Building Walking Bass Lines and transposing

[muthagoose]

I'm working on this book by Ed Friedland and I'm really enjoying it so far, even though I haven't gotten that far. One of the exercises in the book is to transpose a walking bass line in a blues progression in F to Bb and C. I've done this and the author asks what was different about playing after the transposing exercise.
I don't know if I lack the experience or the know-how to get any startling new information out of this excercise. What is the point of transposing from an exercising point of view? Having to use different fingerings while playing in 1st position? I'm pretty new to this blues thing and transposing, reading and writing notes so maybe I'm not just "getting it".

Other than that, is there any "right" way to practice walking? Right now I'm outlining the chord changes using lower & higher chromatic approach, dominant approach and I'm getting started with scale approach. I usually start by getting familiar with the different approaches using 1st position and then I learn to play them furhter down the neck, depending on what key the progression is in.

Any tips or general pointers would be greatly appreciated!

[BigOldHarry]

Yes - learning how to play a progression in one hand position is part of it. Also, since you're working in F/Bf/C, you're learning how to integrate open notes into your work, which can be a challenge for electric bassists (it is much more normal for upright players to use many open notes).

As far as the other details, it sounds like you're on the right track. If you even know what a dominant or chromatic approach is while you are just now working out walking bass bits in F/Bf/C, then you're way ahead of many folks. Just remember that no one author knows everything - Ed Friedland is great, and I have his books too, but don't forget to try other things too. To me, as a primarily electric player, if you want to listen to two upright players who will blow your mind doing the blues, listen to Paul Chambers (miles davis/ect) and Charlie Haden (Path Metheny/Ornette Coleman). They do some OUTSIDE stuff that sounds great - my point being: there is no one "right" way to put together a line.

good luck

[EADG mx]

One great reason to transpose to other keys is that you'll have to rely on your brain and ears, and less on muscle memory.

[Largedon]

Transposing is a great exercise. Wait till you play jazz with vocalists. You'll be moving tunes all over the place. Its not too bad though, the only ones I hate is when a tune is moved by a 4th. So instead of playing / Fm Bb7 / you have to play /Bbm Eb7/, it becomes very easy to get turned around (no pun intended).

[EADG mx]

But great if you have a 5 string, then it can be as simple as moving up a string. Cheap and won't really help your playing, but it works in a jam (no pun intended).