster stays with a G all the way thru. Very simple, but very effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 RATS!RATS!RATS! Deftones. Stunning, in all senses of that word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stag Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Most of Knights Of Cydonia is all root stuff, yet it modulates a couple of times and is an interesting line to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 I'd been struggling with root notes. When we wrote a song I'd try and desperately tart up the bass lines all over the shop when the best one is often the root played rhythmically. (I blame Basschatters turning up at gigs) If it's just the root and it sounds good for that bit of the song I'll go with it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Simple Minds, Waterfront Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 [quote name='toneknob' post='948221' date='Sep 7 2010, 01:00 PM']Simple Minds, Waterfront [/quote] +1000000, fantastic sound, great bassline. Also +1000000 with the Cliff Williams stuff. Remember kids, just because you can, doesn't mean you should... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted September 7, 2010 Author Share Posted September 7, 2010 Since there appears to be no synth-a-phobia on this forum, how about this sequenced line. Are there any interesting root-only basslines that don't play on the downbeat of the bar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 I was thinking of more mundane lines...like a country root-5th line. To make that interesting and perky, I would drop the beats behind the 1,2,3 and 4. How basic do you want to make it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urban Bassman Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 [quote name='51m0n' post='948188' date='Sep 7 2010, 12:26 PM']Relax - FGTH, just for the sheer bloody mindedness of a one note bassline, and the fact that it somehow makes for a brilliant song... [/quote] Apparently the original demo version of the song had much more of slap-type bass line and very busy, but Trevor "Buggles" Horn pared it down to the bare minimum. Proof that less is more I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 I find it surprisingly difficult playing root only bass lines not to put in extra notes. It's a worthwhile lesson in restraint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 (edited) I know it's not entirely a root bass line, but it's a very good lesson on how to play a killer bass line whilst keeping it minimal! Edited September 7, 2010 by skej21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmshaw37 Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 holy war by thin lizzy! awesome rhythm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Billy Idol - Rebel Yell The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary Nuff said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 [quote name='urban Bassman' post='948335' date='Sep 7 2010, 02:42 PM']Apparently the original demo version of the song had much more of slap-type bass line and very busy, but Trevor "Buggles" Horn pared it down to the bare minimum. Proof that less is more I guess.[/quote] That'll be this then: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhdlEf_4BU0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhdlEf_4BU0[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcordez Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 The Pixies. Take your pick, 'Gigantic' 'Where is my Mind?', any of 'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sausage Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 (edited) I think the whole less is more/ restraint argument is a load of old bollocks. It completely depends on what you are playing. Sometimes stuff needs more not less and if you don't play it you are compromising the music. Conversely, if you are shredding over a piece that doesn't need it you are a tosser and ruining the music! obvious i know, but when people say less is more its like a mantra but it don't apply to everything! Edited September 7, 2010 by Lord Sausage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 I think there are a million examples. I know where Lord Sausage is coming from in the above post but it depends completely on the song & the style. The song I'd bring to the table is Son Volt's Down to the Wire from American Central Dust. It was one of those lines I loved so much that I decided to work it out only to then be saying "Oh, is that it?" Beautiful song that is bass led Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 I always felt that this had a certain something (depite not being a Macca fan): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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