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  #1  
Old 10-31-2008, 10:22 AM
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Grade 8 walking bass line

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Hi, im currently practicing for my grade 8 on bass. There is a section on one song where you have to improvise a walking bass line over a Eb7 and a Db7. Im at a loose end as to what notes to use for a walking bass line over these chords. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
  #2  
Old 10-31-2008, 10:27 AM
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What does grade 8 mean? Are you in a secret society of bass players that rate each other according to a ranking system? How could you reach the 8th level without knowing which notes are available to you in a couple of 7th chords?

Not trying to be mean or sarcastic, in fact these are serious questions.
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  #3  
Old 10-31-2008, 10:35 AM
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Hahaha, no worries. Grade 8 just shows that you show a good level of expertise on bass. People normally start out at grade 1 (this being the lowest level) and work there way up to grade 8. Most universities in the UK require you to be grade 8 if you go onto there music courses. More info can be found out here www.rockshool.co.uk (no thats not some stupid school where you have to study rock music, its just the silly name that they came up with for it)
  #4  
Old 10-31-2008, 10:57 AM
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cinimod View Post
Hi, im currently practicing for my grade 8 on bass. There is a section on one song where you have to improvise a walking bass line over a Eb7 and a Db7. Im at a loose end as to what notes to use for a walking bass line over these chords. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Without knowing the context, it's a little difficult. Use chord tones for the most part, use an appropriate approach note before you change chords (something that targets the next chord's root).
  #5  
Old 10-31-2008, 10:58 AM
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Walkin the dog

Hi,

DOM7 chords are made up of the scale tones 1-3-5-b7
taken from the relative mixolydian mode
1-2-3-4-5-6-b7-8 (scale tones)

So for Eb7
Chord tones are Eb(1)-G(3)-Bb(5)-Db(b7)
Scale tones are Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C-Db-Eb

To get started put one of these chord tones on beats 1 and 3 in
each measure and use either a scale tone or chromatic passing
tone (half step above/below the next chord tone) on beats
2 and 4. Keep it simple at first using a lot of 1's and 5's as
your chord tones.

Use a nice full legato sound and let each note hang until
the next. Time, feel and tone are just as important as
note choices when walkin!

Sound more complicated than it is.... Best bet is to put
learn some Ray Brown or Ron Carter lines ,,, It will give
you all the education you'll need!

Best of luck,

Donn
  #6  
Old 10-31-2008, 11:21 AM
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Quote:
DOM7 chords are made up of the scale tones 1-3-5-b7
taken from the relative mixolydian mode
1-2-3-4-5-6-b7-8 (scale tones)

So for Eb7
Chord tones are Eb(1)-G(3)-Bb(5)-Db(b7)
Scale tones are Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C-Db-Eb

To get started put one of these chord tones on beats 1 and 3 in
each measure and use either a scale tone or chromatic passing
tone (half step above/below the next chord tone) on beats
2 and 4. Keep it simple at first using a lot of 1's and 5's as
your chord tones.

Use a nice full legato sound and let each note hang until
the next. Time, feel and tone are just as important as
note choices when walkin!

Sound more complicated than it is.... Best bet is to put
learn some Ray Brown or Ron Carter lines ,,, It will give
you all the education you'll need!

Best of luck,

Donn
+1

Glad I hit the back button your explanation is better than mine would have been.

BTW, that whole rank system is pretty cool, IMHO. Eliminates the over/under confidence issues regarding your playing.
  #7  
Old 10-31-2008, 11:24 AM
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Cracking help chaps! Thank you very much! heres how the song sounds. Olé!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CakNDn11I3s
  #8  
Old 10-31-2008, 11:28 AM
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You know, a great example (probably THE classic example) of walking under these kind of changes is So What, by Miles Davis. Check it out on YouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjwVwASlVn4

You may find it helpful!
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  #9  
Old 10-31-2008, 11:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by velvetphil View Post
You know, a great example (probably THE classic example) of walking under these kind of changes is So What, by Miles Davis. Check it out on YouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjwVwASlVn4

