Bass riff generator
A bass riff generator creates bass lines in a key and scale you choose, with tab and playback. This page uses E natural minor on a four-string bass in E standard at 110 BPM.
Example riff
This riff was made with the settings below and the seed bass-riffs1. The same settings and seed always give the same riff.
- Key
- E
- Scale
- Natural minor
- Tuning
- Bass E Standard
- Tempo
- 110 BPM
- Difficulty
- 2
- Technique
- Melodic
- Bars
- 4
G|--------------------------------|--------------------------------| D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------| A|----2-------0---3---------------|----2-------0---3-----------3---| E|0-------------------0-------3---|0-------------------2-----------| G|--------------------------------|--------------------------------| D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------| A|----2-------0---3---------------|------------------------0-------| E|0-------------------0-------3---|0---0---7---3---0---2-------0---|
Open this riff in the generator Make a new riff in this style
How a bass riff differs from a guitar riff
A bass has four strings, tuned E, A, D and G, one octave below the four lowest guitar strings. Bass lines usually follow the root and the rhythm of the music instead of playing chords, so the notes sit close to the root with a few steps away from it.
Using the generator for bass
Choose Bass E Standard or Bass Drop D in the tuning list. The tab then has four lines, and the exported MIDI file uses a bass sound so it opens with the right instrument.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play the riff on a guitar?
Yes, on the four lowest strings, one octave higher. The fret numbers are the same.
Does the playback sound like a bass?
Not yet. Playback in the generator is a simple plucked tone that is the same for every tuning. The exported MIDI file does use a bass sound.