Project 2: Bass Lines

So, you have successfully composed your first drum loop. Time for project 2.

Your next assignment is to make a second post to your blog. This one has to be a bass line to go with a new drum loop. This time however, you don't have to use the step sequencer to write your loop. FL Studio comes with many complete drum loops that you can link together to make a new song. Here's how you do it:

Open a new FL Studio file and in the top menu, go to Channels-Add one-FPC.

In the FPC Window, choose a drum style in the empty box in the top right corner of the window. I used several of the breakbeat loops for the sample below. Notice that the pattern enters directly into the step sequencer? Click play to hear your pattern in the step sequencer.

If you like it, select a blank pattern in the step sequencer and get another loop from the FPC window. I used a total of three different loops and two fills for the pattern below.

Once your drum loops and fills are together, arrange them in the step sequencer in A,B,C form.

Now turn your attention to the bass line.

You can use any bass sounds you like in the browser. You'll find a lot under Channel Presets- 3x OSC, and TS404. You can also use the Boo Bass (which I used in the sample below) To get the Boo Bass, go to the top menu and select Channels-add one-boo bass. Then select the channel and right click it. Select Piano Roll, and the piano roll window opens. You can put in notes for the Boo bass to play in the window. You can make them long, short, whatever you like.

Some hints on bass construction:
1. Listen to your favorite music and notice the bass part. It sounds obvious, but I'm amazed by the number of submissions I get that don't sound like bass lines. Start by doing some thoughtful listening.
2. Keep the bass in the low register (below C5). Bass lines should not be very high in pitch.
3. Don't make the bass play more than one note at a time. Not that it can't be done, it's just simpler with one note at a time.
4. Be aware of how the bass line will fit with your drum pattern. A good starting place is to consider having the bass double the rhythm of the kick drum. Here's an example:



100 Maximum points :
20 The sound chosen for the bass had an appropriate bass timbre. I used the BooBass for the sample below (Channels-Add One- BooBass)
10 The bass line was in the correct register.
10 The bass line complemented the drums.
10 The mix was balanced.
10 The project was of proper length.
20 Effort/ Creativity
20 Blog post was descriptive, positive and constructive comments on classmates blogs were issued.

Good luck!

P.S. If you don't like the Boo Bass or any of the other bass sounds available, go to channels and explore some of the plug ins that we have. The Simsynth and Sytrus are both excellent. The Slayer has a lot of bass sounds as well as guitar sounds too.