What to do with bass lines.

[Maelstrom]

So, everyone's come across video games songs with a bass line that is just a boring bass guitar or some electronic percussion. There's always the choice to just not do it, but can I get some tips on how to make it more interesting/playable/piano-like?

[FireArrow]

If you want to be cliché you can make it an alberti bass. Those broken octaves with a fifth between them (does this have a name?) are pretty common for piano pieces as well. In all honesty, you may just want to keep the boring bass line if it goes well with the style of said piece.

[SlowPokemon]

Yeah, on this site accuracy is always the most important thing.

Speaking of which, though it is pronounced "base," it's spelled "bass."

[mikey]

Chords man

[JDMEK5]

Chords man

If it's a sad, slow piece; maybe what you need is a little arpeggiating. In which case Nocturne here is exactly right.

[MaestroUGC]

If you want to give your left hand something to do, basic leaps from the bottom to mid-piano (octave-chord-repeat) is a fast an easy way to bring some zest. Bonus points if the leap is greater than two octaves.

An alternative choice to the introduce a secondary counter point to the bass line, preferably one of your own invention, but pre-existing material will work just as well.

If neither of those suite you simply invert the melody-bass parts and have the left hand play the melody under the bass-line.

Of course my personal favorite is to do all of these at once, but I don't think you're ready for that.

[Clanker37]

You could do a walking bass line for some groove. Or if you're really into it, call and response between your hands. I generally go for stride piano (Tonic note - Tonic Chord - Dominant - Tonic Chord, changing for modulations using a simple ostinato) which helps some of the more yawn worthy bass lines out there.

But, if it's for the site, you should probably keep the original bass line. I know it takes the energy out of some pieces, but accuracy is more important.