Calling All Bassists!

[skorpx1]

I am working on a bass-riff for fun, and I am kind of stuck. I'm using a "box" of notes on the 3rd and 5th fret of the E and A string. I have the notes (in order from E string to A string) G, A,(E string) C, D, (A string)  I have a riff that starts on the G, goes to the D then slides back to the C and up to the A and then heads back to the G, goes to the D then to the C and slides back to the D. Each note has two beats and is in any timing you wish to choose. Timing here is universal with these notes.

So for those who need a picture or a better understanding of it, i'll attempt to make the notes box.


C----D
|      |
G----A


Iv'e tried other combinations of beats such as adding another two for every other note but it doesn't sound very solid. I tried adding 5 beats and that seems to be the best but i'm getting tired of doing the same box over and over again. (Iv'e been at this for about 3 weeks now) If anything i'm not making any progress at all and just sitting at a four way intersection. What iv'e done is good but I want something better. If any of you out there in the AH boards know at least a few things on the bass and could give me some advice, it'd be much appreciated. I eventually want to get a song off of this riff. I forgot to mention this earlier but my tuning is standard B-E-A-D-G.

 

[bcadoo]

You need more notes!

Assuming a key of G and not some funky mode, you are playing 1,5,4, and 2. (G, D, C, A)  2 isn't going to do much for you.  I would suggest going with a 6 and a 3 and expanding your box to include the d string and the octave G.

G------------------------------------
D-------------5----------------------
A-------3-----5-----7------------------
E-------3-----5-----7-------------------

Making your first position on the 5th fret rather than the 3rd will change the tonality.  I would stay away from the C unless the chord you are playing under is the subdominant.

[VonMessa]

More cowbell!

[jd]

You need more notes!

Assuming a key of G and not some funky mode, you are playing 1,5,4, and 2. (G, D, C, A)  2 isn't going to do much for you.  I would suggest going with a 6 and a 3 and expanding your box to include the d string and the octave G.

G------------------------------------
D-------------5----------------------
A-------3-----5-----7------------------
E-------3-----5-----7-------------------

Making your first position on the 5th fret rather than the 3rd will change the tonality.  I would stay away from the C unless the chord you are playing under is the subdominant.

I think you just described 85% of all Green Day songs...

[skorpx1]

You need more notes!

Assuming a key of G and not some funky mode, you are playing 1,5,4, and 2. (G, D, C, A)  2 isn't going to do much for you.  I would suggest going with a 6 and a 3 and expanding your box to include the d string and the octave G.

G------------------------------------
D-------------5----------------------
A-------3-----5-----7------------------
E-------3-----5-----7-------------------

Making your first position on the 5th fret rather than the 3rd will change the tonality.  I would stay away from the C unless the chord you are playing under is the subdominant.

I tried this along with 2 more notes on the 5th and 8th fret on the D string, sounds great. Thanks for the input!

More cowbell!

  Everything needs more cowbell.