KVR Audio

Nicksaf · Post by **Nicksaf** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 3:53 pm

I wrote a melody and it seems the baseline doesn't match. There's no chords just single notes. How can I make it work? To copy the notes seems wrong, is it true? Thanks in advance!

geroyannis · Post by **geroyannis** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 4:09 pm

Think of underlying chords for your melody and make a bassline that fits those chords.

Nicksaf · Post by **Nicksaf** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 5:33 pm

Thanks! What if i don't use chords in the final mix, would the baseline still fit?

geroyannis · Post by **geroyannis** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 6:00 pm

It should. Now the melody and the bass would imply the chords even if these are not actually played by some other instrument.

Nicksaf · Post by **Nicksaf** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 6:25 pm

I see, thanks. A little newb question, how do i do the chords based on my melody?

geroyannis · Post by **geroyannis** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 6:41 pm

That comes with studying and/or time and experience. Start by trying and playing chords from the same scale that your melody is in.

If you also don't know your melody's scale I envy you because there's a whole world ahead of you ready to be explored!

Nicksaf · Post by **Nicksaf** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 6:49 pm

So there's no basic way to do it? For now?

geroyannis · Post by **geroyannis** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 6:58 pm

geroyannis wrote:Start by trying and playing chords from the same scale that your melody is in.

That's the simplest method I can think of. It's one step before relying to pure chance.

Nicksaf · Post by **Nicksaf** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 7:03 pm

Thanks for your patience my friend!! Ill go try what you said, thanks!

jdt · Post by **jdt** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 7:09 pm

Nicksaf wrote: So there's no basic way to do it? For now?

First off, recognize what the LOWEST and HIGHEST notes are in your melody. That will give you a ballpark reference as to what "Key" your in.

Then put a simple series of rhythmic notes down that stay within that range in your bassline that stay on beat (basic pulse), only an octave lower than the range of your melody. Then mess around with that till you find something that works for your particular musical idea.

Usually, the bassline isn't going to be exactly the same as your melody an octave lower so copy/pasting wouldn't work out. The basslne in most cases is going to be a rhyhtmic line that compliments or contrasts the melody.

Then again, not always. Exploring a little bit of music theory can never hurt. Any added knowledge is a good thing.

Nicksaf · Post by **Nicksaf** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:35 am

jdt wrote:
Nicksaf wrote: So there's no basic way to do it? For now?
First off, recognize what the LOWEST and HIGHEST notes are in your melody. That will give you a ballpark reference as to what "Key" your in.

Then put a simple series of rhythmic notes down that stay within that range in your bassline that stay on beat (basic pulse), only an octave lower than the range of your melody. Then mess around with that till you find something that works for your particular musical idea.

Usually, the bassline isn't going to be exactly the same as your melody an octave lower so copy/pasting wouldn't work out. The basslne in most cases is going to be a rhyhtmic line that compliments or contrasts the melody.

Then again, not always. Exploring a little bit of music theory can never hurt. Any added knowledge is a good thing.

Thanks! That really helps!!

Hey al! Urgent help needed about a bassline & melody.