Bass-scale that always "fits" ?

[KoolFartWind]

Dear fellows,

since I am not blessed with a fine-granular hearing, I cannot pinpoint the scale of a certain melody-sample I use, I am left with trusting my "feeling" about which scale for the bass to use. (Could not find any info about the sample-track yet.) After mixing it all together it appears that some notes obviously are disharmonic. Therefore my question, is there a bass-scale which almost always fit ? I would try this one then.

It is an orchestral sample I use

Every push into the right direction is appreciated, thank in advance !

KFW

[gdev1981]

C Lydian b7

fo' sho'

[wrench45us]

there's really no such thing as a universal always fit sbass scale

you'll just have to work it out by ear
it may help to play the bass part an octave or two higher to better hear how it fits.

if you could link to the sample, there are people who have ears enough to tell you what's going on, but in the long run it may be better to work it out yourself

[KoolFartWind]

C Lydian b7

fo' sho'

thanks a lot, it worked like a charm ! I think I'll always take that scale from now on.

there's really no such thing as a universal always fit sbass scale

you'll just have to work it out by ear
it may help to play the bass part an octave or two higher to better hear how it fits.

if you could link to the sample, there are people who have ears enough to tell you what's going on, but in the long run it may be better to work it out yourself

Thanks for the tip ! I'll try that at home and perhaps post the track if I'm stuck.

[gdev1981]

C Lydian b7

fo' sho'

thanks a lot, it worked like a charm ! I think I'll always take that scale from now on.

Err, really? Well I'm glad I could help!

[Ogg Vorbis]

Err, really? Well I'm glad I could help!

Thanks from me too! The C Lydian b7 scale saved my marriage. No more E.D.! I owe you big time.

[gdev1981]

Err, really? Well I'm glad I could help!

Thanks from me too! The C Lydian b7 scale saved my marriage. No more E.D.! I owe you big time.

Hey no worries!

When you find something good, it feels good to share it around!

always here to help

[tehlord]

I suspect that if you can't find a replacement bass note for something disharmonic out of the remaining 11 left, you may be overthinking a little.

[Winstontaneous]

Dear fellows,

since I am not blessed with a fine-granular hearing, I cannot pinpoint the scale of a certain melody-sample I use, I am left with trusting my "feeling" about which scale for the bass to use. (Could not find any info about the sample-track yet.) After mixing it all together it appears that some notes obviously are disharmonic. Therefore my question, is there a bass-scale which almost always fit ? I would try this one then.

It is an orchestral sample I use

Every push into the right direction is appreciated, thank in advance !

KFW

Simple repetitive bass lines using roots, 5ths, and octaves can be ambiguous enough to allow motion above without clashing.
If adding other notes, make sure that 3rds/4ths/6ths match the flavor of the harmony/melody.
Misplaced 4ths can suspend the root, major 7ths and flat 2s at the wrong time will sound like chromatic modulation.
Lesson = keep it simple!

Bill Laswell is a master of this--finding a repetitive bass "mantra" that works underneath complex melodies and chord progressions.
His bass playing on Gigi's "Illuminated Audio" contains many great examples.