walking bass ...

[johans]

i am totally lost with this ...
can anyone share with me how do you actually pickup the walking bass line ?

 

[johans]

any special scale or pattern to it?
say you are given a chord ..


like ...
C ..... Am .... Dm .... G .... etc

 

[Rhys]

The secret to making a good walking bass line is to creatively move between the chord pattern in a fluid motion.
(By the way ive only learnt all this stuff so im not actually that good at creating really good and creative walking bass lines).

But a good basic way to start is to use the Appegio of the chord.
Using your example.

C Am Dm G

CEGC ACEA DFAD GBDG

Then you can start kind of creatively, playing a 'walking' jazz quaver line through the Appegio patterns.

Then you can start putting in passing notes (i.e. notes that are not in the chord your playing, follows into the next chord)

But yeah ive probably explained it in the most confusing way possible, but thats how i learnt how to do it.

 

[spectorbassguy]

It's easiest for me to look at the chord progression and pay attention to where you are going with the next chord. Also pay attention to when the chord is major, minor, when it uses 7th's, major 7th's, 9th's etc.
In other words you need to know your scales. Practice moving from one chord to another both going up & down, then add another chord, then another, etc. Listen to the old big band stuff (Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, etc.) for the best walking bass IMO.

 

[bovinehost]

Learn "Blue" by Patsy Cline and it will all make sense.

And I'm not even a country fan, to say the least.

 

[dlloyd]

i am totally lost with this ...
can anyone share with me how do you actually pickup the walking bass line ?

Ed Friedland has a good book on it called Building Walking Basslines, or something like that.

A good way to start is to hit roots and fifths on the first and third beats of the bar, and anticipate the next note with a note a scale degree removed from it... if that makes sense!

 

[xcental34x]

if you want a good example of an easy one to learn, check out "Chick Magnet" by MxPx

 

[marshmellomann]

i no my fifths and octave so instaed of fills i use them but i just dont no like what chords sound good to gether so dont no where to start when playing a riff or a bass line when makin my own bass lines

 

[marshmellomann]

are fifths and octaves cosidered a fill?

 

[ihixulu]

Learn "Blue" by Patsy Cline and it will all make sense.

And I'm not even a country fan, to say the least.

Apparently not because "Blue" was sung by Leann Rimes, who is not, by any stretch of the imagination, Patsy Cline.

 

[Psychicpet]

Apparently not because "Blue" was sung by Leann Rimes, who is not, by any stretch of the imagination, Patsy Cline.

??? we're still in agreeance that Patsy did the original right?? .... anywho on to the topic at hand:

the absolute best book for learning walking lines and any other playing for that matter is The Evolving Bassist by Rufus Reid. It's an amazing book with everything you'll need to start walking then running, trust me, GET IT!!!!!

 

[ihixulu]

??? we're still in agreeance that Patsy did the original right?? ....

No. A quick search will show you that Patsy never sang Blue on record, she died before getting to it.

 

[bovinehost]

I told you I wasn't a country fan, heh heh.

I wouldn't know Leann Rimes if she bit me on the ankle.

 

[johans]

The secret to making a good walking bass line is to creatively move between the chord pattern in a fluid motion.
(By the way ive only learnt all this stuff so im not actually that good at creating really good and creative walking bass lines).

But a good basic way to start is to use the Appegio of the chord.
Using your example.

C Am Dm G

CEGC ACEA DFAD GBDG

Then you can start kind of creatively, playing a 'walking' jazz quaver line through the Appegio patterns.

Then you can start putting in passing notes (i.e. notes that are not in the chord your playing, follows into the next chord)

But yeah ive probably explained it in the most confusing way possible, but thats how i learnt how to do it.

in this case ..
it like walking the root 3rd(3rd dim) 5th and octave right?

 

[johans]

i was taught twice about modes and scales the dorian, lydian etc
but i really have no clue on applying it to my playing ..

any hints

 

[Rhys]

Well, i find that walking the root 3rd 5 octave, gives me at least a basis for constructing the walking bass lines.

Then you add in what the chord says, so 7ths, minor 7ths, Minor 7 flat 5, etc.

but mainly just keep it simple and flowing.

 

[johans]

thanks rhys
i will try it