Spicing up that walk

No_Fingures · #1 02-14-2003, 03:20 PM

Ok i have been into jazz for the past few mounths. I have not even dented the surfice yet, but i can talk some with the simple 1-2-3-4(and basic approaches). But i listen to some of my recordings and listening to the way differant plays spiced up their lines. I was wonderin what do you guys do to spice things up a litttle.

I have been workin on a ghosted 8th note thing a little. But that with my lack of skill i can only use in my simpler songs like killer joe or a screw it up.

To sum things up i will put it in too questions.

what do you do rythemically to spice things up

what do you do melodiclly to spice things up

and what extras do you add for turns arounds and such.

Wrong Robot · #2 02-14-2003, 04:13 PM

I am by no means a proficient walker, I can do it, but definatly not as well as some of the more veteren players here. however I find that somethign that REALLY spices up walking basslines for me is to incorperate dynamics. Rather than hitting each note at the same velocity and creating the same amount of noise, spice things up by hitting a chromatic note that is more forte(louder) and a target note that is piano(softer)...be careful though, because if you play the important notes to softly all the time it can ruin the feel of the song, you have to be choice in your use of dynamics, otherwise it becomes bland.

when used thoughtfully, dynamics can be the most powerful thing in music.(for me at least)

**Pacman** · #3 02-14-2003, 05:37 PM

To develop a concept in jazz, you've got to listen, listen, listen. You say you've been into jazz for a few months. Got any favorite bass players? What do they do to spice up their walking lines? Listen, analyze, transcribe and integrate. No shortcuts.

Now, if I could take my own advice....

Lovebown · #4 02-14-2003, 06:33 PM

I second that vote for analyzing bass lines.
Here are some other things you could do :

Practice playing with a metronome, have it set to play on beats 2 and 4. Practice making your quarters as legato as you can.

Work on your ears. Sing each note before you play it. Learn to identify intervals.

Learn as much theory as you can.

Get a good teacher.

Good luck
/lovebown

No_Fingures · #5 02-15-2003, 11:28 AM

I got a Ray brown and Hampton CD. I also got a coal train CD with chambers on it, then lafaro and bill evens. Also got 3 or 4 cds of mingus. Some other stuff but i forget. For some reason it doesn;t seem right playing jazz on a fretted 4 string bass..

Wrong Robot · #6 02-15-2003, 12:50 PM

A lot of puritans will tell you that jazz is only proper when played on an acoustic upright...screw that!(no offense puritans

play jazz bass on a harp if you want(check out lorie andrews....she plays jazz harp, thats bass and chords and melodies)

If you are dedicated to Jazz and you feel you want to pursue a career in classic Jazz, then I would consider moving to upright(at least partially) but if you are just dabbling in it to learn more about chordal theory and harmonic approach to music then use whatever tools you got

No_Fingures · #7 02-15-2003, 11:24 PM

Yeh i should of state old bebop jazz and such...Alot of weather reprt and other stuff today sounds best on normal bass. Prob just choosing which tux to wear to the accation

Bardolph · #8 02-16-2003, 10:09 PM

On a given chord, depending on the song and place in the song, it is not always necessary to land on the root on beat 1. You could try the fifth or the third and then make your way to the root. Also you can continuously pedal one note. If the chords were Bb to Eb and back to Bb, you could play Bb quarter notes the whole time since it's the fifth of Eb. Just some thoughts.