Need to Swing

**SamanthaCay** · #1 06-19-2011, 07:35 PM

Help!
I just got an offer to play in a swing/jazz band.

I talked to the director today and as far as what I could gather it's a lot of standards from the 20's and 30's and maybe a little bop thrown in.

So I guess my question is what are some good standards to learn, and as well what are some common progressions and rhythms?

I've been playing blues for years and I know from experience that there are some similarities there.
So if there's any big differences that you know of, that would be great to know about as well.

Thanks in advance,
Samantha.

**SamanthaCay** · #2 06-20-2011, 06:32 AM

Anybody, anybody, swing?

BassChuck · #3 06-20-2011, 06:47 AM

Listen to Ray Brown.

mat gregory · #4 06-20-2011, 06:53 AM

I would recommend as far as standards are concerned that you should buy a real book. That will have chord progressions and melody transcriptions for hundreds of standards, theyre really good to practice walking along with the progressions. I also learn the melodies to add to my vocab as a soloist, and also apply concepts from the melody of a certain standard and try to put that into my walking lines. Whilst doing all of that, it's also improving my reading without being boring and tedious!

I would also recommend you buy patterns for jazz by jerry coker, that book has lots of patterns for playing over different chords and progressions, your best place to start would be learning to play over II - V - I progressions and get more complez as you go along.

mat gregory · #5 06-20-2011, 06:55 AM

also, learn chord extensions and inversions. Playing jazz is all about chord tones!

andybb1500 · #6 06-20-2011, 07:09 AM

learn rhythm changes, a jazz blues, autumn leaves and you're halfway there, learn them in all keys though

devine · #7 06-20-2011, 07:16 AM

Hey man, I've done some video tutorials that'll help you get started. They'll give you the basics without melting your brain lol.

You can check the first one out here... Easy Walking Bass Lesson | Scott's Bass Lessons

And as always, the key is to submerse yourself in which ever idiom your trying to get down. So... listen, listen and listen lol!

Easy,

Scott.

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

**251** · #8 06-20-2011, 07:46 AM

There are many swing music compilation discs. Here is the 'Swing Music" search page that came up for me at amazon.com

Amazon.com: swing music: Music

Once you know the names of some of the swing bands, see if your local library has their music in the collection.

It's dance music so it flows. Some tunes set themselves apart with a hook or a pause. For the most part the music is fairly predictable & needs just a strong swing groove from the bass. FWIW, notes are played legato. Staccato playing will kill the swing, fast.

Lastly, I've looked at Scott Devine's tutorials. They are worth your time. Look for yourself. <wave & smile, nice work, Scott>

Good luck & enjoy

robwren · #9 06-20-2011, 09:11 AM

Check out Todd Johnson's new video lesson series "Playin Through the Real Book" There are lessons for walking bass/bass lines, solos, and comping chords on the bass. Lessons include a video, play-along track, and a pdf transcription...only $1.99 each Learn from one of the best players and teachers in the biz.

Here's a "trailer":

YouTube - ‪"Playin' Through the Real Book" - Series Trailer‬&rlm;

and here's where you can go to get them.

Todd Johnson Music

Also, check out Todd's forums here in the "ask a Pro" section.

lunarpollen · #10 06-20-2011, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 251

FWIW, notes are played legato. Staccato playing will kill the swing, fast.

I don't know how this came to be a "rule," as I've heard plenty of recorded swing music where the bass line is either staccato or just more toward the staccato end of the spectrum than the legato end and it still swings like mad. Of course, playing everything staccato would be inappropriate and limiting.

buchananbass, how familiar are you with the music of the swing era? Do you own a lot of recordings or do you just have more of a casual acquaintance with some of the more well-known tunes?

longfinger · #11 06-20-2011, 10:04 AM

Common progressions...

'jazz Blues' and 'rhythm changes'. Learn them in the common keys first, and then branch out to all the keys from there.

Listen to the repertoire... Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and many more. Ask your music director for names of specific tunes you'll be playing over the next few months and go about learning them. Memorize the tunes and be able to play them at different tempos. After this, when you see the specific band charts, they'll seem easy.

Go over all this material with your bass teacher. And go see live swing/jazz bands playing in your city and study them.

mambo4 · #12 06-20-2011, 01:39 PM

another +1 to 'jazz blues' and 'rhythm changes' in several keys. Between those two you will encounter most of the common chord changes in the real book.

