Help on /punk ska basslines.

[skatebass]

I recently started palying in a ska band. I am not very sure on some things though. I was wondering to i just find out what the guitar player is playing and then play that root note? Pretty much any help on making punk/ska basslines would be of much help.
(yes i searched it didnt help much)

[PainKiller8191]

ya roots

/thread

[PaulR]

Arpeggios are fairly useful.

The two basic patterns in C are

Major
G-----------
D------2--5-
A---3-------
E-----------


Minor
G-------------
D-----------5-
A---3---6-----
E-------------

And these can be moved all over the fretboard depending on what key you're playing in.

[TheBassStylee]

well just a note-- in ska/reggae the bass does not play under or through guitar chords usually, if you know what i mean. also, try taking basic theory because that helps (im taking beginner theory now).

[British Kid]

well just a note-- in ska/reggae the bass does not play under or through guitar chords usually, if you know what i mean. also, try taking basic theory because that helps (im taking beginner theory now).
it doesn't? i thought that in ska/reaggae you played walking bass lines. at least that what it seems like, especially in ska.

[TakeThePowerBack]

I'm a pretty big Ska guy and most of the basslines vary from riffy to walking, often a mix of the two. They are all usually repetitive to some extent. Keep them energetic, it's important.

[Akira]

it doesn't? i thought that in ska/reaggae you played walking bass lines. at least that what it seems like, especially in ska.
Yuo do, what I think he meant by not following the guitar is that you don't just follow the guitar's notes. Of course the chord progression has to be the same.

[TakeThePowerBack]

The root, 3rd, and 5th of the scale you're playing also are used a lot. A common pattern is 1 3 5 3 and so on.

[Specialsauce]

try this - find out what the chord the guitar player is playing is, then use the arpeggio for that scale... easy, but you might wanna take a bit of theory. and you should listen to some of the suicide machines or the mighty mighty bosstones for some ska examples....

[bottlerocket]

Know the major scale and the key of the song. From there, just sort of walk around the major scale. It works for most ska bands. If I were you, I'd be a bit more creative and try to learn as many scales and modes as you can. These will surely add pazazz to your basslines and allow you to learn theory a billion times faster. Direct application is key because music is an observational "science." The purpose of music is to make it sound good (not the lyrics, the music itself; you want it to sound good, with "good" being completely subjective, but let's not get into George Santayana here).

Another good thing to do is play arpeggios of the guitar triads. Those can really beef up a song's bass line while emphasizing the guitar even more. However, don't overdo this; too much of a good thing is bad, especially in music. It'll make your lines boring and repetitive and no one will like them!

Listen to some bassists like Matt Wong (Reel Big Fish) and Roger Twig (Less Than Jake), as their ska bass lines are great and they really bounce around. You can learn a lot through observing over artists. Monkey see, monkey do! :p

Ska bands to check out:
Frenzal Rhomb
Five Iron Frenzy
Less Than Jake
Streetlight Manifesto
Reel Big Fish
Big D and the Kids Table (Boston Represent!)

Oh man, I'm talking ska and I don't even like ska! :lol:

I hope that helps, man!

:thumb:

-Gav

[[LP213]]

I'm a pretty big Ska guy and most of the basslines vary from riffy to walking, often a mix of the two. They are all usually repetitive to some extent. Keep them energetic, it's important.

I am in a ska band and I second this one. Our basslines usually are a mix of both. Learn some scales as someone else said and make sure everything is still in key. I would say Streetlight Manifesto would be a good band to check out bass lines from.

[Liebensaft]

Arpeggios are fairly useful.

Major
G-----------
D------2--5-
A---3-------
E-----------

You can go far with a few major arpeggios, trying to write a ska line.

[punkdrums]

that reminds me, is it just me, or is the basist from LEss than jake stupidly good? iv looked at the tabs to most of their songs and with the odd exception they're so complicated:s he seems really underrated...

[bottlerocket]

^ He's pretty good...not insane or anything, but he deserves a bit more credit.

I tabbed out Five State Drive (whole song), which someone said is their hardest bass song, so he can't be too good if I can do it. :lol:

If you still want the tab, I think I have it, since MXTabs was taken down...

:thumb:

-Gav

[TheBassStylee]

Ska bands to check out:
Frenzal Rhomb
Five Iron Frenzy
Less Than Jake
Streetlight Manifesto
Reel Big Fish
Big D and the Kids Table (Boston Represent!)

-Gav
Wow, lol...
i didnt think people out of jersey knew about streetlight...
they came out of the town next to mine :)
catch 22 is my fav ska pick.. half the same people as SM i think..

[Liebensaft]

i didnt think people out of jersey knew about streetlight...
Streetlight Manifesto are international. They're phenomenal. Come check out the punk section. There's probably not a single person there that dislikes them.

[thelowsoundofbass]

Ska bands to check out:
Frenzal Rhomb
Five Iron Frenzy
Less Than Jake
Streetlight Manifesto
Reel Big Fish
Big D and the Kids Table (Boston Represent!)

Oh man, I'm talking ska and I don't even like ska! :lol:

I hope that helps, man!

:thumb:

-Gav

saw then at their 3rd last show ever

lowsound

[[LP213]]

Wow, lol...
i didnt think people out of jersey knew about streetlight...
they came out of the town next to mine :)
catch 22 is my fav ska pick.. half the same people as SM i think..

Streetlight is just simply amazing. And yes, most of the old Catch 22 did move on to form Streetlight. Streetlight=Musical Genious.

[fathergoat]

Operation Ivy would be a good place to look for a combination of the 2.

[Specialsauce]

Ska bands to check out:
Frenzal Rhomb
Five Iron Frenzy
Less Than Jake
Streetlight Manifesto
Reel Big Fish
Big D and the Kids Table (Boston Represent!)


hey, cool! Five iron frenzy, i woulda recommended them if i had known they were at all heard of outside of denver....

[White_Summer]

reggae lines are more riff based, where as ska is more a mix of walking/riffyness, but major and minor scales are used predominantly in both genres

[Mein bass]

Ska bass lines are mainly walking bass lines and pretty dominent as well.
Theres two ska bands in my town,The supervillians and two ton skunk.
They both have pretty good bassist.

[Alma]

Know the major scale and the key of the song. From there, just sort of walk around the major scale. It works for most ska bands. If I were you, I'd be a bit more creative and try to learn as many scales and modes as you can. These will surely add pazazz to your basslines and allow you to learn theory a billion times faster. Direct application is key because music is an observational "science." The purpose of music is to make it sound good (not the lyrics, the music itself; you want it to sound good, with "good" being completely subjective, but let's not get into George Santayana here).

Another good thing to do is play arpeggios of the guitar triads. Those can really beef up a song's bass line while emphasizing the guitar even more. However, don't overdo this; too much of a good thing is bad, especially in music. It'll make your lines boring and repetitive and no one will like them!

Listen to some bassists like Matt Wong (Reel Big Fish) and Roger Twig (Less Than Jake), as their ska bass lines are great and they really bounce around. You can learn a lot through observing over artists. Monkey see, monkey do! :p

Ska bands to check out:
Frenzal Rhomb
Five Iron Frenzy
Less Than Jake
Streetlight Manifesto
Reel Big Fish
Big D and the Kids Table (Boston Represent!)

Oh man, I'm talking ska and I don't even like ska! :lol:

I hope that helps, man!

:thumb:

-Gav

Frenzal Rhomb are Ska? You have got to be ****ing kidding. They have one Ska song, and its the cover the Sesame Street. :lol:

Frenzal are not ska.

[funkyhoney]

Frenzal Rhomb are Ska? You have got to be ****ing kidding. They have one Ska song, and its the cover the Sesame Street. :lol:

Frenzal are not ska.
you and i know that, but sooo many people say they are ska punk

[Jamie]

^ He's pretty good...not insane or anything, but he deserves a bit more credit.

I tabbed out Five State Drive (whole song), which someone said is their hardest bass song, so he can't be too good if I can do it. :lol:

If you still want the tab, I think I have it, since MXTabs was taken down...

:thumb:

-Gav


You and I both know learning to play a song and writing the song is totally different :p


*tries to stick up for the inspiration that made me start*


:D

[Alma]

you and i know that, but sooo many people say they are ska punk

It gets very annoying to say the least heh.

[Polyamarous]

I swear I read this in a lesson, and I've repeated it throughout numerous threads:
Look at tabs etc of what the guitar and bass are doing wihtihn a song (by this i mean look at a less than jake bass line/guitar line etc) by stdying it and using basic music thoery you can quickly see how the bass lines are often harmonies/apreggios of the root note fomr the guitar chord. Just study through as many skas lines as you can find. You'll work it out.

[Polyamarous]

^ He's pretty good...not insane or anything, but he deserves a bit more credit.

I tabbed out Five State Drive (whole song), which someone said is their hardest bass song, so he can't be too good if I can do it. :lol:

If you still want the tab, I think I have it, since MXTabs was taken down...

:thumb:

-Gav

yes he is an awesome bassist.

Could i have the Five State Drive tab please?

[peeted]

ska? major triads are your freinds. as are arpegio runs and octive slaps.

[peeted]

oh and lissen to street light manifesto, capdown, catch 22 and no comply.
(look up random hand and sonic boom 6 wile your at it, there ace but nowere near as big as the other ones i listed)

[PaulR]

Sonic Boom Six are great, as are No Comply.

British female fronted ska for the win!

[fatbandit]

How about No Doubt? Their bass player got me into bass. And Different People has a great line.

:smash:

[Mein bass]

I haven't heard enough no doubt to agree :-\
My friend who plays GUITAR got me into bass.

[peeted]

Sonic Boom Six are great, as are No Comply.

British female fronted ska for the win!
if you like em look up random hand, there from very near were i live and they have played with sonic boom 6 and no comply a few times.
they were gona get signed to the same label as sonic boom 6 but turned it down because they didnt think they were ready.
deffinatley a band worth checking out.

[peeted]

infact..... http://www.myspace.com/randomhand

[FlamingCouch]

Streetlight Manifesto are international. They're phenomenal. Come check out the punk section. There's probably not a single person there that dislikes them.

Streetlight are indeed insane.
And dude, Dead Milkmen represent!

Another crazy ska band for bass is the Voodoo Glow Skulls. Millencolin's ska is really good bass-wise too.


EDIT: Yes, fatbandit, Tony Kanal of No Doubt is awesome.