There are as many dimensions are there are songs.

Categories are - to me - most useful when trying to think of what sort of approach would be best for the song.

But with pop, it's more often simple groove that works. Doctor My Eyes is very much root-centric, but it still stands out as a great bass part - driving rhythm, and then arpeggios that fit just right by Leland Sklar. Dan Peek's bass runs on Tin Man that connect the chords on the chorus - analytically simple, but memorable and perfect for the song. George Ford's bass filling the gaps in On The Border is another bit of simple playing that just works. Nick Lowe's funky bass and octave walk-ups on I Love The Sound of Breaking Glass.

Yeah, all my examples are over fifty years old... laugh


-- David Cuny

My virtual singer development blog
Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.