You may find it helpful!
Them cats can swing!
  #10  
Old 10-31-2008, 01:57 PM
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Location: lincoln, NE
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cinimod View Post
Hahaha, no worries. Grade 8 just shows that you show a good level of expertise on bass. People normally start out at grade 1 (this being the lowest level) and work there way up to grade 8. Most universities in the UK require you to be grade 8 if you go onto there music courses. More info can be found out here www.rockshool.co.uk (no thats not some stupid school where you have to study rock music, its just the silly name that they came up with for it)
no offense, but i would think if someone shows a "good level of expertise on bass," that they would be able to walk over some dominant 7th chords
  #11  
Old 10-31-2008, 02:06 PM
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Location: lincoln, NE
and the link doesnt work btw
  #12  
Old 10-31-2008, 03:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cooptroop123 View Post
no offense, but i would think if someone shows a "good level of expertise on bass," that they would be able to walk over some dominant 7th chords
That link does work, maybe your computer is just a bit uselss. Im not particularly good on chords so sorry for asking for some help. I thought thats what this place is for. Evidently not in your case
  #13  
Old 10-31-2008, 03:23 PM
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Location: Northampton Mass
While its not exactly the same check out ray brown walking on killer joe (quincy jones) similar chord movement.


Aj
  #14  
Old 10-31-2008, 03:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cinimod View Post
That link does work, maybe your computer is just a bit uselss. Im not particularly good on chords so sorry for asking for some help. I thought thats what this place is for. Evidently not in your case
No it doesn't

I'd wager that when universities say they want Grade 8, they want something standard like RCM (or equivalent in your country).
  #15  
Old 10-31-2008, 04:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EADG mx View Post
No it doesn't

I'd wager that when universities say they want Grade 8, they want something standard like RCM (or equivalent in your country).
Ah sorry! I thought that bloke was on about the youtube link. its www.rockschool.co.uk (my bad) Yeah they want ABRSM or equivalent in the UK
  #16  
Old 10-31-2008, 05:19 PM
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Scotland
Do you have the chord progression?
  #17  
Old 10-31-2008, 05:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dlloyd View Post
Do you have the chord progression?
Bbm7, Db7, Eb7, Db7, Eb7, Db7, Eb7, Db7, Eb7, Db7, Bb7, Eb, Bbm7, Db5, Bb5

Those are the chords written in the book sir.
  #18  
Old 10-31-2008, 06:55 PM
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Location: Northampton Mass
You may know this or not......


I would be using Lydian Dom over the D flat cord because the aug 4th (G) is the 3rd of the Eflat.

Once you do that the only note that changes from the two scales is the B (C flat) and the C






Aj

Last edited by Andrew Jones : 11-01-2008 at 01:06 AM.
  #19  
Old 11-01-2008, 12:26 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cinimod View Post
Ah sorry! I thought that bloke was on about the youtube link. its www.rockschool.co.uk (my bad) Yeah they want ABRSM or equivalent in the UK
Why not take that then? Why bother with this "Rock School" (which seems really dodgy to me personally)
  #20  
Old 11-01-2008, 02:30 AM
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Scotland
Quote:
Originally Posted by EADG mx View Post
Why not take that then? Why bother with this "Rock School" (which seems really dodgy to me personally)
ABRSM is more applicable to classical musicians.

There are three grading bodies in the UK, the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM), Trinity College and London College of Music (LCM). All are mostly concerned with classical music.

In the last few years all three have made some attempt to include popular styles. ABRSM have some jazz grades, but I don't think they include bass as yet. Trinity operate the Rock School grades and LCM are involved in the Registry of Guitar Teachers (RGT) grades.

The higher ABRSM, Trinity and LCM grades give what are called UCAS points, which count towards a requirement to get into colleges and universities, depending on the course (grade 8 oboe won't necessarily help you get onto an astrophysics course, but it might help in some of the liberal arts and humanities degrees). Rock school and RGT grades also count towards UCAS points, but would undoubtedly be less recognised than the 'serious' music grades.

It would be a no-brainer for a kid interested in pursuing a popular music degree to do either the RGT or Rock School grades.
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