Hi Craig,
Here are some thoughts that will help get you started. A teacher is recommended to give you immediate feedback as you progress.
As a bass player we have two jobs:
Most importantly: 1. Learn to walk strong bass lines.
2. To improvise as a soloist.
Jerry Coker’s book “ How to Practice Jazz” is a classic and still in print (
www.jazzbooks.com )
Dave Liebman has a a DVD “Maximize Your Practice” (also available at
www.jazzbooks.com }
Learning about both of our jobs involve playing with people! Both involve mindful listening. Both involve transcription. Both involve playing along with classic recordings. Both involve learning theory.
Dan Haerle’s book “ The Jazz Sound” Is a fantastic guide to chord/scale relations.
(
www.jazzbooks.com )
1. Bass lines:
Listen to recordings and live performances of great bass players.
Transcribe bass lines of great jazz bassists and study how the lines are connected and how they relate to the chords.
Look at some published transcribed bass lines and study how the lines are connected and how they relate to the chords.
Commit some of those lines to memory. Find other places they can be used.
2. Solos:
Listen to recordings and live performances of great soloists.
Transcribe solos of great jazz soloists and study how the lines are connected and how they relate to the chords. Start simple with Harry Sweets Edison or some other great Basie or Ellington soloists.
Look at some published transcribed solos and study how the lines are connected and how they relate to the chords.
Commit some of those lines to memory. Find other places they can be used.
Help for both things can be had at a summer jazz workshop such as Jamey Aebersold (
www.jazzbooks.com ) , The UNT jazz combo workshop (
www.jazz.unt.edu ),
If you play upright bass I have workshop limited to 15 people (
www.jazz.unt.edu )
I hope this helps!
