Learning how to walk by friday?!

[caffuchino]

Hi, i've been a self taught bassist for about a year now, and I've never really played any jazz. other than being in jazz band, which was kind of a joke. the bassist for a jazz combo at my school graduated last year and i've been conscripted into joining, and there is a show on friday. We're playing long extended jams on songs such as blue bossa and such, but I don't know how to walk. I don't really understand chords like Db7#5b11, or whatever, so I'm unsure of what scales to play.

I need a crash course in learning how to walk, or at least how to fake it so I can learn how to later.

any tips?

[Ed Fuqua]

I guess the joke's on you. Best of luck.
There's nothing you can do in 2 days that is gonna impart enough of an understanding of functional harmony, enough of a grasp of what notes go in a chord so you can even arpeggiate your way through a tune, enough of an internal conception of rhythmic approach to really have any chance of making music.

The BEST thing you can do is get a list of the tunes that the group is gonna play on Friday and then LISTEN to as many different versions of those tunes as possible, to at least get a grasp of what they sound like.
It ain't about "what scales to play".

If this is music you're serious about pursuing there's plenty of threads and posts at this site, check them out.

[aguacateojos]

In all honesty? Don't do the gig. Find somebody who can hang. If you take the gig now all you'll end up doing is convincing those players that they never want to work with you again.

If you do end up on the gig, you're in for a very unpleasant evening. Are there rehearsals beforehand? Be prepared to face some serious contempt from the other musicians.

Have you ever played through a chart before? If not, you are going to be seriously ****ed with keeping the form on an extended playthrough of these tunes. Your number one job for Friday is to Keep time well. Keep it simple harmonically because, by your own account, that's all you can do. Go through every tune and play every chord - scales and arpeggios ascending and descending. Write them out on staff paper and write the arpeggios in every inversion. Have a piano? Play them on that too so you get a better idea of the sound. From there you need to analyze common tones between chords - figure out a vanilla line that uses chord tones (1 3 5 7) with a passing tone or two on the last quarter to link to the next chord.

You don't necessarily have to walk Blue Bossa - they'll probably do it as a latin number, so you'll need to play a simple tumbao or samba pattern.

Report back when you're pooping in your pants.

[raymondl3]

Until you get with a bass instructor, just play quarter notes (every foot tap) on the roots of the chords in the songs ( CCCC AAAA, etc.) . For the Latin Stuff, play the root only with the generic "Boom...Ba-boom" Latin rhythm. Good Luck.

[waveofthinking]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

I guess the joke's on you. Best of luck.

lol..Caffuchino, I wouldn't even play, no sense in hurting your rep
as a bassist for somin you didn't fully prepare for.

[dalkowski]

Originally Posted by aguacateojos

In all honesty? Don't do the gig. Find somebody who can hang. If you take the gig now all you'll end up doing is convincing those players that they never want to work with you again.

If you do end up on the gig, you're in for a very unpleasant evening.

This X infinity. You'll show more maturity and integrity by declining the gig. If you take the gig and stink up the joint, it'll take a very, very long time to rebuild your cred as a player.

[Ed Fuqua]

Oh and that chord's actually gonna be Db7b5b13

[Ed Fuqua]

As far as "not doing the gig" I'm torn. On one hand, yes, it's gonna suck. But on the other hand, unless this is a high school band doing the Monterrey Jazz Fest or Essentially Ellington, the audience will more than likely NOT be the most discerning of jazz fans. Being on the stand and spending most of the time stepping on something Dear and Tender is an excellent and time tested incentive for hitting the shed in a big way....

[HeadyVan Halen]

4 words:
Put it on Youtube.

No need for those not in attendance to miss out.

Seriously, dude, no matter what your boy said at the music store or that guy who sits in the 3rd row in English class, you will not be able to 'walk' in 2 days.

I say do it but make sure to hit your root notes and through a 5th in there every once in a while. And by the time you learn the structure, the tune will have ended.
Good luck Johnny

[MalcolmAmos]

No way you can walk by Friday, however, I do think you need to give it a try. It's been a long time since I was in High school, but, my thinking is you've already established a repetition. This gig is not going to hurt it that much, may even help.

Do what you can do. Less is more - don't step on the other musician's toes. There will be plenty of solo instruments to handle the solos and for that matter they will handle the melody also. Just concentrate on nailing the chord changes and keeping the beat going. You can walk next time.

Those fancy chords - go generic - roots, fives and eights. R-5-8-5. Norah Jones - Cold Cold Heart - YouTube

Major Scale Box. 

G|---2---|-------|---3---|---4---| 1st string
D|---6---|-------|---7---|---8---|
A|---3---|---4---|-------|---5---|
E|-------|---R---|-------|---2---|4th string

Go for it. If you turn it down there may not be another chance.

[PocketGroove82]

This fall marks my 10th year of learning to walk.

[BassChuck]

Keep the chord simple. No need to worry about 9th, 11th or 13ths, in a big band there'll be someone else dealing that pitch. So, keep with the root, 5th and 3rd. Pay very close attention to the drummer and keep with his time. This will get you through the gig.
THEN. Get some books on this (the Ed's are good, Ed Friedland and Ed Fuqua). Listen to Ray Brown. Don't get hung up on his solos, just listen to what he does when he walks. What you are looking at is a lifetime of learning. Use this gig as a start... and without fail, RECORD IT.

[caffuchino]

So the gig was yesterday, went suprisingly well. Not much else to say, I played root notes threw in some 5th and 3rds, the saxophonist lent me his real book since he plays piano as well, and since they also hadn't played all summer, they were all rusty. Afterwards they told me I did really well, and now we've got a gig tomorrow as well as september 29th. Thanks for all the advice guys.

also, the show was background music for a school reunion event, nobody paid any attention to the music so it's was fine.

I forgot to record it though, oops.

[Papa Dangerous]

no prom queen pictures = no school reunion event...

[aguacateojos]

Well, now it's time to practice the **** out of your jazz chops. Shed, son, shed.

[mr george]

don't panic,just play the root and 5th.most people won't notice...

[wrench45us]

'Walking Jazz Lines for Bass' Jay Hungerford Mel Bay book along with the Ed Fiedlander book is where I've started my walking learning.

Jamey Aebersold Jazz has a lot of bass walking books for the Jamey Aebersold Play Along series -- many featuring Ron Carter . If you want to take it that far.

[dougjwray]

Invest in one of these:

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