Production through performance
Learn
3.4 moving bass lines
Bass lines that only use the roots of the chord can feel stagnant and one dimensional. Adding octave jumps and leading tones is an easy way to add motion to a bass line.
Watch the walkthrough video.
Learn the information below.
Bass Line Motion types
ROOTS IN THE SAME OCTAVE
The roots for each chord are played with the kick drum. There is no motion within the measure.
OCTAVE JUMP
The root moves up or down by an octave (same pitch that is one scale length away). Octave jumps sound best when they are kept in the bass range.
LEADING TONES
A leading tone is a note(s) that is one letter above or below the note you are going to. Leading tones should be used on weak beats. More than one leading tone can be used together to create even more stepwise motion.
OCTAVE JUMPS AND LEADING TONES
Octave jumps and leading tones can be used together to create highly dynamic bass lines. These mechanisms can be used separately within the measure or they can be combined.
ie. A leading tone can be used in conjunction with an octave jump.
Compose
BASS LINE COMPOSITION
Write a drum groove and a bass line with at least one octave jump and a leading tone.
Create an original four chord progression with the Chord Progression Organizer →
Write a drum groove.
Write a bass line using the Moving Bass Line Organizer →
Record
MOVING BASS LINE PERFORMANCE
Record the drum groove and moving bass line you’ve composed.
Know the expectations! Review the Rubric →
Read the recording instructions, and record your parts.
Reflect on how you did with the Self Assessment →
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Create a drum + beats track and choose your sound.
Record 4 measures of the drum groove and quantize it to the correct subdivision.
Create a guitar + bass track and choose a bass sound.
Record the moving bass part and quantize it to the correct subdivision.
Trim the ends of the notes to match the organizer.