Bass Riffs?

TTony

It's a bit of a well-kept secret on the forum that there are a series of monthly "challenges" which run, with the objective of prompting people to actually make some music (I know, wierd concept!) with their guitars instead of just talking about them or buying and selling them.

There are a range of challenges, from the quick and dirty through to one that usually results in commercial-standard compositions.

This thread gives the detail.

I'm wondering whether we should add another monthly challenge for "Bass Riff", to reflect that we've got a growing number of bassists on the forum now.

You don't need pro-standard recording equipment.  Some submissions have literally been recorded on a phone next to an acoustic guitar.  The focus is on artistic merit rather than amount of make-up.

Thoughts??

Bridgehouse

Definitely a good idea.

I know there are plenty of posters here who also dabble in bass and it would be a great idea.

I'd say that a good way to do it would be to pick a track (even a short one) and get members to add their own interpreted bass line to it (or post them playing along to it) 

Will be interesting to see how many fancy it...!

stratman3142

I'd like this. Even though I'm primarily a guitarist, I've entered a few bass riffs to the current challenges (knowing they'll never win  ), including my entry to this month's RRotm.

Bridgehouse

stratman3142 said:

I'd like this. Even though I'm primarily a guitarist, I've entered a few bass riffs to the current challenges (knowing they'll never win  ), including my entry to this month's RRotm.

You've got a head start on the rest of us then!!!

stratman3142

Bridgehouse said:

stratman3142 said:

I'd like this. Even though I'm primarily a guitarist, I've entered a few bass riffs to the current challenges (knowing they'll never win  ), including my entry to this month's RRotm.

You've got a head start on the rest of us then!!!

I think I'll probably get trounced by you proper bass players.

Bridgehouse

stratman3142 said:

Bridgehouse said:

stratman3142 said:

I'd like this. Even though I'm primarily a guitarist, I've entered a few bass riffs to the current challenges (knowing they'll never win  ), including my entry to this month's RRotm.

You've got a head start on the rest of us then!!!

I think I'll probably get trounced by you proper bass players.

I think I need to clarify my capability...  I'm a proper bass player only because I enjoy it more, I never said anything about talent

4string

You have my interest...

TTony

I think that makes 4 (!!!) of us already.

Looks like it could be a go-er

stratman3142 said:

I think I'll probably get trounced by you proper bass players.

Not quite sure who you're talking to there ... no "proper" bass players here

speshul91

I might join in. 

Winny_Pooh

Might be more motivation if the occasional contest had a small prize from say Fender/Daddario/Planet Waves/Dunlop etc. Bonus: Free advertising for the sponsor & higher visibility and participation. 

Shark_Eyes

I'm interested, as I'm less shy about my bass riff skills than my guitar skills.

TTony

Winny_Pooh said:

Might be more motivation if the occasional contest had a small prize from say Fender/Daddario/Planet Waves/Dunlop etc. Bonus: Free advertising for the sponsor & higher visibility and participation. 

Strange you should suggest that @Winny_Pooh because Mr Antique and I have been discussing exactly that thing.

Watch out for a Christmas edition of one or more of the challenges ...

UnclePsychosis

Potentially interested, if I can find the time... 

Rocker

Bridgehouse said:

I'd say that a good way to do it would be to pick a track (even a short one) and get members to add their own interpreted bass line to it (or post them playing along to it) 

Now that is something that interests me as I prefer jamming along to music as bass is not a lead instrument as such. (Awaits the torrent of hate mail).

A track would get me out of my comfort zone too......

JezWynd

Sounds like a good idea. I'd have to suss out how to upload a file, are there instructions anywhere?

TTony

JezWynd said:

I'd have to suss out how to upload a file, are there instructions anywhere?

@JezWynd ;

We (theFretBoard) has a paid-for SoundCloud account.  We usually use that for these challenges.

The Solo of the Month works in a similar way.  Find a backing track and then everyone creates a solo to play over the top.  We could do a similar thing for the Bass Riff challenge, if someone has a good supply of copyright-free tracks (across a range of genres) excluding the bass part?

JezWynd

Thanks @TTony. I'll keep an eye out for developments. I don't have any rhythm tracks I'm afraid, I usually play along to my drum machine but that's in storage atm so I'm presently using an RC-3.

stratman3142

I could create the occasional backing track for a bass to be added. Maybe others could chip in as well. 

Funkfingers

TTony said:

for the Bass Riff challenge ... if someone has a good supply of copyright-free tracks (across a range of genres), excluding the bass part?

In some respects, the bass part defines the genre. There are times when simple, repetitive eighth notes on the root notes will better serve the song than, say, Les Claypool pyrotechnics or Chris Squire high register runs. Who is to say that one approach is "better" than the other.

Taking Claypool as an example, much of his music revolves principally around the drums, bass and vocals. The guitar and any keyboards often add harmonic colours rather taking up most of the available "space". It would be difficult to assemble a "drums and harmonic colours" piece without prior knowledge of what key(s) or mode(s) the bass guitar is likely to employ.

UnclePsychosis

The best thing to do backing track wise IMO would be to have some really, really sparse chords and that's it.

Just a looped chord progression, either synth pads or a single strum of a guitar on each chord. No rhythm, just harmony.

Then the bass line can be any genre you like. 

stratman3142

UnclePsychosis said:

The best thing to do backing track wise IMO would be to have some really, really sparse chords and that's it.

Just a looped chord progression, either synth pads or a single strum of a guitar on each chord. No rhythm, just harmony.

Then the bass line can be any genre you like. 

Perhaps also a simple drum part with the kick on the 1 and 3, the snare on the 2 and 4, and 1/8 note hi hats. That way the bass is free to create the rhythm groove.

Fretwired

Oh yes. I love a good bass riff .....

TTony

Fretwired said:

Oh yes. I love a good bass riff .....

We'll add bass riffs to the set of challenges from Jan onwards.



"Why from Jan, what's wrong with doing it in November and December???" I hear you scream at the monitor.

Well, that's because the November and December challenges are being rolled into one, with a theme, and prizes.  Real, proper, wow-style prizes.

All will be announced when the current challenges close later this month.

Snap

So, would a submission just be a bass line, or could it be a track led by a bass riff, but with say drums and guitar in it, OR< can it only be bass & drums?

Funkfingers

I interpreted the OP to mean a drums and chords backing track to which a bass instrument part should be added. 

Bridgehouse

Funkfingers said:

I interpreted the OP to mean a drums and chords backing track to which a bass instrument part should be added. 

Me too.

Funkfingers

I've already been working at developing the correct embouchure for Tuba. Probably more fun to try Variable.  

http://www.vintagesynth.com/moog/taurus1.php

JezWynd

The bass player's lament

TTony

Bridgehouse said:

Funkfingers said:

I interpreted the OP to mean a drums and chords backing track to which a bass instrument part should be added. 

Me too.

Well, I hadn't thought that much about it, tbh.

In the other monthly challenges, we have Riff (guitar, drums, bass, whatever's needed to make the track work), RawRiff (guitar only) and Solo (bass solo??) of the month competitions.

The solo needs a backing track to work, the others are created by the contestants.

I guess we (or "someone") could record some guitar / chord backing tracks and use those as the basis for developing a bass riff, or we go with the approach of the contestants creating their own, individually, to support their riffs.


Got a bit of time to get it sorted as all the challenges are going on hold whist we do the Christmas Special (there will be prizes!!) challenge in Nov/Dec.

Snap

That's fine Tony, was just a passing thought. Bit of drums, bit of bass, I reckon I can do that.

Well I could if I get the time, which at the moment is like tyring to plait fog in a wind tunnel