How can we create a successful bass line?

How can we create a successful bass line?

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In this lesson, we will explore what makes a stylistic bass line. We will learn how to create our own bass lines using the chords from Pachelbel's Canon, and build our confidence in inputting this into a Digital Audio Workstation.

Licence

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10 Questions

Q1.
What is a triad?
Correct answer: A chord with three notes, root, 3rd and 5th
A three sided note
Three notes next to each other: 1, 2, 3
Q2.
What are the primary triads?
I, iii, V (1, 3, 5)
Correct answer: I, IV, V (1, 4, 5)
ii, iii, vi (2, 3, 6)
Q3.
What are the primary triads in D major?
D, Em, F#m
D, F#, A
Correct answer: D, G, A
Q4.
What are the secondary triads?
I, iii, V (1, 3, 5)
I, IV, V (1, 4, 5)
Correct answer: ii, iii, vi (2, 3, 6)
Q5.
What is an inversion?
Playing the notes of the chord from low to high
Correct answer: Playing the notes of the chord in a different order
Reversing the chord
Q6.
Which of these is an inversion of a D major chord?
A C# D
A D E
Correct answer: A D F#
Q7.
What do you do when you spread a chord?
Invert the chord
Correct answer: Play the notes of the chord quickly from low to high
Repeat the chord
Q8.
What is the basso continuo?
The chords and melody in Baroque music
Correct answer: The ground bass and chords in Baroque music
The ground bass and melody in Baroque music
Q9.
Who plays the basso continuo?
Correct answer: Harpsichord and cello/bass viol
Harpsichord and violin
Violin and cello/bass viol
Q10.
What part of the basso contino does the cello/bass viol play?
Chords
Correct answer: Ground bass
Melody

10 Questions

Q1.
What is a chord?
A repeated note
Correct answer: More than one note played at the same time
Two notes
Q2.
What is a triad?
Correct answer: A chord with three notes, root, 3rd and 5th
A three sided note
Three notes next to each other: 1, 2, 3
Q3.
What are the primary triads?
I, iii, V (1, 3, 5)
Correct answer: I, IV, V (1, 4, 5)
ii, iii, vi (2, 3, 6)
Q4.
What is a bassline?
A basso continuo
A melody in the bass.
Correct answer: The lowest part of a piece of music, often repeated.
Q5.
What are the primary triads in D major?
D, Em, F#m
D, F#, A
Correct answer: D, G, A
Q6.
What are the secondary triads?
I, iii, V (1, 3, 5)
I, IV, V (1, 4, 5)
Correct answer: ii, iii, vi (2, 3, 6)
Q7.
How do you create a basic bassline?
Use all the notes of the scale
Correct answer: Use the root of the chord
Use you musical ear to come up with something
Q8.
How could you vary a bassline?
Change the instrument
Correct answer: Change the rhythm
Make it faster
Q9.
What is a passing note?
A missed out note
Correct answer: A note directly between two pitches
A repeated note
Q10.
What would a suitable passing note be to move between C and A?
A
Correct answer: B
E

Lesson appears in

UnitMusic / The Beauty of the Baroque