Ok i would really like to play jazz but my previous experience makes me get too funky instead of jazzy. So i was wondering if anyone around here could give some advise to build up my jazz bass lines like scales or walking bass lines or any stuff you consider useful???

Thx in advance, Alex.

start transcribing ray brown

Jazz is a style, not a technique. I'll move this to General Instruction, where you should get more answers.

And, start listening to jazz. That's the first step.

Like Pacman sez: start listening to lots of jazz paying most attetion to the bass players. Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Oscar Pettiford.

Listen to the hot big bands (Duke, Woody, Kenton, Basie) as well as small combo players.

And if you have a chance to see live shows definitely go check 'em out and ask the bassist questions.

Listening to the style is the key!

Ok i would really like to play jazz but my previous experience makes me get too funky instead of jazzy. So i was wondering if anyone around here could give some advise to build up my jazz bass lines like scales or walking bass lines or any stuff you consider useful???

Thx in advance, Alex.


In my humble opinion, transcribing is the way to go. Paul Chambers in one of the archetypes.

That being said, check out the modes. They really are what the walking boils down to. Have fun and swing:)

my best advice is dont even get involved

I am already listening to jazz, i specially like MM and Hiromi Uehara also weather report is cool too.

What are modes? can u give me an example of them?

Modes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modes

I am already listening to jazz, i specially like MM and Hiromi Uehara also weather report is cool too.

What are modes? can u give me an example of them?

You're not listening to the kind of playing you're wanting to do. Walking bass lines aren't what any of those three artists are about - but learning what happened before them will help you.

A lot of playing jazz is about honoring its history. You've got to have a grasp on what happened before you, before you move on to something new.

Learn Hit The Road Jack. Very simple bass line, very jazzy, it will give you the general feeling you need for alot of Jazz songs.

Go buy the book by Mark Levine called "Jazz Theory"

I've been playing casually for 25 years and have just started learning to play jazz myself. I've realized it's not somthing you can just pick up overnight. Get more into the walking lines, learn tunes that follow the classic rhythm changes, circle of 5ths, intervals, patterns, modes, etc. You really have to immerse yourself into the style by listening, transcribing, playing, eating and drinking, everything jazz.

A word of warning...Never learn anything based on asking a question in a "chat forum". :)

A word of warning...Never learn anything based on asking a question in a "chat forum". :)
these forums are actually one of the best tools since i started playing bass...take that attitude out of the forum if you dont like them.

these forums are actually one of the best tools since i started playing bass...take that attitude out of the forum if you dont like them.

Sorry - I've been teaching jazz guitar and bass for over 25 years and there's just too much BS that you see in the forums. When you ask a technical question, you will get 360 degrees worth of answers, mostly from people who don't even have a mastery of what they are giving advise about. The best way to learn to play jazz is to transcribe as much jazz as you can and find some local players who play great and either study with them or find out what they did to become great. I can guarantee you that nobody has ever learned to play jazz based on advise from a chat forum.

A chat forum is a pointer, not an answer. A journey begins with a first step - learning to play starts with the first note.

I TOTALLY agree with you as to 360 degree info - with attitude to boot! I certainly am no master, but I know a little about it and there's no guessing the rest!

peace out, -Ryco

Then again, it's not too hard too filter what you read. You don't really need to take every advice; if you actually think about what you do reasonably much you can usually see what people mean, i.e. what's usueful
and what's just misconceptions.

Sorry - I've been teaching jazz guitar and bass for over 25 years and there's just too much BS that you see in the forums. When you ask a technical question, you will get 360 degrees worth of answers, mostly from people who don't even have a mastery of what they are giving advise about. The best way to learn to play jazz is to transcribe as much jazz as you can and find some local players who play great and either study with them or find out what they did to become great. I can guarantee you that nobody has ever learned to play jazz based on advise from a chat forum.

You just repeated what everyone else had already said..irony?

You can't learn jazz from TB, but you can learn the best ways to become a jazz musician by listening to what steps many of the players on TB have taken in thier quest to become jazzy;)

You just repeated what everyone else had already said..irony?

Of course I realized that. That's the whole point. In this anonymous little world, everyone's an expert.

Of course I realized that. That's the whole point. In this anonymous little world, everyone's an expert.

LOL, we are with tools such as TB;)

I'm going to be taking quesitons specifically about harmony, improvisation, time, sound, and all things that make up different kinds of musicians in my new "ask a pro" section when it gets up and running. The cats who run talkbass contacted me about doing it and it's under construction right now.

If you like the way I play and think you have any questions for me, please head over there when it's up and running and I'll be happy to answer anything that comes my way.

If you're not into what I do, then that's also totally cool of course. I'm not saying I'm the be all and end all of improvisation for one second, but I do have a lot to say about coming from the very basics to making it your life's work.

