5 Beginner Tips For Creating A Bassline

“I’m sorry, but you’ve thrown off the Emperor’s groove.”

Such a quoted scene from a classic Disney movie. Kuzco’s routine is suddenly interrupted by an innocent old man who is then cast from the tower.

Years later, I recalled this scene again after I started playing bass and understanding the instrument’s role in a musical setting. We as bassists have a crucial responsibility to keep the groove flowing- if we fail, the consequences can be devastating (maybe not as dramatic as getting tossed out of a window, but you get the picture).

When writing a bassline, here are some things to keep in mind.

5 Beginner Tips For Creating A Bassline

1. Be aware of your musical surroundings.
2. Start simple, then build.
3. FEEL.
4. Don’t forget the kick!
5. Use other musical instruments to help you write.

1. Be aware of your musical surroundings.

Always keep musical context in mind.

Does your bassline fit in with what the rest of the band is playing? If you’re playing contemporary worship you may want to stick with the KISS method, whereas a progressive metal bassline might call for more complexity as it often mimics the rhythm guitarist. If a song requires you to play quarter notes and nothing more, then play the heck out of those quarter notes!

In short, taking the needs of the song into consideration is vital when writing basslines.

2. Start simple, then build.

Here’s one approach: Start creating a bassline by playing only the root note for each chord in a phrase. Then play through it again- maybe this time add in some fifths and some passing tones to give direction to the music. Now play through it a third time and throw in some chord extensions and fills.

As you go through this process, think back to #1 above and gauge your bassline to determine if it’s too much or not enough.

3. FEEL.

If you’ve never seen Victor Wooten’s Groove Workshop, stop what you’re doing and go snag a copy! This is by far the most informative and memorable bass guitar instructional video I’ve ever watched.

In a section of this DVD, Vic performs an experiment by playing two different basslines along with the same backing track.

The first line is played diatonically, but his rhythm and speed don’t match the feel of the backing track.

The second line is played using a flurry of “wrong notes,” yet the groove is perfectly locked in with the track.

When he asked his students which one sounded better, they agreed that bass line #2 was the winner. Why? Because of rhythm and feel. Even though he was playing notes outside the given key signature, it still grooved better than the first line.

The moral of the story? Feel is essential. Whether they know it or not, your audience and bandmates will appreciate a solid groove rather than an untimely bass solo.

4. Don’t forget the kick!

Let’s go back to #3 for a second. We explained why the second bassline sounded better than the first, but how? What exactly was Vic doing to make the groove feel better?

We as bass players play notes (obviously!), but rhythm is just as important. When writing a bassline, a good rule of thumb is to think like a drummer and lock in with the kick drum. Now don’t get the idea that you as a bassist are a slave to the drummer – you can certainly attack those beats the kick drum isn’t playing on. But it’s up to you to determine when you should and shouldn’t deviate from the kick drum.

For more on the relationship between bass guitar and drums, check out this video from Worship Online.

5. Use other musical instruments to help you write.

Feeling stuck? Putting down the bass and picking up an acoustic guitar or keyboard can help you understand what’s happening in the music apart from the bass, breaking down what’s happening behind the scenes and why certain chords or rhythms sound the way they do.

For example: due to the layout of the keys, playing a chord progression on the piano can help you visualize what’s happening in the chord structure. You’ll see and hear how certain chords are functioning, giving you those “Ah ha!” moments and opening up new creative ideas for your basslines.

I’ll leave you with this: when composing a bassline, keep in mind that the rules of music theory are more like guidelines… and it’s up to you to know when to break them. Happy bassin’!

Recent Posts

• 8 Tips for Becoming a Highly Effective Private Music Teacher
• Five Podcasts for Bass Players
• Getting Good Bass Tone: A Beginner’s Guide
• Music Theory for Beginner Bass Players: Learning The Notes
• 4 New Things I’ve Learned After Playing Bass Guitar for 17 Years