Jonathan Shaw
  • Biography
    • Resume/C.V.
  • Hybrid Appreciation Pages
    • Week 1 In Person >
      • Syllabus & Defining Music Appreciation
      • Activity : Judging Music
      • Judging Music
    • Week 2 In Person >
      • Review - Instrumentation / Timbre
      • Intro to Melody
      • Intro to Rhythm
      • Instrumentation Activity / Timbre Listening Exercise
    • Week 3 In Person >
      • Harmony
      • Bass
      • Texture
    • Week 4 In person >
      • Friday 3/13
    • Week 4 Online
    • Week 5 In Person >
      • Week 5 : April 20
      • Evolution of a Genre : Example Assignment
      • Evolution of a Genre Assignment
    • Week 7 In Person
  • Uarts All- Star Band
  • Camden County College Fall 2017
    • Aural Theory II >
      • Thursday 10/12
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      • Unit 1 Test Review
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          • Rhythm
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        • Thursday 11/2
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          • Weekend Blues Assignment
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        • Thanksgiving Assignment ; Evolution of a Genre
        • Tuesday 11/28
      • Sampling "Ted Talk" Project
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  • Summer 2017 - Music App
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        • Blues Continued
        • Evolution of a Genre
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  • Spring2017:Camden County College
    • Music Appreciation Spring 2017 >
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            • Example
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        • Blues : Class 1 / Class 2 >
          • Weekend Blues Assignment
        • Tuesday 4/18
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          • Bass
        • Thursday 4/27
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      • Pentatonic / Quarter Note Pulse >
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  • Music Fundamentals for Sound Engineers
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      • Notation Practice - Test
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  • Music Appreciation Fall 2016
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      • Monday 10/3
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        • Timeline of Harmony
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  • Thursday 10/26
  • Weekend Blues Assignment
  • Thanksgiving Assignment ; Evolution of a Genre
  • Friday 3/13

Bass 

Simple Definition :  The lowest Part of the harmony

Bass is really part of the harmony, as it provides the lowest notes we  are hearing in a song (hence the literal name; bass).

Example:

-The Bass Guitar / Upright Bass are literally named after their range

- The Bass Section of  a choir is named after its range
​This is because these instruments are almost always providing the bass

The lowest sound during a performance

This can be confusing, as it is generally played by and instrument called the Bass (see below) but there is always bass in songs even if there isn't a Bass instrument or Bass section. 

Why does it exist? 
-Has a Grounding effect on the Harmony
-When we add that low note, it fills out the chord, give it more body

Lower = More POWERFUL sounding

-Physically, we hear a wider range of frequencies

What instruments can provide the BASS? 

Upright Bass
       -Can be Bowed or Plucked
-Electric Bass Guitar
       - Can be Plucked or Strummed, like a regular guitar
​
  ​Upright Bass
​Electric Bass
Synthesizer

       - Electronically generated sounds, usually played on a keyboard
-Some instruments like piano and guitar can play their own bass notes
because the have a wide range already on their instrument
Types of Bass-lines
Bass lines Can have a profound effect on the groove/style/genre of the the music.  This stems from its rhythmic qualities.

Stagnant Bass
-Very little linear movement
-Only changes notes with the harmony
-not very many notes
-Usually only 1 note per chord played
-Usually not very rhythmic, except for repetition of same note
-Often Synthesized, not live instrumentation

Stagnant Examples:

Blink 182 Sheet Music
Blink 182 Video
Beyonce Sheet Music
​Beyonce Video




Walking Bass
-Opposite of Stagnant
-Constantly moving Notes
-Always moves at a steady Rhythm/Pace, Usually every beat or every other beat (rhythmically repetitive)
-Provides motion for the music (hence 'walking')

Walking Bass Examples:
Ray Brown 

Stevie Sheet Music
Stevie Sheet Music
Stevie Video




​Riffed Bass
-A Riff is a repetitive rhythmic and melodic pattern
-Repetitive bass line looped many times, sometimes for the duration of the song
-provides lowest part of harmony, as well as the rhythmic basis for the song
-Important part of the groove/beat

Riffed Bass Examples:

Jet Sheet Music
Jet Video

Cee Lo Sheet Music
Cee Lo Video


Pink Floyd Sheet Music
Pink Floyd Video

Class Activity


Find 3 Songs that you think have different kinds of bass-lines. 


Describe WHY and HOW the bass lines sound like they differ from each other. 

Take  a Guess at what kind of BassLine you think it is


So you will give me:  Song and Artist,  Explanation of WHY and HOW the bass lines are different from each other, Type of Bass Line  
x 3

When Guessing type:  Remember the biggest differing factor is

RHYTHM 

-is it rhythmically repetitive?
-steady on the beat?
-long notes?
-repeated rhythm?


Then .....

HARMONY
-Is it harmonically repetitive?
-Is it Changing Notes a lot?
-is it on the same note for multiple beats?


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