I Need help with writing melody for this bass line

[dwest2419]

How To Learn Songs From Recordings

In this video I have a song that I was coming up with and I dont know how to go about getting it started. And in this video he suggest to

1. Listen to a song

2.Try to listen to the bass and try singing the bass line

3.Try to play the bass line on the guitar or piano

4.Write the melody on top of the bass line

5.Try to figure out what the chord isnt try whether it is a maj min aug or dim

6. When you write out bass notes their often the root of a chord


With all that being said I have a bass line I came up with but Im having a hard time putting the melody together. Like I know the melody has to to be on top of the bass line.


With all that being said here's how my bass line look:

Melody ?


Bass line A - C# - F# - D

[T-Block]

My questions is are you trying to learn a previously recorded song with that bass line, or are you trying to make up something?

[dwest2419]

make up something

[T-Block]

My next question: What key are you in?

Looks like A to me, but it could be D (or E) as well.

[dwest2419]

Yea it is the key of A

[T-Block]

Ok, you're in the key of A, and you got you're bass notes. Now, take those bass notes and turn them into progression numbers. Use the A major scale notes:  A=1  B=2  C#=3  D=4  E=5  F#=6  G#=7

[dwest2419]

So that would make the bass progression as an 1-3-6-4

Ok I got that part down, but what next?

[T-Block]

Next, I would add some chords to the mix. Start with the scale degree chords:

1=major   2=minor   3=minor   4=major   5=major   6=minor   7=diminished

[dwest2419]

So would that be major for the 1 chord minor for the 3 chord minor chord for the 6 chord and major for the four chord? But have you ever thought about inversions to chord that might have those root bass notes?

[T-Block]

So would that be major for the 1 chord minor for the 3 chord minor chord for the 6 chord and major for the four chord? But have you ever thought about inversions to chord that might have those root bass notes?

Yes.

Also, notice I said "start" with those chords. Ultimately, you can play whatever chords you desire, but I'm just showing this from a ground level so that anyone can learn to do it.

[T-Block]

Now that we have our chords, let's list them (and their inversions)

A / A-C#-E, C#-E-A, E-A-C#

C# / C#-E-G#, E-G#-C#, G#-C#-E

F# / F#-A-C#, A-C#-F#, C#-F#-A

D / D-F#-A, F#-A-D, A-D-F#


If there are some chords up there that you don't like, feel free to change them.

[dwest2419]

oh ok! Thanks! I like the inversions, too!

[T-Block]

Next step is what kind of song do u want to find a melody for (genre, tempo, song topic, etc.). You could also just play round with the chords until something hits you.

SN: Many times the melody will come first, then music will be added later to accompany it. I think it's easier to write music for a melody than vice versa, but it can be done.