Finding the Right Bass Sound

[Kevin A]

Bass is the one thing that troubles me to the point that I have no formula for it when I'm making my music, and it is always the last thing I work on. I always get it in the end, but it's never like I imagine or desire to be when I hear it in my head 1st.
What formula is there for finding the right bass sound or pitch for your music. I heard about stuff that had to do with your lead note of your lead instrument, but I never fully read that article and wish I did.

If you find any article for bass formulas, please post them here. I don't do techno so none of the type stuff please. Phat basslines is what I'm looking for. Phat and long Bass Formulas.

Peace

 

[eka]

http://www.computermusic.co.uk/tutorial/basstips/basstips.asp

http://www.acidfanatic.com/index.php?section=home&page=bassline_tutorial

this is all I could find on bass programming.
I usually start with the drums and than the bass.
because that is the backbone of music, the rhythm section.
after that I add the rest of the samples.
What are you using to make music?
might be helpfull to give more tips.
reading about and listening to techno or any kind of electronic music is helpfull, because they use the same kind of equipment and sometimes you get the best idea's from it, but that is my opinion.
good luck and I hope these articles will help you out.

 

[CooGi_dice]

hmmm..... there is theory involved in creating dope bass tracks like the "pros".

but me my self.. i just go by ear, and work off the idea i already have in my head.

the thing is i dont have a formula as to wut i start with first, but its usualy the melody for the hook or melody for the 1st verse, or if im just making a "beat" il do the bass track and then drums.

why dont u try the bass then drum approch?

i find not only with my self but with other producers i know, the sooner you get 2 the bass the better the result... since the point of the bass is to underline the groove of the song, u know... get the listeners head nodding.

 

[Kevin A]

I know it's easier, but the Bass is really not the first thing that comes to me when I make a track. I normally start with the lead instrument, or something in the mid-range eq level, lay drums, drop the bass. I have and can do tracks like that, but I was looking for a methods for those instances when I don't start with the Bass, kinda like having all angles covered. I do in those cases, play it by ear because sometimes it just takes longer than I'm willing to give everytime to get that right bass sound. Thankx Eka, I've actually read those 50 before, and that's where I got my previous information that I forgot, guess I'll have to read it again and more carefully I use FL,cooledit,acid,& sndForge, but FL is my Baby, and secret weapon. I let the people who like to sleep on it sleep, I was a photoshop user long before I found fruityloops, but if you've ever used photoshop, and are advanced in it, you will know that you can do anything with Fl studio, and that it is the Photoshop of music software. When is this FL vs MPC legendary Battle suppose to take place? You can put me down for FL.

 

[jnxe]

i have to do the bass 2nd, right after i get some sort of sample loop.
bass was prolly the hardest thing i had to teach myself. a good pointer is keeping compressed and use a low filter, if you need some mid range on the bass use a 4pole lowpassfilter. play with the tune also

 

[Equality 7-2521]

yesterday i found out you can make a bass note much more stomper by filtering it and turning up the resonance.

just a little tip that night help.

other than that, just get your bassline notes worked out and then try different kinds of bass and see which works best

its all trial and error

 

[Kevin A]

That's good, I do have stompter. I'm not that experience with it, but I did make some hard Kicks with it.

Some body needs to make a automatic bass pitch finder, based of your lead instrument 1st note. But on the real, imma stop being lazy and put the time into it.