Bass Lines *Any Style* with Just 2 Notes (for Beginners)
???? My full beginner bass course: https://yeah.bassbuzz.com/rootfifth
If you’re a beginner bassist, you don’t need tons of notes to improve your bass lines – you only need 2. (take it from Alex Trebek)
That’s right – we’re talking root and fifth, the most powerful notes in bass.
You might have already heard of these and even played them, but in this video we’re going to dive deeper into exactly why root and fifth are the most awesomest of notes, where you can find them in popular songs, and how you can use ‘em to create your own solid bass lines in any style, even as a beginner.
I’ll start from the super basics, so if “root fifth” sounds like technical jargon to you now, it’ll make sense by 2 minutes into the lesson.
Then our friend Science Josh will make an appearance to break down some of the science behind roots and fifths – there’s actually some cool physics behind the reason bass players love these notes so much.
We’ll test that out in the field with Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay,” one of the most iconic root fifth bass lines. I’ll show you what it sounds like with other scale notes swapped in for the fifth. (hint: not great)
Adding fifths to a bass line creates momentum that propels the song forward. I’ll show you how important that is in “Under Pressure” by Queen, and we’ll listen to the line with and without the fifth.
Then I’ll show you some of the versatility of the root-fifth pattern with “On The Other Side” by The Strokes, which has a tasty bass line that works great on major and minor chords.
I’ll wrap it up by showing you formulas to create your own root-fifth lines in a variety of styles, using examples from classic songs like “Walk The Line” by Johnny Cash, “Song For My Father” by Horace Silver, “Girl From Ipanema” by Getz/Gilberto, and “Bonzo Goes To Bitburg” by the Ramones.
And Science Josh sneaks in a cool Rush bass line at the end. So science-y.
Adam Neely’s video on Girl From Ipanema: https://youtu.be/OFWCbGzxofU
Subscribe here to get more bass line level-ups: https://yeah.bassbuzz.com/subscribe
#RootFifth #ScienceJoshApproved
#Bass #Lines #Style #Notes #Beginners
Originally posted by UCeD9_tDVA1wvqv1IF9QyP-A at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6TCexKJpAQ
What’s your favorite root-fifth bass line? I love Gabe Nelson’s line on “Pretty Pink Ribbon” by Cake. ????
Timestamps for this lesson:
0:50 – Roots n’ Fifths Explained in 47 Seconds
1:57 – Fifths Are Stable
4:25 – Fifths Fit With Roots
7:13 – Fifths Won’t Clash
8:35 – Make Your Own Bass Lines
9:31 – Country Bass Formula
10:46 – Bossa Nova Bass Formula
13:19 – Soul Bass Formula
14:25 – Rock Bass Formula
Anyone else feel like they’ve found the absolute holy grail of learning bass with this channel???
Why is it not allowing me to pay for this lesson?
MORE MUSIC THEORY SCIENCE LESSONS PLEASE! ????????????
Just watched this and this morning I was trying to guess, by ear, the bass line for the Pink Martini version of Bolero.
EDIT:
By ear, it's a C chord in the key of C. Uses Root Root Fifth Fifth(lower octave) Fifth(lower octave)
because I'm going by ear I'm still trying to figure out if it's a G chord or a C chord.
If it were a G chord, it wood be Root Root Fourth Fourth Fourth Octave
So I guess in terms of complexity that one works too?
EDIT 2: I listened to it again and it's C on beat 1 with I think a syncopation on the 3rd note (root)
I feel bad for anyone learning instruments other than the bass because they don’t get to learn from Josh
Thanks, AP calculus. I understand this thumbnail now.
Josh @BassBuzz – you are the best! I am in the last third of your B2B Beginner to Badass bass course and you cover some of this material there as well. But always so much added value in your vids too. I'm a worship bassist and we have some boring bass lines (root, root, root)- this should liven it up a bit!
Totally great explanations ! Including the sound waves. I hope you have videos on rhythms and explanations of things like dotted whatever notes. ????
How many bass players are needed to record Bossa-Nova? Answer: one or five…one or five….
Hi Josh, dude I’m sold man I want private lessons you are bad ass. I’ve never heard or seen anybody teaching Basehor guitar or anything the way you do you make it appear to be so easy so I would I would like to have her I would like to have sessions with you so high send me a link to your classes or whatever you Gotta do to get me signed up. Thank you.
But the sixth sounded good
…and gets you fired…
Rikki, don't lose that bossa nova! Great tutorial, thanks for posting!
Dude, you are so awesome! I have learned so much from you! Love all the licks!
Awesome Rush ending
this is great, i'm trying it with different fingers on the fret board, and makes it easier to learn to use my pinky finger. I know you have a video about using your pinky finger is great when it gets stronger. my fingers and hands are stretching more since I've started a week ago
huh? can you remake this in further detail? I rewinded like 50 times and I don't know what to do? am I just holding the root fret or something what string? you don't explain it well
Josh! You are literally the best bass teacher ever!
Converges to π
Third or fourth finger on the 5th?
According to the thumbnail, by the Alternating Series Test, the series converges. xD
The limit of 4/(2n+1) goes to 0. 4/(2(n+1)+1) is less than or equal to 4/(2n+1)
Thank you ????
Buzz baby! You're a funtastic teacher. After watching just one of your videos . I picked up the bass guitar my Aunt loaned me to play as I'm learning to play. Anyways I created a funky bass line . Tonight I used the shapes teach in this video to play a few classic three and two chord songs! All this from just watching one video! Lookout Bootsy ! Here comes Juicy! Lol ???? ???? ???? ???? seriously merci beaucoup my man! I'm all about that bass now! You feel me?!
These are the worst gardening videos ever.
No wonder these free videos cost so much…his payroll must be stratospheric. "Science Josh" and "Noob Josh" as well as regular Josh must be costing him a fortune…these videos are awesome!!
You're a great teacher Josh. Thanks for helping my understanding this concept.
Clearly the BEST Bass teacher on the Internet!
Yess!
"You're going to need a bigger bass." That was hilarious!!
1:54 Thanks Science Josh – "You blinded me with SCIENCE" – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V83JR2IoI8k
Where can I find backing tracks that display chords for practicing bass?
I think you might want to know that YouTube has bass lessons using their commercial on your channel.
I want to compliment you – i’m an old pro musician –
and i like you teaching better than any other
bravo. i guess i just dated myself
The bossa nova beat reminded me of Steely Dans, Ricky don’t lose that number.
Great explanation! I found the science section informative and enjoyable. Right on man????.