Is it just me or is walking jazz bass hard?

cire113 · #1 05-12-2011, 12:12 AM

So check this out... for me soloing over jazz standards is 50x easier than playing walking bass..

For obvious reasons..(when soloing you dont really have to hold the harmony)

But man walking bass is really kicking my butt right now! But what a great way to practice chord tones and etc!!

Does it just take alot of time and practice and doing it slowww..

I know my basic chords, chord tones, root approach, 5th approach, chromatic, diatonic, ..

I guess it just takes time... :/...

it is kinda cool though to figure out how many endless ways you can really connect chords especially in the 2-5-1 jazz language like endless possibilities

vin*tone · #2 05-12-2011, 12:26 AM

No it is hard. Players tend to develop a bit of a repertoire of changes from one chord leading in to the next - you've recognised this - sounds like you're on the right track.

domdec314 · #3 05-12-2011, 12:26 AM

I'm the opposite. While I don't find either to be very difficult, I find walking the bass to be easier than soloing. My best advice is to practice. Follow along with recordings and try to play what the bassist is playing. Try to get a feel for how bassists tend to move around the changes. When I was younger, I also found it very helpful to read sheet music with the walking bass line written out. I found that to be a good way to get a feel for patterns and build up a bit of muscle memory for when familiar changes come up.

cire113 · #4 05-12-2011, 01:08 AM

oh man i have about 40 tracks of miles davis quintent records from 65-68... They are money for jazz language!! walking bass and solos...

seriously a lifetime of study in just 40 tracks... so overwhelming sometimes

..

Usually i just transcribe a lick that is really inspirational to me and that i like instead of doing the whole solo on each tune... Usually they stick with me better

paganjack · #5 05-12-2011, 01:09 AM

Easy enough to do, extremely difficult to do well.

devine · #6 05-12-2011, 02:20 AM

Not sure if you checked out my 'crash course' on walking bass lines... but if you didn't it might help yopu out a little. Here it is....
Walking bass lesson - CRASH COURSE!

Hope that helps man,

Scott.

Free Online Bass Lessons - Scott's Bass Lessons
SCOTT DEVINE-BASS PLAYER-COMPOSER-EDUCATOR

fearceol · #7 05-12-2011, 02:27 AM

Dave Marks's lessons would be a good way to proceed, after you have completed Scott's crash course.

YouTube - dave marks walking bass lesson

Roy Vogt · #8 05-12-2011, 02:29 AM

It never hurts to take a tune and write out several choruses of bass lines. Then you can go back and edit and change the lines as needed.
This is why Lincoln Goines said "in reality, you're always soloing" in an old Guitar Player interview decades back....
A good way to practice those lines are to play chords in the cycle of 5ths/4ths
C-F-Bb-Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-B-E-A-D-G-C
Try a Root-Fifth for starters (for better results connect the 5th by step with the next Root)
Then add Major or Minor 3rds (R-3-5-3)
Then finally add a Chromatic Passing Tone (R-3-5-b5)
Try playing this in 3 areas of your bass:
The first 5 frets (lots of open strings)
The area between 5th and 11th position (a lot of players don't know this area as well as they should)
The frets above the 12th (a repeat of the first frets 8va)

Bruce Lindfield · #9 05-12-2011, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paganjack

Easy enough to do, extremely difficult to do well.

This is the correct answer!

So it is really a lifetime's study and you can hear how the best Jazz pros are constantly inventive, yet supportive - playing melodies in quarter notes and driving the band.

That's without even mentioning how much they swing and groove without failing to outline the chords and resolve the harmony!

MalcolmAmos · #10 05-12-2011, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

........So it is really a lifetime's study and you can hear how the best Jazz pros are constantly inventive, yet supportive - playing melodies in quarter notes and driving the band.

That's without even mentioning how much they swing and groove without failing to outline the chords and resolve the harmony!

The more I learn the more I see there is more to learn. As I started late I've got enough to keep me busy way into my 80's.

fearceol · #11 05-12-2011, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

The more I learn the more I see there is more to learn. As I started late I've got enough to keep me busy way into my 80's.

Good for you Malcolm !! I agree 100 %. Though not as late a starter as yourself, I too, am enjoying every minute of making up for lost time, with no small thanks to the folks on T.B. for all the help and information.

Keep on rockin' !!!

rtslinger · #12 05-12-2011, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin*tone

No it is hard. Players tend to develop a bit of a repertoire of changes from one chord leading in to the next - you've recognised this - sounds like you're on the right track.

+1

RhinoBass · #13 05-12-2011, 06:59 AM

Ed Friedland's 2 books on the subject are excellent, IMHO.

Phil Smith · #14 05-12-2011, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cire113

So check this out... for me soloing over jazz standards is 50x easier than playing walking bass..

For obvious reasons..(when soloing you dont really have to hold the harmony)

But man walking bass is really kicking my butt right now! But what a great way to practice chord tones and etc!!

Does it just take alot of time and practice and doing it slowww..

I know my basic chords, chord tones, root approach, 5th approach, chromatic, diatonic, ..

I guess it just takes time... :/...

it is kinda cool though to figure out how many endless ways you can really connect chords especially in the 2-5-1 jazz language like endless possibilities

Try doing less soloing and more walking.

robwren · #15 05-12-2011, 08:25 AM

Check out TBs own Todd Johnson. You can ask him questions in his "Ask a Pro" forum here. His walking bass method videos are awesome, and are available for download on his site. Here's a demo:

YouTube - toddjohnsonmusic's Channel

Also, he's got a new series of "Playin' Through the Real Book" downloadable video lessons that include the video, a transcription and a play-along .mp3 all for $1.99. Great stuff! Check it all out here...

Todd Johnson Music

cire113 · #16 05-12-2011, 09:32 AM

Thanks for the great advice here guys...

Also on electric bass it seems alot easier to walk just playing with 1 finger for consistency? ive seen jeff berlin do this alot...

Any thoughts on 1 finger vs 2 finger when walking?

Bruce Lindfield · #17 05-12-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cire113

Thanks for the great advice here guys...

Also on electric bass it seems alot easier to walk just playing with 1 finger for consistency? ive seen jeff berlin do this alot...

Any thoughts on 1 finger vs 2 finger when walking?

I've seen some guys do it like Jazz guitar with their thumb!

I must say that I struggled for about ten years to play Jazz walking bass on BG and was never satisfied - within a few months of buying a Double Bass I was playing walking bass much more like I always heard it in my head and on records!

jaywa · #18 05-12-2011, 11:15 AM

It's crazy hard. The biggest hole in my repertoire right now.

Note choice and duration are everything. If you don't know chord theory you're pretty much screwed for everything except the most rudimentary patterns.

Bredian · #19 05-12-2011, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

I've seen some guys do it like Jazz guitar with their thumb!

I must say that I struggled for about ten years to play Jazz walking bass on BG and was never satisfied - within a few months of buying a Double Bass I was playing walking bass much more like I always heard it in my head and on records!

Think the early basses had a finger holder below the strings for the thumb pluckers.

Regarding the double bass, I swear I hear more than 12 steps between the octives!

dvh · #20 05-12-2011, 11:50 AM

Yes, it's hard. That's why it's so satisfying when done well.