Cant this be called a walking bassline ??

[magnusdeus123]

So I'm trying to build up my "How-to-construct-jazz-walking-bass" skills , up from scratch one step at a time .

In the midi file below , I've done a chord progression of ii-V-I-vi in the key of G . I've put a bassline over it , which consists notes from the chord being played at that moment , and also tried to link a chord to another through a note that is common to both chords , usually as a 7th or a 5th . I've also tried to make it 'walk' i.e. going from low pitch to high , and then back low and high and so on . It's pretty short , but can you guys tell me if this can actually be called a walking bassline ??

Click Here...

Second one...

[cheapbasslovin]

The only thing I would ask for is after you walk up you pick a higher octave and then walk back down to the next progression. Mix it up and such.

[Slax]

File download didn't work for me... :\

[magnusdeus123]

Fixed it .

[kebbs]

You are playing the right feel. I'd recommend inserting more chromatic notes - i.e. half-steps below or above the approaching root note is a good start. Of course, assuming this piece is considered jazz (ii-V-I... tells me it pretty much is).

And of course, listening to greats always helps

[magnusdeus123]

thing is I really dont like to stray into teh chormatic notes too much , because I kinda like the fact that the modal scales are diatonic . Right now I'm trying to connect the chords through a common note such as a 5th or 7th , and the arpeggiating towards the next connection note .

Is it ok to remain diatonic , or is it necessary to go all out and throw in chormatic notes ?? half steps and such ?? Coz I dotn mind using whole steps , coz a large no. of times they remain in the same key , but in the chromatic section it's comes down to half steps .

[HaVIC5]

Originally Posted by magnusdeus123

thing is I really dont like to stray into teh chormatic notes too much , because I kinda like the fact that the modal scales are diatonic . Right now I'm trying to connect the chords through a common note such as a 5th or 7th , and the arpeggiating towards the next connection note .

Is it ok to remain diatonic , or is it necessary to go all out and throw in chormatic notes ?? half steps and such ?? Coz I dotn mind using whole steps , coz a large no. of times they remain in the same key , but in the chromatic section it's comes down to half steps .

The point of chromatics is to add a certain sort of spiciness to a walking bass line that isn't present with purely diatonic lines. That said, its a powerful spice, and it should be used sparingly, otherwise it becomes overpowering, and ruins the strong sense of harmony that a walking line is supposed to imply. Practicing diatonic chord connections is something thats very useful, and I would suggest focusing your efforts on that because there are a lot of different combinations you can use for different root movements, but don't forget to practice chromatic connections as well.

[magnusdeus123]

Ok I've made a new one , I'm adding it to the first post , it's the second thing I did , using more of a traditonal approach , with half notes and whole notes , as well as the "down a perfect 5th" and "up a 4rth" methods . Check that one out too , thanks .

[Freddels]

You've got the right idea. I always recommend a few books for learning to walk.

Ed Friedland's Building Walking Bass lines book
Bob Magnusson's The Art of Walking Bass book
and now I also recommend
Todd Johnson's DVD's on Walking Bass

Use all three of these and you'll be on your way.

[magnusdeus123]

Bob Magnusson's The Art of Walking Bass book --

I got this one , luckily . Learning the basics from this .

Tell me something cats . I've tried to do a thing here where I'm going low-to-high and high-to-low in terms of pitch while playing . Is that a right thing to do ?? Coz I saw somewhere that Francis Rocco presteria uses something similar for his funk technique , and it kinda added a jazzy feel to it , when I initially tried it out .

[Freddels]

Originally Posted by magnusdeus123

Bob Magnusson's The Art of Walking Bass book --

I got this one , luckily . Learning the basics from this .

Tell me something cats . I've tried to do a thing here where I'm going low-to-high and high-to-low in terms of pitch while playing . Is that a right thing to do ?? Coz I saw somewhere that Francis Rocco presteria uses something similar for his funk technique , and it kinda added a jazzy feel to it , when I initially tried it out .

The other two will round out what you're trying to learn.
The high/low/high thing is proper. Listen to Ray Brown and Paul Chambers and you'll get an idea of what they are doing. Changing the octave is one technique to make it interesting. Things like instead of grabbing the 3rd above, drop down to the 3rd below.

[angryclown5]

All approaches have their place.

The all diatonic style suggests a certain feel, kind of open, melodic, light, etc. Adding chromatics can darken the sound (think "Freddie Freeloader"). Going up into the higher octave can add energy and excitement to the feel, whereas staying in the same octave or dropping down can be used as a chill/smoldering accompaniment under someone else's solo or verse.

These are just examples, ideally you want to have as many expressions in your
vocabulary as you can.

Then you just pick and choose to relate to what is going on in the music around you.