Difference Between Bass-line and Melody??

[dabeastleash]

I know i know another DUH question.   I would like to know what's the difference between the bass-line and melody in a song.  When I asked how to find the right chords for a song some musicians told me it is easier to find the bass-line then add chords..How can i find the bass-line and how can it make it easier to find chords than the melody?? 

[under13]

I'd like to know too. I'm pretty clueless when it come to bass.

[Ramar]

How can i find the bass-line and how can it make it easier to find chords than the melody?? 

When you listen to a song, the melody is usually the notes that  are sung by the choir and the bass line usually is the lower(usually below A3 or C4)notes played by a bass guitar... play the bass line with your left hand and the chords with your right.

[kodacolor]

I know i know another DUH question.   I would like to know what's the difference between the bass-line and melody in a song.  When I asked how to find the right chords for a song some musicians told me it is easier to find the bass-line then add chords..How can i find the bass-line and how can it make it easier to find chords than the melody?? 

I'm going to try to explain this the best I can.  T-Block may be able to explain it better, but I'm going to try my hand at it!

The bass line are the low notes played by the bass or, in cases where there's not bass, the low notes on a keyboard.  Usually you can use the bass line as the root note an find other notes around it that harmonize with it the way you want it to sound.  For instance.  "C", "E", and "G" make a major "C" chord.  "C" would be the low note in the chord that your took from the bass line to find the chord.  You'd play the C-E-G chord with your right hand and play an individual "C" note with your left hand on the piano's lower part.  (And later try to experiement with harmonizing bass lines that like G/F-A-C (I think that's the chord I'm looking for.  Try going from F/F-A-C to G/F-A-C.  I'm not at my board right now so...I'm doing this of the top of my head)

I hope that helps 

I'm not very much of a teacher.

[kodacolor]

When you listen to a song, the melody is usually the notes that  are sung by the choir and the bass line usually is the lower(usually below A3 or C4)notes played by a bass guitar... play the bass line with your left hand and the chords with your right.

Lol! I did leave out what the melody was didn't I?  Lol! 

[dabeastleash]

thanks i will definitely look into this further...

[Fenix]

thanks i will definitely look into this further...

...do that.

[T-Block]

The melody is basically the tune of the song.  For example, when u play "Mary Had A Little Lamb" using one finger, that's melody.  It will usually be the highest notes being sung or played.

The bass is the drive of the song and the foundation for the chords.  It will be the lowest notes u hear being played or sung.  You ever hear a song where there is a breakdown and the only thing u hear are some low notes being played accompanied by some type of drum pattern?  That's the bass line being played.

The bass can stand alone during the song, but the melody can't.  This is why I stress the importance of learning a song by the bass first instead of the melody.  Without the bass, ur song and/or chords have no direction.

[chevonee]

The melody is basically the tune of the song.  For example, when u play "Mary Had A Little Lamb" using one finger, that's melody.  It will usually be the highest notes being sung or played.

The bass is the drive of the song and the foundation for the chords.  It will be the lowest notes u hear being played or sung.  You ever hear a song where there is a breakdown and the only thing u hear are some low notes being played accompanied by some type of drum pattern?  That's the bass line being played.

The bass can stand alone during the song, but the melody can't.  This is why I stress the importance of learning a song by the bass first instead of the melody.  Without the bass, ur song and/or chords have no direction.

And there you have it!!! Gr8 job splainin this concept Mr. Block...I wanna be like you when I grow up (fa' real)