If you’ve ever wrestled with a sample that just wouldn’t groove with a bass, Bthelick’s latest vid is the soulful savior we all need. Get ready for some cheeky tricks that’ll have your tracks slapping harder than a summer block party. Let’s dive into this groovy tutorial!
17. June 2025
RILEY
Bthelick’s Bass Trick That’ll Rock Your World
Samples Meet Their Match
Welcome, funky folks! Bthelick sets the stage by addressing a common producer’s struggle – making that perfect sample work with a bass line. We’ve all been at the crossroads where a sample feels like a Promised Land but adding anything else is a bust. Bthelick has heard our cries and brings forth a method that is soulful and feels just right for a disco vibe. His recent flair for soulful disco tracks caught the audience’s attention, and now he’s peeling back the curtain on his process. Did you know that a whopping 75% of these tracks are sample-based? Yup, that sweet blend of finding the right sample, looping in some killer drum patterns, and slapping a bass to it makes magic. And hey, finding that “right” bass line is the ultimate skill and a dope challenge.
"I would argue this is one of the most valuable skills in making tracks."
The Secret Sauce: Ear Training and Tech Tools
"It's all automatic to me now."
Now, Bthelick swings on to the heart of beatmaking – knowing what works with your samples. He reflects on how his freakish ear-training journey started back in high school; today, he can listen to any sample and break down its music theory like a chef naming every spice in his jambalaya. But we ain’t all got ears like Bthelick’s – enter modern music tools. There’s now tech that acts like his ears – maybe not all the way, but close. Bthelick mentions there’s no need to be intimidated by the keys, chords, or melody within your sample. With the right tools, even the guy slinging fries can lay down some serious bass. He introduces everyone’s soon-to-be best friend: Samplab Chord Detection.
Making Samplab Work for You
In this section, Bthelick proceeds to showcase how Samplab’s chord detection can become your groove guide. First, nail a solid disco drum loop, then hunt for that soulful sample. Once you’ve got your sample and drag it into the software, Samplab delivers the chord names and root notes like a pizza to your door during halftime. You’ll get all the necessary root notes for your bass line without the fuss. He humorously assures us not to freak about the complexity of chords; all you truly need from Samplab is the first letter of each chord name. Then it’s back to your DAW, ready to melt faces with your newly informed bass line.
"Couldn't have asked for a better example. Good stuff."
Crafting the Perfect Bassline
With Samplab’s chords in hand, Bthelick guides us into the creative storm of actually making the bass line. Like a jazz cat on a tightrope, he carefully listens and places notes to create that bass groove. Using Ableton, and with a trusty freebie – Ample P Bass Lite, he crafts a line that even his grandma would jive to. He throws down some tips, like adjusting note lengths and octaves to match the track’s vibe, providing a cheeky reminder that sometimes you gotta trust your ears more than any plugin. Funny enough, he tweaks the notes here and there, showing that even technology’s not perfect and sometimes your gut leads the groove. Every note and rhythm choice feels deliberate, proving the fusion of human creativity with tech wizardry can truly make your tracks slap harder than a spoiled blender.
Bring it All Together
"All I would need to do now is search for vocals in the same key, and the core of this idea is done."
Finally, Bthelick wraps it up by showing how this entire process brings the music to life. The once daunting task of layering a bass to a sample now seems like child’s play. With his bass lines blended perfectly alongside the sample, he leaves us primed for layering more parts down the line. Maybe some vocals in the same key? Just imagine where this groove train could take you. Bthelick’s mission is accomplished: showing you how to take a sample from bare-bones to breakdancing. He’s like that chill uncle guiding you through your first barbecue – tipsy, laid-back, and full of professional wisdom. Now, all you got to do is smash those like buttons and maybe even buy the dude a coffee for his streetwise insight. Until next time, keep it real, keep it groovy.