My 365 bass riffs in 365 days project

[Vince]

I am trying to come up with 365 bass riffs over the arc of 365 days. I got the idea from a photo-a-day thing that Tsuken does on FaceBook.

The main idea is that the riffs don't have to be totally perfect, or very long (they average about a minute each), but they do have to have an A/B section and be scalable to a proper song some day. And they have to be recognisably different among themselves. I am also trying to make every riff dependent on the bass alone so, so far, there's no loopers or overdubs.

I wasn't going to mention this project (people here come up with such great stuff), but I figure that if I tell a lot of people about my project then that keeps me honest (as opposed to going "atonal" for six months or whatever) and it forces me to keep going so I won't look like a piker.

Anyway, here's the first few days' worth. I have trouble imagining myself doing this in March, let alone September or December, but I guess it's a matter of plugging away at it, day by day.

http://soundcloud.com/vince-cabrera-1

[NZRS-Dave]

Interesting.

I had an idea for a book with a similar idea ... I was going to do a 'riff a day' for guitar and for bass. The idea was to have 364 riffs from with some information on the tune as well as how to play the riff.

I figured that I would have some issues with copyright, so I gave up on it before I really got started on it.

I think bass would have been had because to find 300+ bass riffs would be hard. Guitar, would be hard too, but not as hard.

Might have another look at it, now that I know more about copyright etc.

Good luck dude, I think that's an awesome task to set yourself.

[Vince]

Interesting.

I had an idea for a book with a similar idea ... I was going to do a 'riff a day' for guitar and for bass. The idea was to have 364 riffs from with some information on the tune as well as how to play the riff.

Back in the 70s there used to be these books for brass called "A Tune A Day" and it was sort of like that. Of course, most of the tunes were pretty lame and public domain so the copyright thing wouldn't have come up. It'd be awesome to have a graded book with decent tunes for beginning players. Kind of like an Etudes book but with stuff everybody knows.

Kids could buy the bass book and the guit book and start a high school band.

[Aquila Rossa]

This is a good idea. I might do it next year on guitar.
Does remind of Julie and Julia a little though, are you going to blog about it too?

[Vince]

This is a good idea. I might do it next year on guitar.
Does remind of Julie and Julia a little though, are you going to blog about it too?

Had to Google Julie and Julia! But no, it was just me trying to do something along the lines of what Tsuken is doing. BTW: thanks for reminding me, I wanted to see that film when it came out, sounds like one to rent.

And I've never thought of blogging about it. I think it would feel a bit pretentious, at least to me. And I'm not too sure what the tunes "mean" anyway, and often it's just me playing until something comes through. It'd be one boring blog! Thanks for the suggestion, though.

[Aquila Rossa]

Just me being a good morning smartass. One question though, are you sure that there is actually 365 bass riffs?

[Vince]

One question though, are you sure that there is actually 365 bass riffs?

No, but I hope there will be...

[sonicfantom]

No, no, the question is "How many will actually sound good?"

It's far easier with guitar, I just need to randomly pick 365 songs with electric guitars, and I pretty much have 365 different riffs.

[Vince]

I just need to randomly pick 365 songs with electric guitars, and I pretty much have 365 different riffs.

...Don't let me stop you.

[sonicfantom]

I'll let you know if I ever manage to play 'em all... in about ten years or so

[Vince]

I'm not sure I can do it myself, esp. because there's days when one is creative and days when one is not, and I've decided not to save up stuff for slow days 'cause that would be sort of cheating.

I don;t know how into songwriting you are BUT... have you thought of setting yourself up a weekly or a monthly goal? Write a song a month or something? It's good to have a time frame because it pushes you to come up with something. Just an idea.

[Vince]

Going into the 2nd month!

http://soundcloud.com/vince-cabrera-1

[NZRS-Dave]

Go the Vince!

It's a totally ambitious project, may your fingers and strings maintain the best of friendships.

[Vince]

Go the Vince!

It's a totally ambitious project, may your fingers and strings maintain the best of friendships.

LOL Yeah, somedays I have to work around various aches.

[rob_on_guitar]

Its an awesome way to learn guitar too, learn one riff per day.