What if chords are great but bass doesnt go with root note?

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-- What if chords are great but bass doesnt go with root note?

Posted by Sonic_c on Jan-21-2010 01:31:

What if chords are great but bass doesnt go with root note?

So i got a chord sequence im happy with well its basically 2 note chords as im using chord ii in a natural minor which sounds awful as its diminished.

Anyway forget that..the bass if i just follow the root note doesn't suit the track and pulls you down a bit. Can i just hold onto the tonic Bb? wont that sound a bit boring with a static bass?

Its a melodic trance style bassline.

Cheers

Posted by RichieV on Jan-21-2010 01:33:

Can you revise your post as I just don't understand what the scenario is. You only mentioned 1 chord. Maybe just post an audio example. It seems like you are asking if you can use a pedal tone for the bass which of course is a very common thing to do. And chances are you are playing a vii 7 with a root note pedal like in tiesto's traffic. Not a ii chord . But anyways post the audio.

Posted by Sonic_c on Jan-21-2010 01:38:

Sorry Simple version

Chord changes, but bass remains the same is that ok? sounds a little boring to me?

thanks richie

Posted by cryophonik on Jan-21-2010 01:42:

quote:
Originally posted by Sonic_c
Chord changes, but bass remains the same is that ok? sounds a little boring to me?

Yes, it's called a pedaled bass - the name comes from classical organ pieces in which one bass pedal is held down while the organist plays different chords over it. It's another good way of creating tension, when done right, of course.

Posted by RichieV on Jan-21-2010 01:42:

very common especially when you are in the rhythmic build the beginning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCo1...feature=related

all over a pedal of C until the dominant chord at 1:13 but it is not stagnant at all.

the progression starts off with

C minor - i
then applied dim vii7 to major II ( it actually is a dominant V of V )
then dim vii 7 substituting the V to cminor again

Posted by Sonic_c on Jan-21-2010 01:57:

Wicked i can see the tension thing in the video. I think i had the wrong sound it was going too high and loosing all the energy of the bass so i doubled it up on a lower octave and chose a different synth.

thanks again guys

Posted by RichieV on Jan-21-2010 01:59:

what makes that passage effective is that the voices are moving contrapuntally so that despite the lack of actual bass movement, it is still very vivid and lively.

Posted by Sonic_c on Jan-21-2010 02:00:

Just another question didnt want to start too many threads. Same tune if you guys had a pad and a pluck arp style rythym would you side chain the pad to the pluck to give the pluck some space and reduce clashing because they are hanging round the same freq?

Posted by RichieV on Jan-21-2010 02:28:

probably to the kick and just have the voicing out of the way of the pluck.