How to Write BASS LINES That Move People • Music Theory from Nine Inch Nails "Closer"

Hack Music Theory

How to Write
Bass Lines
That Move People.

Download PDF Tutorial
includes multitrack MIDI file

If the link above does not work, paste this into your browser:
https://hackmusictheory.com/album/2505465/bass-moves

Intro.

I remember the first time I heard “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails in a club back in the ‘90s. I’d never before seen people literally running to the dance floor. Running!

My fellow Gen Xers will remember this, but by the time the bass line starts after about 20 seconds of drums, the dance floor would be completely packed. And this phenomenon happened in every club! The power of a great bass line to move people (even over a simple four-on-the-floor beat, like in “Closer”) still amazes me.

Ever since then, I’ve felt that the ability to get people physically moving is probably the most fun aspect of making music.

So, here’s a step-by-step method inspired by “Closer” for writing bass lines with the power to move bodies, minds, and hearts! But first… Tea!

Step 1. Body

Set your tempo to 90 BPM, then throw in a simple four-on-the-floor beat on your drum track. If you don’t know what that is, no problem, it’s just a kick on every 1/4 note and a snare on beats 2 and 4 (see MIDI below).

Right, now set up two bars on your bass track, with your grid on 1/16 notes. You’re gonna start by making a dancy rhythm on only one note, C, which is our root note. Keep in mind that your rhythm needs to be good enough to move bodies all on its own. Adding the melodic element later isn’t going to make your bass line any dancier, so this is the time to maximise its danceability.

Four-on-the-floor drum beat (one bar)

So, what makes a rhythm dancy? Well, arguably the most dancy element is syncopation, which is when you accent an off-beat. However, if you only play off-beats, then your rhythm is gonna sound like a cat walking on your keyboard. So, be sure to play at least one of the main beats. In our example, we played beat 3.

Also, you want a ton of space in your bass line, as that gives way more impact to the few notes that you do play. So, limit yourself to only six notes in this step, and make all of them 1/16 notes. And yes, keep all of them on C. Don’t worry though, we’ll add a couple more notes in step 3. On that note, leave beat 4 open, as that’s where those extra notes will go (see MIDI below).

Repetition also plays a huge part in making a rhythm dancy. You wanna give your listeners an almost hypnotic rhythm that moves their bodies and releases their minds from thought. So, you’re only gonna write a one-bar rhythm. Then, when you’re happy with it, copy and paste it into your second bar.

One-bar rhythm on root note (C) copied and pasted into bar 2 (highlighted)

Step 2. Mind

Now that you’ve got the body moving with your rhythm, it’s time to move the mind. You’re gonna do this by spreading your rhythm out over two full octaves. Yeah I know, that’s a massive range! But, with that range you can play three versions of the root note: C2, C3, and C4 (see MIDI below).

This is a game-changer, as you can maintain that simplicity you created in step 1, but instead of playing your rhythm on one pitch, you’re now playing it on three different pitches. Technically your bass line is still only on one note, C, but sonically it’s now on three different pitches. This illusion of variation will feed your listeners’ minds with its interest, while not stimulating their brains to start thinking.

Bass line playing root note, C, on three different pitches (C2, C3, C4)

Step 3. Heart

Right, now that you’ve got the body and mind moving, it’s time to move the heart. So, this is where you’re gonna add a couple of other notes, in order to infuse your bass line with emotion.

Nine Inch Nails uses the super dissonant ♭5 (which is G♭ in this example), and the funky ♭7 (which is B♭). We used those notes in our example too, but they obviously make the bass line sound dissonant and heavy. So, if you’re wanting to make a more uplifting song, then use more consonant notes. By the way, if you need help with choosing which scale/notes to use, please read our Free Book.

Once you’ve decided on your two notes, add them into beat 4 of both bars. But, play them differently in each bar, i.e. play them in a different order and/or using a different rhythm. This variation will keep your bass line from getting too repetitive.

Bass line with ♭5 (G♭) and ♭7 (B♭) highlighted

Lastly, add another root note into beat 4 in both bars, but use a different octave for each (highlighted below). This will make it flow more, and also add momentum.

Final bass line

Make Music You LOVE.

I know you want to be a confident producer who finishes songs, and loves the results. In order to become a confident producer, though, you need decades of knowledge and experience. To gain that knowledge, you need a good teacher. To gain that experience, you need decades of practice. That’s overwhelming!

I understand that searching for a good teacher is frustrating. Most courses are taught by YouTubers who are not qualified in music, and are not qualified teachers either. The few who are qualified in both, have no industry experience. I feel your pain. Truly. Most of my music teachers were bad. That’s why I studied music and education in order to become a lecturer, and why I created Hack Music Theory.

Also, over my 30+ years of composing, I developed a unique method called Song-Whispering, which I’ve used to make music with multiplatinum Grammy winners. In my one-of-a-kind online apprenticeship, you’ll learn my method and turbocharge your music with my decades of knowledge and experience.

Enroll Now and stop wasting years of your life learning from bad teachers and trying to get better through trial-and-error. Transform into the confident producer you would be in 10+ years now, and start loving your music!

Ray Harmony
Multi award-winning college lecturer, teaching since 1995

Download PDF Tutorial

Lastly, are you new to music theory? Or are you experienced, but you want a refresher? Then download our FREE BOOK (link opens in new tab). It only takes 30 minutes to read, then you’ll have a solid theory foundation that you can instantly apply to your songwriting and producing. Enjoy!

If the FREE BOOK link doesn't work, just visit our BOOKS page:
https://hackmusictheory.com/books