How to Write a Bass Line with Energy
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- čas přidán 7. 08. 2024
- Music Theory from The Chemical Brothers "No Reason".
►FREE Book. Music is easy with this: HackMusicTheory.com/Books
0:00 Step 1. Rhythmic Energy
0:51 Step 2. Melodic Energy
2:24 Final Example
Step 1. Rhythmic Energy
There’s a super energetic bass line in the new single “No Reason” by The Chemical Brothers. To write a bass line like this, you need a lot of movement. Not just rhythmic movement, but melodic movement too. So, start by writing an energetic 2-bar rhythm for your bass line. Just use one pitch for now. We used A. You see, if you can get your bass sounding cool on one note, imagine how amazing it’s gonna sound when you bring in the melodic movement! Here are three guidelines for writing your rhythm. First, use a combination of 1/8 notes and 1/16 notes. This provides speed and variety. Second, use lots of rests. This allows your bass line to breathe. And third, use a few syncopated notes, which are off-beat accents. This makes it groove! And by the way, the tempo is 128 BPM.
Step 2. Melodic Energy
Now it’s time to add melody. So, first think about the chord progression you want your bass to outline. We’re in the key of A minor here, which is all the white notes from A to A. And the chord progression we chose to outline is: Gmaj, Fmaj, Am. Next, move some of your notes an octave higher. This hugely increases the energy, because it hugely increases the melodic range. It’s sounding good already, but the bass is still only playing the root note of each chord. So, next you wanna move some notes off the roots. Over the Gmaj, we’re playing F a couple times. That’s the ♭7. This is a funk favourite, so try to use a ♭7 somewhere. Over the Fmaj, we’re playing E a couple times, which is the 7. And by the way, the ♭7 (over G) followed by the 7 (over F) creates a motif. A motif is a short musical idea, which is repeated to give music structure and make it more memorable. Then lastly, over the Am, we played C. That’s the ♭3. This creates some variation. And, the ♭3 is also another funk favourite, so throw one in somewhere if you can!
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The fast, easy & fun way to make music. Taught by Ray Harmony, a multi award-winning college lecturer who's made music with multiplatinum Grammy-winning artists, and his protégé wife, Kate.
CREDITS
© 2023 Revolution Harmony
Revolution Harmony is Kate & Ray Harmony
Script & all music in video by Revolution Harmony
Book promo filmed & edited by Maurits Nienhuis
The Chemical Brothers photo by Hamish Brown
►FREE Book. Music is easy with this: HackMusicTheory.com/Books
That first tip of trying to make a groove on just one note is great. It teaches beginners the importance of rhythm, sth they often neglect while focusing more on the notes.
Hi Syed, thanks so much for stopping by and connecting! Love your comment about the importance of rhythm :) What kind of music do you make? Thanks again for watching and we wish you a lovely week! Kate
Welcome back! We haven't heard from you much lately.
Thanks, J L! We really appreciate you being here in the Hack Music Theory community, it means the world to us :) Wishing you a lovely rest of your Sunday, Kate
This is great, and is packed with several great ideas. I came away with some real gems. Definitely got my wheels turning.
I like how you began with finding a rhythm first. Also, that flat 3 and flat 7 on the A and the 7th on the F is super effective. I always look forward to your teaching. Thanks so much to both of you, and have a wonderful day. 🙏🙏🙏🙂
Hi Charles, we're thrilled to hear this one got some of your many musical wheels turning! As always we're very grateful for your kind comments and presence in the HMT community 💛 Thank you and we wish you a wonderful day too 🙏 Kate
Hi Kate & Ray! Amazing video, thank you. My subscription alerts somehow not working, so I missed some of your other videos, will catch up now
Thaaank you!!🎉🎉 great video
Thanks for stopping by braian, we really appreciate you being here in the Hack Music Theory community! Wishing you a fantastic week ahead :) Kate
OMG!!! This is so amazing! Exactly the type of bass lines I love. Thank you so much as always for bringing so much light to our musical world!!! Hugs! 🤗
Haha, we absolutely love your enthusiasm, Jose, gracias! You always shine the light right back at us 💛🙏 Wishing you a lovely week ahead, Kate :)
@@HackMusicTheory thank you so much Kate and likewise for you! I just posted a trailer of my upcoming album on the page.
Sounds awesome, my friend, love the old-school vibes! Thanks for sharing. Is that a full band, or are you playing everything? Ray :)
@@HackMusicTheory Thanks Ray! I play the regular bass and the piccolo bass with distortion that is doing the "guitar parts". There are no actual guitars. The vocals and the drums were played and recorded by session musicians.
Amazing!!! Huge congrats, my friend, we're so proud of you :) When's the release date?
Nice video as always!!!! but first Colombian Coffee .-). We see the music world taken by reggaetton music and similar beats on the background. Could be nice if you dissect some elements of that latin genre to see if something could be rescue from it.
Huh, nice to see new ideas. Thank's a lot)
...😂 already thinkin', how to place groovy bass into my jungle/d'n'b music
Hey thanks, ANHN Project! Really happy you stopped by and we're pumped for you to add groovy bass to your music :) Hope you have a lovely rest of your Sunday, Kate 🙏
Thank you so much for all this knowledge. If possible can you hack a band called Kassav'
Our pleasure, Yves! Thank you for stopping by and we'll add Kassav to our list :) Take care and we wish you a lovely week ahead, Kate :)
And you, Thank you so much 🙏🙏🙏
Pleas hack the band Beast in Black
Hi J, thanks big time for stopping by! We'll add them to the list :)
Wishing you a wonderful rest of your week, Kate :)
is the physical book available for purchase
Hey Prod. by 7anaka, thanks for stopping by! Yes, the book is available in paperback on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/1988410045. Or for a few bucks more you can buy the full version: www.amazon.com/dp/1988410002.
We'd love to know what kind of music you make?
Thanks again for connecting, and we wish you a lovely week! Kate
Hello!
I just came here to say Hi 😀
Thanks Muhammdreza!! Hello to you too! Wishing you a lovely rest of your Sunday 🙏 Kate
1st😊
Haha you're awesome!! Thanks for stopping by, my friend. Hope you're well, and I hope you enjoy the new video. Happy music making! Ray :)
Please hack the band NOTHING MORE
Hey hey Arjun, great to see you! Did you get your album released?
Wishing you a fantastic week ahead, Kate :)
@@HackMusicTheory Hi, Omg first of all thanks for remembering. You guys are something. It's in the final stages of mastering. I was wondering if you could give a listen to the final mixes and give us a review. It would mean a lot. As always thank you for your great hacks and have a lovely day 🤘🤘
Hi Arjun! We're thrilled to hear that you're in the final stages of mastering, that's super exciting! We're honoured that you would like our feedback on the final mixes :) We would absolutely love to do that for you, however, as it's just the two of us here at Hack Music Theory, we sadly don't have the time to provide individual feedback. Do let us know when you release your album though, and we'll give it a spin! All the best finishing up the album, Arjun, we're cheering you on :)
@@HackMusicTheory You people are the best 🤘 Yes I totally understand and its an honour. Love you people 🥰
You're very kind, Arjun🤘💛