Basic Rock Bass 2 - Page 4

by Kerry Galloway Notice in this next example that we've mixed up some long and short sounds. In the first bar, we leave holes for both the snare drum hits. In the second, we let the bass note ring under it.

One of the keys to success in music is to remember that the basic rules are the same as they are in life. One of them is "less is more". Another is "leave some space". Yet another is "variety is good, but too much variety is boring".

"Less is More" = simple works just fine a lot of the time. "Leave Some Space" = let the drums breathe by leaving holes for them. Listen to them. Even cheesy drum tracks. "Variety is Good, but Too Much Variety is Boring" = play repeating patterns or concepts to give unity and direction, but you don't have to play the same thing bar after bar. Think about building your bass lines in two and four bar chunks.