I can't write a decent bassline to save my life

[abzgroup]

Where do I even start? When I write something, the best I can usually do is the root of the chord in some uninteresting, repetitive rhythm. Whenever I try to add something to my bassline, it just comes out sounding all wrong, completely not fitting the feel of anything I write at all.

I guess I'm just looking for some advice for where to start, and what kind of things I should be studying and experimenting with. I'm absolutely lost when it comes to basslines, and anything at all would help.

If you know and understan music theory then write write what comes to your mind and then tweek it to fit the cherd structure

[abzgroup]

Where do I even start? When I write something, the best I can usually do is the root of the chord in some uninteresting, repetitive rhythm. Whenever I try to add something to my bassline, it just comes out sounding all wrong, completely not fitting the feel of anything I write at all.

I guess I'm just looking for some advice for where to start, and what kind of things I should be studying and experimenting with. I'm absolutely lost when it comes to basslines, and anything at all would help.

If you know and understand music theory than write what comes to your mind and then tweek it to fit the chord structure. 1,3,5 chord notes are the easiest to start. Then you can add notes that lie between them and add the kind of rhythm which you fits your style.

[mleghorn]

Performing this kind of exercise on a piano might help you: Start with C in the bass, and a C major triad in the right hand. Slowly descend down the C major scale in the bass (left hand), while finding the chord in the right hand that sounds right with the left hand, and took the least amount of finger motion to get to. In some instances you may choose to hold the chord in the right hand for two or more bass notes. You can experiment. This exercise will help you break out of the boring C-G-C-G-C etc... pattern.

Mike

[Integratron]

If you have a turntable and LPs, play they LPs at 45RPM or 78RPM.

If you don't have the luxury of an analog system with LPs, record a track from your CD player into your favorite DAW. Then increase the playback speed of the DAW.

The idea here is to bring the bass pattern into a range that is easier to hear. Depending on the source material, the notes may go by rather quickly but consider that as speed learing.

[djminus1]

Here is an interesting method for those who do not have alot of keyboard experience but want to program bass lines.

Hook up a mic and record an audio bass track with sounds from your mouth. Use it as a template as you attempt to recreate it in your sequencer. I have done this before in Ableton when I was really stuck. This also keeps you from forgetting a melody that you have in your head.