alright well i've read the different topics on it and everything and most point to that book by Friedland which, i'm most probably going to get UNLESS perchance some one could kindly provide a sufficient explanation as to how to go about creating these lines and the principle behind them?

How well do you know chords and harmony?

Joe

um...i know some chords and i could easily learn more (i never really concentrated on them) but as to harmony, not that well

I'll give a shot although this isn't going to make sense unless you know all the notes on your fretboard. Basically the easiest and probably the most boring way to do it is to go up and down the scale (major or minor) and make patterns with the scale which works but doesn't sound as good. Another way if you know your notes is to do 7th chord arpeggios and then move from the root (and do a 7th progression) to the 3rd (and do a progression of that which will probably have to be a triad cause you will run out of strings) and if your root was major the 3rd is minor and visa versa and then to the 5 which is the oppisite key of the third the best way to use the arpeggios is to go 1 - 3 - 7 - 3 of the arpeggio (the 3s and the 7s can be flat or natural depending on if the chord is major minor or dominent). Probably the best way to learn this method is to learn the major, minor and dominent 7th chord shapes. another tip to make the line to sound better is when your leading into a chord change to play the note under the chord quickly before you play the root it works best in blues songs.

Im not a teacher but I learned this from mine i think thats really helps to have somebody show it to you

Hope this helped

Learn every pattern for Major, Minor, Dominant, Min7(b5) and Diminished.
Learn your notes.
Learn your scales. Major, Harmonic, Melodic, Jazz.
When you can go up and down the neck doing these, it'll help a lot when making bass lines.

Long story short, there are no shortcuts. I think your best bet would be to get a DVD like Todd Johnson's "Walking Bass Line Module System: Volume 1, Triad Modules". Todd knows what he's doing and he's very clear and organized in his instruction.

He takes you through walking over Blues changes and Autumn Leaves changes. He covers major and minor triads with chromatic approaches from above and below.

There are supplemental music .pdf's and play along MP3's available through his website.

Give it a shot. A book and CD is great; but with the DVD, you can really see how things are put together.

Todd Johnson (MySpace) (http://www.myspace.com/toddjohnsonbass)
Todd's Website (http://www.toddjohnsonmusic.com/) where you can purchase his DVD.
Oh yea, Todd is one of TB's Ask A Pro (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=140).
Todd on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=toddjohnsonmusic).

I hope this helps you out.
Joe

This guy explains in a very easy to understand manor.
http://www.davemarks.com/lessons.html

Go to talkbass forums. Click on Reading Room and then click on Lessons and Articles. There is a 3-part series called Walk With Me that is very informative.

There is also a thread called Walking Bassline Myths Exposed. You may need some more theory experience for this one but it is still very insightful.

:bassist:

I will have to second the vote for the Todd Johnson videos. Todd explains everything patiently and thoroughly. He is clear in his presentation, and has some practice materials included with his video (downloadable from his website). He has two volumes out so far. Vol 1 are basic patterns, and Vol 2 looks into more advanced techniques. Future volumes will go into more detail, I'm sure, such as modal bass lines, chromatics, and various scales.

I DO have to note that these videos will get you playing walking basslines quickly, but they are basic plug and play units of music based on mathmatical ideas (Todd calls them modules, and he supplies about 20-30 per volume and how to use them). They could get repetitive after a while because they might not blend well with a given tune's unque qualities (you'll sound a little like a Holiday Inn type bass player). That's where the Friedland books come in. These explain how to make bass lines on your own, and what to look for in creating them. These books are dense reading (there are not a great deal of examples with each idea given), but Frieland is a long-term and very experienced bass teacher who can show you the ropes clearly. He has two volumes out on walking bass lines.

What worked for me was a combination of:

1) Playing a bunch of Count Basie (ie. Sammy Nestico) charts with big bands. If you play every written note and look at the chord symbols as they go by, you can't help but soak up the theory and common practice.

After playing a bunch of those charts several times, go back to your theory resources ("connect roots with as much linear movement as possible with non-chord-tones off the beat, etc., etc..") They will seem a unnecessarily complicated, as you will have assimilated the tricks of the trade through playing and listening... In my opinion, theory should come second, as a tool to communicate with others about music, not to dictate how music is made.

2) Of course, any and all listening to the greats will help: Paul Chambers with Miles, Ray Brown with Oscar, pretty much anything made in the early and mid 50s and anything else with walking lines. Transcribe Paul Chambers on a rhythm changes like "The Theme".