TripleDouble · #13 06-20-2011, 01:53 PM

Yep, all good advice. Jazz blues in F and Bb, and Rhythm Changes in Bb are step one. Then Ellington and Cole Porter tunes are often pretty easy changes. Ask the bandleader for the exact repertoire too, as there are a gazillion tunes out there and trying to guess what popular tune from 70+ years ago they'll pick could get dicey. And don't worry if you cant play a million variations on these progressions at first, just keep the feel swingin'.

SLaPiNFuNK · #14 06-20-2011, 10:34 PM

Take the A Train, Dolly, things like that...

MM · #15 06-21-2011, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andybb1500

learn rhythm changes, a jazz blues, autumn leaves and you're halfway there, learn them in all keys though

Don't know about halfway but you've got a good start. 20's and 30's standards would include "Ain't Misbehavin'" "Sweet Georgia Brown" "Summertime" "Stardust" "Body and Soul" etc.

**SamanthaCay** · #16 06-21-2011, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devine

Hey man, I've done some video tutorials that'll help you get started. They'll give you the basics without melting your brain lol.

You can check the first one out here... Easy Walking Bass Lesson | Scott's Bass Lessons

And as always, the key is to submerse yourself in which ever idiom your trying to get down. So... listen, listen and listen lol!

Easy,

Scott.

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

Hey Scott,
I watched your video when I found it in the thread you posted.
I'm mostly book taught when it comes to this stuff and your video really helped put a lot of things that I have read into perspective,
Thanks!

Also to everyone else that has posted here, I want to give a big thank you.
You guys have got me feeling a lot more comfortable about this.

**SamanthaCay** · #17 06-21-2011, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunarpollen

I don't know how this came to be a "rule," as I've heard plenty of recorded swing music where the bass line is either staccato or just more toward the staccato end of the spectrum than the legato end and it still swings like mad. Of course, playing everything staccato would be inappropriate and limiting.

buchananbass, how familiar are you with the music of the swing era? Do you own a lot of recordings or do you just have more of a casual acquaintance with some of the more well-known tunes?

I'd say more towards the casual acquaintance side, I've got a lot of bop albums and a lot of more modern stuff but as far as swing goes I've just got a few.
I've got the day off from work today so I'm going to try and get a set list from my director and hit up youtube and/or the local library so that I can start working on this stuff.

azureblue · #18 06-21-2011, 11:49 AM

you need to learn how to swing, first. I've played with way too many guys who know all the tunes, can solo, but can't swing to save their butts. Got no feel at all. A bass player who can't swing in jazz is about useless.

Set a metronome at 82, click on two and four, and start walking a 12 bar and a circle 6 (I, vi, ii, V7) until you are rock solid and swinging. Learn the difference, and how to play triplet swing and 16th swing and how to play on top of and behind the beat. Practice the tunes UNDER tempo, and lay back on beat four. Listen to Basie and Ellington and learn those grooves until they are second nature.

**SamanthaCay** · #19 06-21-2011, 12:45 PM

SWEET!

So I just got off the phone with the band director and she's sending me some bass charts!

I should get them tomorrow or Wednesday.
Then it will probably be Sunday before I have much time because I will be working 10/12 hour days until then.
But if I have an extra ten minutes or so I'll come in here and let you all know how it's going.

Samantha.

Doctor Dirt · #20 06-21-2011, 04:24 PM

To get a great feel going, listen to the great Louis Jordan!!! He is a master of the groove for swing and cut his teeth with the great Cab Calloway Band. His lyrics are considered the best comedic poetry in the music business.
The music is based off of a 1/4 /(2)/ 5 using the 2 and rarely producing a turn around. You respectfully play through the turn around so that the movement continues its pace.
For a more sophisticated brand Count Bassie is the King of Swing in the big band sound and ofcourse in playing the great standards. Duke Ellington and Fletch Hendersons bands are among the best ever and are known for excellant arraingments.
As for a good approach on the bass use open string technique and ofcourse doublin down to quarters, weaving in and out from the drummers pocket is generally accepted. Someone mentioned Ray Brown and if you can find some early Mingus his playing is off the wall hahaha!!! I also would consider listening to some Baritone and Tuba from the older orchestras for some different approaches and note sellections, gerry mulligan comes to mind. Good luck, Swing is an essential part of ALL music its in ALL music even if its buried deep. Some show it in their walk others need to trip to show it hahahaha!!! As Duke implied "don't mean a thing if it ain't got that Swing" he was 100% right! Doc