Easy,

Janek

I'm going to be taking quesitons specifically about harmony, improvisation, time, sound, and all things that make up different kinds of musicians in my new "ask a pro" section when it gets up and running. The cats who run talkbass contacted me about doing it and it's under construction right now.

If you like the way I play and think you have any questions for me, please head over there when it's up and running and I'll be happy to answer anything that comes my way.

If you're not into what I do, then that's also totally cool of course. I'm not saying I'm the be all and end all of improvisation for one second, but I do have a lot to say about coming from the very basics to making it your life's work.

Easy,

Janek

I like helpful ppl like you, i also dig your songs at myspace. But what i liked best was your fod imperial could you tell me whats its tunning and scale???

well, not exactly what I had in mind. Being known for my bass.

but as you ask, it's a short scale. 33inch. E-A-D-G-C with a hip shot on the E string to go down to a B. I've also tuned the E string to an A and it worked great. Amazing basses.

I'd like to transcribe some jazz records too, which ones would you consider vital? Please name some records that you think I would get the most out of from transcribing.

Thankfully //Phunky

I'd like to transcribe some jazz records too, which ones would you consider vital? Please name some records that you think I would get the most out of from transcribing.

Thankfully //Phunky

For bass, transcribe some Ray Brown, Ron Carter to start with.

You might also try transcribing some Wes Montgomery guitar solos.

There's so much out there. You might consider checking out the usenet jazz guitar newsgroup.

For bass, transcribe some Ray Brown, Ron Carter to start with.

Records? :rolleyes: ;)

[QUOTE=ryco]A chat forum is a pointer, not an answer. A journey begins with a first step - learning to play starts with the first note.
/QUOTE]

Correction, a journey begins with a decesion; what is that first note you're going to play?;)

Records? :rolleyes: ;)

For Ron Carter,

Anything he's on with Miles Davis.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002199HM/qid=1151434201/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/002-0557471-3549634?s=music&v=glance&n=5174

Another good source would be the duo albums he recorded with Jim Hall:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000000YQ3/qid=1151434244/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-0557471-3549634?s=music&v=glance&n=5174

For Ray Brown, there's so much from what he did with Bird to recordings he did with Joe Pass. This isn't necessarily his best work but the Joe Pass stuff is very easy to hear the bass lines:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000000YZY/qid=1151434297/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/002-0557471-3549634?s=music&v=glance&n=5174

Do some investigation of your own. It's like geneology. You need to develop a family tree of the music that moves you.

Sorry - I've been teaching jazz guitar and bass for over 25 years and there's just too much BS that you see in the forums. When you ask a technical question, you will get 360 degrees worth of answers, mostly from people who don't even have a mastery of what they are giving advise about. The best way to learn to play jazz is to transcribe as much jazz as you can and find some local players who play great and either study with them or find out what they did to become great. I can guarantee you that nobody has ever learned to play jazz based on advise from a chat forum.

easy easy...im not saying you should use these forums as your sole learning device, but they are certainly a great resource when you want something cleared up or when you need some quick advice

try and figure out what the hell miles davis is playing...if you can play davis, you can play jazz...but if you can UNDERSTAND davis, then youve really got something going for you

I can't believe nobody has mentioned getting a good teacher.

you are you best teacher if you really have the will to learn. There's nothing a teacher can teach you that you can't learn from a record. The more you do on your own, the better off you're going to be. It'll be more ingrained in your mind and more personal.

I could not disagree more, janek. You might be able to get to San Antonio from New York without a map. And you might be able to remember it if you do. But it wont necessarily be the best way....

I could not disagree more, janek. You might be able to get to San Antonio from New York without a map. And you might be able to remember it if you do. But it wont necessarily be the best way....

There is no best way. Music is not a science.

There are certain things a teacher can help you with related to technique. On the other hand, the electric bass is in it's infancy. It'd be a different story if you were talking about the proper way to bow but with fingerstyle electric bass, who's right and who's wrong? Matt Garrison or Gary Willis? Victor Wooten or Jaco? All unique technical approaches to the instrument and masters in one way or another.

I think Janek's point is a good one. You really can divide musicians into 2 camps.


True students of the instrument
Everyone else


A true student of the instrument will seek out knowledge and music on their own. They will not wait for someone to show them because they are too busy transcribing, writing, practicing or working towards a goal.

However, the other 99% (everyone else) of the population isn't necessarily destined for mediocrity (which Dennis Sandole once warned me against). However, it's a matter of self motivation and dedication. A teacher can only open the door. The student's the one who has to walk through it.

The answer is right in front of you. If you want to play jazz, then do it. There are no shortcuts and there are no tricks. You must master your instrument and dedicate your life to the pursuit.

Jazz is a small four letter word that means alot of different things to alot different poeple.

What do Jazz musicians use for birth control?








Their personalities! bwaaa haaa haaa ha ha ha ha ha ha!!

(its not actually funny but there you go..)

Quarter notes, accent on beat 2 & 4

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