Abersold Volume 3... The ii, v7, I progression.

[nboyer941]

I have searched and did not see a lot about this book. I recently purchased it in hopes that I would find some new, refreshing quarter note walking lines to play off of and toy with.

The progressions are not what I thought. The CD tracks are a Piano and are eight notes. I'm not really sure what to do with this.

Anybody use this book and get anything useful out of it? Any tips?

[BassChuck]

Check out YouTube for Abersold vol 3. There are several postings of people playing through the changes. If this is your first shot at jazz, stick with it. The musical knowledge is worth it, being able to play in jazz style increases your gig opportunities. Once you can get around the changes you can always use that information while playing in other styles.

Personally I love the Abersold things, but I do have a hard time soloing and playing my own lines with the bass track on. Luckily they've done a very good job of separating the stereo tracks. I've found it useful to take the tracks off the CD, drag them into Audacity, separate the stereo file into to tracks and eliminate the bass track, save it as a stereo with only the piano and drums. When you do this, however, it does take a little getting used to on some of the jazz things because the bass is more a time keeper in jazz than the drummer.

Anyway, its all time well spent. Jamie has done and is still doing great things for music education. A genius educator and wonderful human being.

[nboyer941]

I'm trying to expand my jazz walking lines. Is this book more just for improv and soloing? I thought there would be info on walking lines that go through the progression. What pages are you looking at? Which exercises?

are there bass players playing the abersold vol 3 on youtube? or just other insturments?

[younggun]

I just started on Volume 16. Turnarounds, Cycles & ii/V7's, at the suggestion of my teacher. You can just turn your stereo balance knob to the right or left and the bass goes away as mentioned above. That's the great thing with the Aebersold stuff, the piano and drums are on one channel, and the bass and drums are on another. Essentially you have your own choice of a full or partial rhythm section. I think the idea is that you have a teacher or are already experienced enough to use these books and recordings. The basic explanation of theory and playing are not in these books, they are a tool to be used for practicing: regardless of your instrument, if you're soloing, walking lines, or comping.

Here is what my teacher has me doing with volume 16 (you can do the same with any of the books/recordings):

-I take each progression, write out a walking bassline pattern (good notation and transcription training too) and then play along with the piano comping and drums.
-Once I'm comfortable with that first pattern, I write out a second one and do the same.
-After I come up with 3 or 4 different patterns, and get comfortable playing them through individually over the changes (very important!), then I start combining the different patterns. Mixing and matching each of my different patterns over the progressions.

By doing this you really start to understand the note connections between different chords in common progressions (particularly if you write them out yourself).
Take your time, keep the patterns simple at first, don't get frustrated and have fun!

[Ed Fuqua]

It may be worth mentioning this and that again.