3.1 - One Note Bass Lines

PROJECT 3.1 OVERVIEW

For this project, you are going to create a drumbeat (can be one you used before) and the record three separate bass lines that meet the following criteria:

one bass line plays at the exact same time as the kick drum
one bass line plays more frequently than the kick drum
one bass line plays less frequently than the kick drum

Getting started with bass lines

It's time to add more to our music than just drums, so let's start with the part that interacts most with the groove: the bass line. In the simplest terms possible, the bass line is the lowest part or sequence of notes in a piece of music. Bass lines are usually monophonic, meaning they consist of one note at a time.

One-note bass lines

To get started, we're going to keep our bass lines simple - a single note, in fact. When writing our bass lines, we need to keep some new things in mind, compared to our drum writing:

We need to indicate a pitch. We're going to stick with a single pitch for this exercise, so anywhere the bass will sound, we'll use the letter "C" to indicate the pitch is C. Later we'll add more information but for now, we'll just use "C".
The attack is when the pitch starts sounding. This will be indicated by our pitch name.
We need to be thinking about sustain now that we've moved away from drums. Sustain is how long the instrument will sound after it is played. Sustain will be indicated on your beat map by a series of dashes like this: ----
For every pitch that starts, there needs to be an ending. The release is where the note stops sounding.
We can also use silence, aka rests. The bass does not need to be sounding through the entire line.

So a typical bass line will look something like this:

To get started, we're going to keep our bass lines simple - a single note, in fact.

There are three ways that we can think about bass parts:

The bass plays exactly with the kick drum.
The bass plays more frequently than the kick drum.
The bass plays less frequently than the kick drum.

Bass line exactly at the same time as the kick:

In our first example, our bass is being played at the same time as the kick. Notice that every C in the bass line is in line with the X in the kick drum line:

The dashed lines indicate sustain, where you will hold the piano key down. Blank boxes indicate rests where the instrument should be completely silent.

Here is an audio rendition of this beat map:

Bass with kick.mp3

Bass line playing MORE than the kick

Here is an example of the bass playing more frequently than the kick drum. Note that this is exact same drum beat as the previous example, but that the bass is much more active (while still being anchored to the kick drum):

Here is an audio version of this beat map:

Bass more than kick.mp3

Bass line playing LESS than the kick

Sometimes less is more. Here is an example of the bass playing less frequently than the kick drum. Note that this is exact same drum beat as the previous example, but that the bass is much less active (while still being anchored to the kick drum):

Here is an audio version of this beat map:

Bass less than kick.mp3

Composing a one-note bass line

Now it's your turn! Here's how to complete your first project with bass lines:

Download the One Note Bass Line Organizer pdf (linked below).
Compose a one measure drum groove. This can be re-used from an earlier project, and should not just be the basic backbeat.
Using the organizer, create three bass lines, all using the note "C"
1. The first bass line should line up exactly with your kick drum.
2. The second bass line should be more active than your kick drum.
3. The third bass line should be less active than your kick drum.
Open up Logic Pro.
Create a new file.
Record the following the full drum groove 4 times in a row. Use any drumset you like, though I strongly suggest using an acoustic drum set for this first project. Don't forget to quantize!
Create a new software instrument track, and select Fingerstyle Bass as your instrument.
Record your first bass line four times in a row (the one that aligns with the kick). Quantize!
Repeat steps 7 and 8 for the remaining bass lines on your organizer. Make sure to mute previous bass recordings before you start a new recording.
Save the file as 3-1 LASTNAME.

When you have finished, be sure to upload your work to Schoology.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ONE NOTE BASS ORGANIZER SHEET

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