104 !!Chapter 6
Synthesized Bass
Synthesized basses are extensively used on recordings and in live perform-
ances. Some arrangers incorporate several synthesized bass parts, with dif-
ferent sounds, within one arrangement. When a synthesized or sampled
bass is programmed, an infinite number of usable sounds are available.
Editing filters, oscillators, and effects help to create almost any sound.
Arrangers must be aware of the trends in popular bass sounds. This infor-
mation will be valuable in choosing a bass sound(s) for an assignment. In
popular music, ‘‘sounds’’ (sonorities) become trends, as do rhythm pat-
terns. This generally evolves because producers hear a hit record that has
a distinct bass pattern and/or sound, and they emulate it. The ‘‘domino
effect’’ occurs, and similar patterns are frequently heard on commercials
and records. Commercial arrangers must be aware of trends because they
are frequently asked to imitate current musical styles.
Drums
In popular music, drummers are the backbone of the rhythm section; they
create the basic groove, (with the bassist). In orchestral music, drums (per-
cussion in an orchestral context) contribute rhythm, effects, and colors to
orchestrations.
A traditional acoustic drum set (used in popular music) is made up of
various percussive instruments that are referred to as a drum kit or trap
drums. Most kits are played with a variety of drumsticks, brushes, and
different-sized mallets (used mainly for cymbals and tom-toms); each
instrument creates a unique sound. In commercial music, drummers are
hired for their individuality, feel, and technique. The average drum kit
consists of the following:
- Snare drum
- Bass drum (a.k.a. kick drum)
- Hi-hat cymbals, which open and close with a foot pedal
- Crash cymbals (used for accents)
- Ride cymbals (an open, ringing sound, used mostly for rhythm pat-
terns) - A variety of additional cymbals of various sizes
- Large and small tom-toms
- Some drummers also combine electric drums with acoustic drums
or only play an electric drum set. Electric drums can either be trig-
gered by an attachment that is connected to an acoustic drum or
by directly striking pads, producing various programmable electric
drum sounds.