I wat to play jazz!!! give me some advise

vene-nemesis · #1 06-21-2006, 05:30 PM

Ok i would really like to play jazz but my previous experience makes me get too funky instead of jazzy. So i was wondering if anyone around here could give some advise to build up my jazz bass lines like scales or walking bass lines or any stuff you consider useful???

Thx in advance, Alex.

jzucker · #2 06-21-2006, 05:43 PM

start transcribing ray brown

**Pacman** · #3 06-21-2006, 06:23 PM

Jazz is a style, not a technique. I'll move this to General Instruction, where you should get more answers.

And, start listening to jazz. That's the first step.

ryco · #4 06-21-2006, 09:04 PM

Like Pacman sez: start listening to lots of jazz paying most attetion to the bass players. Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Oscar Pettiford.

Listen to the hot big bands (Duke, Woody, Kenton, Basie) as well as small combo players.

And if you have a chance to see live shows definitely go check 'em out and ask the bassist questions.

Listening to the style is the key!

Scott McC · #5 06-21-2006, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vene-nemesis

Ok i would really like to play jazz but my previous experience makes me get too funky instead of jazzy. So i was wondering if anyone around here could give some advise to build up my jazz bass lines like scales or walking bass lines or any stuff you consider useful???

Thx in advance, Alex.

In my humble opinion, transcribing is the way to go. Paul Chambers in one of the archetypes.

That being said, check out the modes. They really are what the walking boils down to. Have fun and swing

topbassman · #6 06-21-2006, 09:11 PM

my best advice is dont even get involved

vene-nemesis · #7 06-22-2006, 02:41 AM

I am already listening to jazz, i specially like MM and Hiromi Uehara also weather report is cool too.

What are modes? can u give me an example of them?

s.m.80808 · #8 06-22-2006, 02:48 AM

Modes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modes

**Pacman** · #9 06-22-2006, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vene-nemesis

I am already listening to jazz, i specially like MM and Hiromi Uehara also weather report is cool too.

What are modes? can u give me an example of them?

You're not listening to the kind of playing you're wanting to do. Walking bass lines aren't what any of those three artists are about - but learning what happened before them will help you.

A lot of playing jazz is about honoring its history. You've got to have a grasp on what happened before you, before you move on to something new.

morf · #10 06-22-2006, 07:15 AM

Learn Hit The Road Jack. Very simple bass line, very jazzy, it will give you the general feeling you need for alot of Jazz songs.

Larry99 · #11 06-22-2006, 07:41 AM

Go buy the book by Mark Levine called "Jazz Theory"

I've been playing casually for 25 years and have just started learning to play jazz myself. I've realized it's not somthing you can just pick up overnight. Get more into the walking lines, learn tunes that follow the classic rhythm changes, circle of 5ths, intervals, patterns, modes, etc. You really have to immerse yourself into the style by listening, transcribing, playing, eating and drinking, everything jazz.

jzucker · #12 06-22-2006, 07:44 AM

A word of warning...Never learn anything based on asking a question in a "chat forum".

iplaybassguitar · #13 06-22-2006, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzucker

A word of warning...Never learn anything based on asking a question in a "chat forum".

these forums are actually one of the best tools since i started playing bass...take that attitude out of the forum if you dont like them.

jzucker · #14 06-22-2006, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iplaybassguitar

these forums are actually one of the best tools since i started playing bass...take that attitude out of the forum if you dont like them.

Sorry - I've been teaching jazz guitar and bass for over 25 years and there's just too much BS that you see in the forums. When you ask a technical question, you will get 360 degrees worth of answers, mostly from people who don't even have a mastery of what they are giving advise about. The best way to learn to play jazz is to transcribe as much jazz as you can and find some local players who play great and either study with them or find out what they did to become great. I can guarantee you that nobody has ever learned to play jazz based on advise from a chat forum.

ryco · #15 06-22-2006, 10:19 AM

A chat forum is a pointer, not an answer. A journey begins with a first step - learning to play starts with the first note.

I TOTALLY agree with you as to 360 degree info - with attitude to boot! I certainly am no master, but I know a little about it and there's no guessing the rest!

peace out, -Ryco

seriousbob · #16 06-23-2006, 04:13 PM

Then again, it's not too hard too filter what you read. You don't really need to take every advice; if you actually think about what you do reasonably much you can usually see what people mean, i.e. what's usueful
and what's just misconceptions.

RicPlaya · #17 06-23-2006, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzucker

Sorry - I've been teaching jazz guitar and bass for over 25 years and there's just too much BS that you see in the forums. When you ask a technical question, you will get 360 degrees worth of answers, mostly from people who don't even have a mastery of what they are giving advise about. The best way to learn to play jazz is to transcribe as much jazz as you can and find some local players who play great and either study with them or find out what they did to become great. I can guarantee you that nobody has ever learned to play jazz based on advise from a chat forum.

You just repeated what everyone else had already said..irony?

You can't learn jazz from TB, but you can learn the best ways to become a jazz musician by listening to what steps many of the players on TB have taken in thier quest to become jazzy

jzucker · #18 06-23-2006, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RicPlaya

You just repeated what everyone else had already said..irony?

Of course I realized that. That's the whole point. In this anonymous little world, everyone's an expert.

RicPlaya · #19 06-23-2006, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzucker

Of course I realized that. That's the whole point. In this anonymous little world, everyone's an expert.

LOL, we are with tools such as TB

janekbass · #20 06-23-2006, 07:27 PM

I'm going to be taking quesitons specifically about harmony, improvisation, time, sound, and all things that make up different kinds of musicians in my new "ask a pro" section when it gets up and running. The cats who run talkbass contacted me about doing it and it's under construction right now.

If you like the way I play and think you have any questions for me, please head over there when it's up and running and I'll be happy to answer anything that comes my way.

If you're not into what I do, then that's also totally cool of course. I'm not saying I'm the be all and end all of improvisation for one second, but I do have a lot to say about coming from the very basics to making it your life's work.

Easy,

Janek