Prominent Bass: The Key to Good Electronic Dance Music

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

A lot of people think that any old bass line will do for electronic dance music, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In order to create a truly great EDM track, you need to have a prominent, well-crafted bass line that will drive the whole song.

What is Bass?

In music, bass (/beɪs/) is the lowest pitch of a musical note. The bass note is the foundation of the harmony and sets the mood of the entire song. In electronic dance music, the bassline is often the most prominent feature. A good bassline can make or break a song.

The low end

Bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass, is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb, by plucking, slapping, popping, strumming, tapping, thumping, or picking with a plectrum. The electric bass guitar was first designed in the 1950s. The electric bass guitar is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family.

Bass guitars are used in a range of different musical genres worldwide. They are most commonly used in rock and jazz music. Some well-known rock bassists include Geddy Lee of Rush, Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Entwistle of The Who, and Cliff Burton of Metallica. Jazz bassists include Paul Chambers, Charles Mingus, Marcus Miller and Jaco Pastorius.

The low end of thebass guitar’s range begins at about 41 Hz (the “E0” note on a standard 4-string bass) and extends down to 31 Hz for the low “B0” note found on 5-string and 6-string extended-range instruments. These notes can be produced by any number of fingering techniques: either using all four fingers in a conventional “piano style”, playing open strings for some notes (especially on fretless instruments), or using artificial harmonics for others (especially on fretted instruments).

The kick

In electronic dance music (EDM), the bass is the key to getting people out on the dance floor and keeping them there. But what exactly is bass? And how can you make sure your tracks have enough of it?

Most people perceive bass as low-frequency sounds. But technically speaking, bass is anything below around 250 Hz. That might not seem like a very wide range, but it covers a lot of ground. For comparison, the highest note on a piano is around 4,000 Hz, and dogs can hear frequencies up to around 45,000 Hz!

The kick is the most important element in any EDM track. Without a strong kick, the track will lack energy and drive. The kick should be the foundation of the track, with everything else built around it.

A good kick should have two parts: a thump and a click. The thump provides the low-end frequency that will get people moving, while the click provides attack and definition. When combined, these two elements create a kick that packs a serious punch.

So how do you make sure your kicks are prominent enough? There are a few things you can do:

1. Boost the low frequencies with an equalizer. Around 80 Hz is usually a good starting point.
2. Add compression to even out the levels and make the kick punchier. Try using a ratio of 4:1 or higher and setting the attack time to around 10 ms.
3. Sidechain your other elements to the kick. This will ensure that they don’t drown out the kick when they play at the same time.
4. Make sure your kicks are in time with the beat by using a metronome or drum machine while you’re making them. This will help give them rhythm and groove.
5

Why is Bass Important?

Electronic Dance Music, or EDM, has taken the world by storm in recent years. One of the key elements to a good EDM song is the bass. The bass is what ties the whole song together and gives it that driving beat that gets people moving. Let’s take a closer look at why bass is so important in EDM.

The groove

Most electronic dance music is made up of four basic elements: melody, harmony, rhythm, and bass. The bass is the foundation of the groove, anchoring the other elements and providing a sense of movement and momentum. Without a strong bass line, the music can feel flat and lacks energy.

The feeling

The feeling of the bass is important in electronic dance music because it is responsible for the groove and groove is what makes people want to dance. The bass also helps to create a sense of space and depth in the mix, which can make the music feel more engaging. When the bass is too loud, it can dominate the mix and make the music feel hectic and chaotic. When the bass is too quiet, the music can feel flat and lifeless.

How to get Good Bass in your Electronic Dance Music

A good Electronic Dance Music track is all in the bass. The right mix of low end frequencies can make any track a club banger. In this article, we’ll show you how to get good bass in your electronic dance music.

Pick the right software

It all starts with the software you use. The better the software, the better the bass will be. There are tons of different software options out there, so it can be tough to know which one to choose. If you’re serious about getting good bass, you should definitely consider spending some money on a quality program. Some of the best options out there include Ableton Live, FL Studio, and Logic Pro.

Once you have your software set up, you’ll need to choose the right bass sound. This can be tricky, as there are so many different options out there. A good place to start is by browsing through sound libraries and presets until you find something that catches your ear. You can also create your own bass sounds using synthesisers and samplers.

Once you have your sound picked out, it’s time to start creating some bass lines. The best way to do this is to start with a simple chord progression and then add in some embellishments. Try experimenting with different rhythms and melodies to see what sounds best. Remember, there are no rules here – just go with what sounds good to you!

Use EQ and compression

Bass is the foundation of good electronic dance music. It’s responsible for the rhythm, groove, and overall feel of a track, so it’s important to get it right.

There are a few things you can do to make sure your bass is as good as it can be. First, use EQ to boost the low frequencies and cut the high frequencies. This will help the bass stand out and give it more body. Second, use compression to even out the level of the bass so it doesn’t get lost in the mix. Compression will also make the bass sound punchier and tighter.

By using EQ and compression, you can make sure your bass is sounding its best. These tips will help you create tracks that have a solid foundation and a great feel.

Use a sub bass

In electronic dance music, prominent bass is the key to good music. Prominent bass gives the music its energy and makes it exciting to listen to. There are many ways to get prominent bass in your music, but one of the best ways is to use a sub bass.

A sub bass is a low-frequency sound that provides the foundation for the rest of the music. It gives the music its power and drive, and it can make even the most simple track sound good. If you want to get good bass in your electronic dance music, you need to use a sub bass.

There are two main types of sub bass: synths and samples. Synth Bass: A synth bass is created by using synthesizers to create low-frequency sounds. This type of bass is often used in techno and house music. It can be very effective in creating a sense of energy and power in the music. Sample Bass: A sample bass is created by taking a sample of an existing piece of music and then manipulating it to create a low-frequency sound. This type of bass is often used in hip-hop and dubstep. It can be very effective in creating a sense of space and atmosphere in the music. When you’re choosing a sub bass for your track, you need to consider what kind of effect you want it to have on the overall sound of the track. Do you want it to be powerful and driving? Or do you want it to be atmospheric and spacious? Once you’ve decided what kind of effect you want, you can start looking for sounds that will achieve that effect.

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