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Many musicians play alongside a bassist in the same way they play when performing solo, but in theory, this is incorrect. While you can do it occasionally, you should “pick your spots” wisely. Personally, I am not fond of this type of playing because when your left hand plays a C two octaves below middle C on the keyboard while the bassist also plays a C note, it creates a muddy sound, which is undesirable.
Instead of playing the same notes as the bassist, here are some alternatives you can try:
- Play something different from what the bassist is playing. The options are endless, and I will explain below.
- Let your left hand play chord notes around middle C. Regardless of the key, trust your ear to determine if the sound becomes too muddy.
In the key of C, you can use major 7th, minor 7th, dominant 7th, and diminished 7th chords.
It is important to learn how to play these types of chords with your left hand in various inversions. As you play, you will discover which inversions work best for you.
Now, this is not rocket science. Here’s an example:
Let’s use the following progression in the key of C: 2-5-1 (Dmin7-G7-CMaj7).
- Bassist plays D
- Your Left Hand (YLH) plays CF
- Your Right Hand (YRH) plays CFA or CEFA (Dmin9)
- Bassist plays G
- YLH plays BF
- YRH plays DGB or FACE (G9)
- Bassist plays C
- YLH plays BE or CE (around middle C or just below)
- YRH plays EGC or DGC (Cadd9) or BDEG (Cmaj9)
In any chord (e.g., Cmaj7 = C-E-G-B), the third determines whether the chord is major or minor, and the seventh determines whether the chord is stable or not. That’s why in the key of C, when you finish a song, you don’t play C dominant7 but instead play a Cmaj7. G in the key of C is unstable and wants to resolve, which is why you play it as a G7 chord.
If you observe, on my left hand, I use the thirds and sevenths of each chord because they are the most important notes in any given chord. You can add other notes to these to add flavor as long as they include the third and seventh. Additionally, the same chords used for the right hand can also be used for the left hand because they include the third and seventh.
A minor third and a flat seventh in a dominant chord is called a tritone (e.g., G7 = G-B-D-F). The notes B and F form a tritone.
When playing chords with your left hand, you can also play scales with your right hand. This is how jazz musicians approach playing.
Experiment with chords on your right hand when playing dominant chords. For example:
- Bassist plays G7
- YLH plays BF
- YRH plays BEAb (E Major chord). This gives you a G13b9 chord.
Remember to have fun exploring these chord variations and combinations while playing with a bassist!
Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME
