The bass is one of the most critical roles in any track, and especially hip-hop. Along with the kick drum, the bass is one of the primary instruments of the revered "low-end" in hip-hop. In this article, we will discuss the role of the bass, and how it can be used to elevate your beats.
The bass serves as the root of the harmony. It is the core element of the harmony that the pads and the groove sit on top of. Without the bass, the sound of a beat just does not sound as full.
One interesting characteristics about the bass is that it can often change the sound of chord being played on its own by simply changing the bass note. As an experiment, pick out a music chord and have the bass play as a sustained note. For simplicity's sake, have the bass note be the root of the chord. So if you are playing an E major chord, the bass note should be an E. Now, play the same chord but change the bass note to a different note. Try the 3rd or 5th scale degree of the chord that you are playing. So, using our example, if you are playing an E major chord, have the bass note be a G# or B.
In hip-hop, many parts have been used to play the bass. The range of instruments have ranged from bass parts sampled from vinyl records and low frequency sine waves to live bass being played on a track. A more recent development within hip-hop, especially southern hip-hop, is using a pitched kick drum with a long-sustain to play the bass. Thus, the kick drum and the bass have been fused together.
No matter instrument used to play the role of the bass, bass parts in typically fall into two categories, more sustained or rhythmic oriented. As we stated earlier in the article, the bass anchors the songs harmony, however, the bass is another versatile part, much like the groove, in the sense that it can play a rhythmic part in songs as well. For example, in jazz, the bass is considered part of the rhythm section and the "walking bass" lines characteristic of the genre show how the bass can really occupy a rhythmic role. In reggae, the bass is the star of the show and often times, it is the bass part that provides an interesting rhythm against to the steady "one-drop" rhythm of the drums and piano parts of reggae.
Try out different styles of bass lines and listen to how producers incorporate bass into their tracks. The bass along with the drums, is the foundation of a great hip-hop beat so be sure to develop it well.
The bass serves as the root of the harmony. It is the core element of the harmony that the pads and the groove sit on top of. Without the bass, the sound of a beat just does not sound as full.
One interesting characteristics about the bass is that it can often change the sound of chord being played on its own by simply changing the bass note. As an experiment, pick out a music chord and have the bass play as a sustained note. For simplicity's sake, have the bass note be the root of the chord. So if you are playing an E major chord, the bass note should be an E. Now, play the same chord but change the bass note to a different note. Try the 3rd or 5th scale degree of the chord that you are playing. So, using our example, if you are playing an E major chord, have the bass note be a G# or B.
In hip-hop, many parts have been used to play the bass. The range of instruments have ranged from bass parts sampled from vinyl records and low frequency sine waves to live bass being played on a track. A more recent development within hip-hop, especially southern hip-hop, is using a pitched kick drum with a long-sustain to play the bass. Thus, the kick drum and the bass have been fused together.
No matter instrument used to play the role of the bass, bass parts in typically fall into two categories, more sustained or rhythmic oriented. As we stated earlier in the article, the bass anchors the songs harmony, however, the bass is another versatile part, much like the groove, in the sense that it can play a rhythmic part in songs as well. For example, in jazz, the bass is considered part of the rhythm section and the "walking bass" lines characteristic of the genre show how the bass can really occupy a rhythmic role. In reggae, the bass is the star of the show and often times, it is the bass part that provides an interesting rhythm against to the steady "one-drop" rhythm of the drums and piano parts of reggae.
Try out different styles of bass lines and listen to how producers incorporate bass into their tracks. The bass along with the drums, is the foundation of a great hip-hop beat so be sure to develop it well.
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