Bass is a function in the musical fabric that encompasses the lowest sounds. There is an opinion about the relationship of the words "bass" and "base" - the basis, since the bass is a kind of foundation of music, which largely determines the color of the chord. In some cases, this is the name for the instrument that plays the lowest notes in the score.
Instructions
Step 1
The selection of bass by ear, for example, in pop songs, rock and other pop genres, is possible with a developed ear for music. This is facilitated by the writing of monophonic, two-part and polyphonic musical dictations - musical excerpts that the musician writes in notes without looking at the original or the keyboard while playing the melody.
Dictations are part of solfeggio lessons - a discipline aimed at developing vocal-auditory coordination, musical ear and thinking. In the system of professional music education, this subject is compulsory, but if you have a strong enough will, do solfeggio on your own.
Step 2
Other subjects of the musical-theoretical cycle (harmony, polyphony) also contribute to the development of musical ear. Self-study on them is somewhat more difficult than solfeggio, but provided there is sufficient personal motivation, you will cope with this material.
Step 3
When choosing a bass for your own piece, ear is also important, but you have the score of the piece before your eyes. You can see which chord is being played at any given moment. Based on the analysis of the chord, you can put one of its tones in the bass part. As a rule, the prima is chosen - the main tone of the triad. It gives the chord more definition and firmness. This rule is optional, you can choose any of three or even four tones (depending on the type of chord).
Step 4
When composing a bass part, only rhythm harmony is initially recorded: you determine how long this or that chord lasts, what it is, put the prima chord with a pencil into the bass part. After a complete analysis of the score, arrange the bass melody: diversify it, correlating it with the general rhythm of the music, add small and large durations, syncopations, preconceptions, etc. In this case, the use of non-chord sounds is allowed.
