Figuring out the bass line from guitar chords

[REDLAWMAN]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a complete beginner having just bought my first bass two days ago.

I've managed to learn where the notes are on the fretboard and I'm practising some major chords.

I've looked everywhere for the bass tabs for The Everly Brothers' 'Ebony Eyes', but all I can find is the guitar chords.

Would anyone be able to help me and advise me just how you figure out the bass line from this please?

Many thanks

[essexbasscat]

Yep, no problem.

Listen to it. Work out the notes.

You'll go far further this way by training your ear instead of using TAB.

Cue arguments.

T

[xilddx]

[quote name='REDLAWMAN' post='866169' date='Jun 13 2010, 05:03 PM']Hi Everyone,

I'm a complete beginner having just bought my first bass two days ago.

I've managed to learn where the notes are on the fretboard and I'm practising some major chords.

I've looked everywhere for the bass tabs for The Everly Brothers' 'Ebony Eyes', but all I can find is the guitar chords.

Would anyone be able to help me and advise me just how you figure out the bass line from this please?

Many thanks[/quote]
Welcome pilgrim

It's fairly straightforward, mostly root notes and octaves but with little scale runs connecting the main root notes together. All simple scale note runs, nothing chromatic going on. It's the youtube medley at the reunion gig I just watched. Try playing along with the song and get the root notes first. Then try figuring out the scale runs. You will learn a lot that way and develop your ears. Try singing along with the bass line and then learn where they are on the bass and try to remember the note names. With the chord chart for this it should be quite easy to figure out the scales used in the song and from there work out the little connecting runs.

Good luck man, it's a lovely song.

Edited June 13, 2010 by silddx

[REDLAWMAN]

A little bit beyond the scope of my ability at this point, I fear...!!

Do I just play the notes as indicated for the guitar and then panic when it says A7 or D7...???

[JTUK]

For starters use those gtr chords as the root notes of the bass lines.
When you get confident try using the notes of those chords to embellish the line and 'walk' to the next chord.
These are passing notes...as you pass from chord to another.

Learn basic scales and the 8 notes that constitute them over an octave.
Common tricks to tart up bass lines are triads...root, third and fifth.

Once you have deciphered what I have said..they are your building blocks.

[6stringbassist]

Tab's a total waste of time.

If you know the notes on the fretboard then use that knowledge together with the guitar chords to work the bass line out.

[REDLAWMAN]

Silddx,

Thank you very much for doing that and yes, I think so too.

[xilddx]

[quote name='REDLAWMAN' post='866187' date='Jun 13 2010, 05:20 PM']A little bit beyond the scope of my ability at this point, I fear...!!

Do I just play the notes as indicated for the guitar and then panic when it says A7 or D7...??? [/quote]
That's right.

Chords like Am7 or D7 or Em9Add11 don't matter to you, all you need is the big letter at the beginning of the chord name. Play that note on the bass, ie. the "root" note.

Thus [b]A[/b]m7 or [b]D[/b]7 or [b]E[/b]m9Add11

It doesn't matter whether the chord is major, minor, suspended, augmented or diminished. If you play the note at the beginning of the chord name, it will always be the right note. This is pretty much how we all start on bass. Then you will start adding the octave, like it is in the song. Then you'll play about with fifths. After that it gets more tricky and you need to know some theory, or rely on having good ears. Preferably both, and you should really attempt to learn how to read too.

When you start graduating to playing other notes in the scale, that's when it does start to matter whether the chord is major, minor, suspended, augmented or diminished, as the notes in the scale will be different, so if you play the 7th note in A minor that note is G, whereas in A major it is G sharp. Normal Minor scale has flat 3rds, 6ths and 7ths. Learn the major scale and pay attention to the intervals, ie. the distance between the note and the next note. Whole tone or a semi-tone. Then learn the minor scale in the same key and see how those intervals differ from the major. When you've done that you'll really have learned something very useful that will springboard you to the next step.

EDIT, I meant to say intervals like flat this and sharp that are derived from the major scale. So if I play an A major scale with a sharp 4th, that means I am playing D# instead of D, which turns it into a the lydian mode (don't worry about modes yet). Lydian is just a major scale with a sharp 4th.

I might suggest you look at this when you start learning a bit of theory [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=74284"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=74284[/url]. It's amazing!

Edited June 13, 2010 by silddx

[REDLAWMAN]

I really appreciate everyone's help. Thanks very much indeed.

Much to learn and plenty to go on.

[Kongo]

[quote name='REDLAWMAN' post='866281' date='Jun 13 2010, 07:15 PM']I really appreciate everyone's help. Thanks very much indeed.

Much to learn and plenty to go on.[/quote]

Enjoy this time, when everything is new its great as you learn and expand and find things exiting and you keep focus and continue.
The only thing to stop you is difficulty and confusion but learn to get past these (time will help) and your on your way to enjoying the best gift life can offer!

[witterth]

Isn't silddx just the nicest guy out there?
Makes me sick!
(good man Nige!!)