Bass plays high part or low part?

[Closed Eye]

I'm writing a guitar riff and since I'm the only guitarist in this project I'm doing the bassist has to pick up the tonal slack.

I've got a song with a B-A-F#-E chord progression in standard tuning and I'm wondering if the bassist needs to pick up the tonal slack on the low end (doing the F#-E on the E string) or on the high end (F#-E on the A string). Or, you know, whatever other suggestions you have.

So, generally, what's the rule here?

 

[larry_emder]

Re: Bass plays high part or low part?

Whatever sounds best.

 

[Blueswaite]

Re: Bass plays high part or low part?

Agree try both and let your ears be the judge.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Bass plays high part or low part?

A lot of bass players are good at building the song as it goes along and creating good dynamics by using the octaves of the bass well. EG start low and use the higher pattern as a build.

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Bass plays high part or low part?

There are no set rules.
As a part time bass player I'll use the guitar riff as a starting point, if I think the song needs a good chug I'll nail the low notes, if it needs something more 'tuneful' I'll play around the chords, possibly following the vocal line at times.
All depends what works in the song.