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    74 views3 pages

    3 Little Birds Bassline

    Uploaded by

    ninster

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 3

    S E C O N D A R Y / K E Y S T A G E 3 M U S I C – O F F B E A T

    Bass Line Riffs in Three Little Birds


    Name Form

    The song “Three Little Birds” is in the key of A MAJOR. The key signature of A Major has THREE SHARPS –
    F SHARP (F#), C SHARP (C#) and G SHARP (G#).

    1. Work out the notes in the scale of A MAJOR by writing the notes onto the stave below ASCENDING AND
    DESCENDING. Write the note letter names underneath if you need to. We have already added the key
    signature of A Major and choose any note value that you like. As this is a bass line, remember that the
    notes need to be written in the BASS CLEF.

    2. “Three Little Birds” uses a BASS LINE RIFF that features SYNCOPATION and is formed using the notes of
    CHORD I. Using the scale of A Major above, work out the correct note names of the bass line riff from
    “Three Little Birds” below and then learn to play this on a keyboard – find a suitable voice/tone/timbre for
    a reggae bass line.
    “Three Little Birds” Bass Line Riff on A (CHORD I)

    3. As well as the TONIC chord of A (CHORD I), “Three Little Birds” also uses BASS LINE RIFFS built on the
    SUBDOMINANT (CHORD IV) and DOMINANT (CHORD V) chords. Using the scale of A Major above, work
    out the correct note names of the bass line riffs from “Three Little Birds” on CHORD IV and CHORD V,
    writing the note names below and then learning to play them on your keyboard.

    “Three Little Birds” Bass Line Riff on D (CHORD IV)

    1 © W W W . M U S I C A L C O N T E X T S . C O . U K
    S E C O N D A R Y / K E Y S T A G E 3 M U S I C – O F F B E A T

    “Three Little Birds” Bass Line Riff on E (CHORD V)

    4. Listen to the opening INTRODUCTION, CHORUS and VERSE of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds”, filling in
    the missing chords in the boxes below choosing between either CHORD I (A), CHORD IV (D)or CHORD V (E).

    Introduction
    CHORD I CHORD I CHORD I
    (A) (A) (A)

    CHORD I CHORD I CHORD I CHORD I CHORD IV


    Chorus
    (A) (A) (A) (A) (D)

    CHORD I CHORD V CHORD I CHORD IV CHORD I


    Verse
    (A) (E) (A) (D) (A)

    5. Learn to play the bass line riffs to “Three Little Birds” following the correct chord patterns for the
    Introduction, Chorus and Verse using the table above. Remember to choose a suitable voice/tone/timbre
    from your keyboard that sounds effective for a reggae bass line.

    2 © W W W . M U S I C A L C O N T E X T S . C O . U K
    S E C O N D A R Y / K E Y S T A G E 3 M U S I C – O F F B E A T

    Bass Line Riffs in Three Little Birds


    Simplified Performing Sheet with Note Names

    “Three Little Birds” Bass Line Riff on A (CHORD I)

    “Three Little Birds” Bass Line Riff on D (CHORD IV)

    “Three Little Birds” Bass Line Riff on E (CHORD V)

    Introduction
    CHORD I CHORD I CHORD I CHORD I
    (A) (A) (A) (A)

    CHORD I CHORD I CHORD IV CHORD I CHORD I CHORD I CHORD IV CHORD I


    Chorus
    (A) (A) (D) (A) (A) (A) (D) (A)

    CHORD I CHORD V CHORD I CHORD IV CHORD I CHORD V CHORD IV CHORD I


    Verse
    (A) (E) (A) (D) (A) (E) (D) (A)

    3 © W W W . M U S I C A L C O N T E X T S . C O . U K

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