Tips for creating walking bass lines?

[Axtman]

Does anyone have any tips for creating walking bass lines? Websites and YouTube videos welcome. Thanks

[chokeslam512]

Learn scales.

[mgauge]

Originally Posted by chokeslam512

Learn scales.

That was to the point! But true... Learn scales... They mean everything.

[Ed Fuqua]

Shameless self promotion.

[David1234]

There's lots of simple theoretical approaches that work to get you started, and I'm yet to find one that's a substitute for jamming with players at - and slightly above - your level.

Try and hit the root every time a chord changes (unless your band is fairly advanced).

As soon as you hit this root, try and hear the next root in your head, then start approaching it. Mostly use the scale of the bar you're in early in the bar.

If the chord change is pretty straightforward and predictable, concentrate on melodic flow. You can use melodic sequences, or themes like ascending as far as possible before descending as far as possible. Other themes (just, ideas that give you something to structure your line around) might be always approaching the next root from below or always from above. Have some fun and let the bass line be interesting, although listen out for whether a soloist is using unusual tones which you might want to respond to somehow.

If on the other hand the tune just gave you a wacky chord change, you should focus less on melody and more on navigation. Play arpeggios that favour the correct guide tones (3 and 7) so it's really really clear where you're up to. The only wrong notes are if you use, say, a major 3 in a minor chord, a minor 7 in a major chord, or a natural 5 in a diminished or augmented chord. If you play these, you're misleading your group at exactly the time you should be navigating for them.

Helpful?

I play most weeks at a jazz jam night (western sydney readers PM me if keen) and that improved my walking more than any theory lesson could. I use it as practice, plus I've some good friends there now.

[fearceol]

There was a similar thread here recently. Here is the link :



idiotic question: walking bass line

[Stingray19]

Get lessons from Gene Simmons(*seriously)

But I think I like the second response about playing the root and envisioning what will come up next. That's how I do it.

Good luck.

[CoffeeJanitor]

Roots, chord tones, scale tones, and passing tones.

[Barfy]

Originally Posted by David1234

Try and hit the root every time a chord changes (unless your band is fairly advanced).

The root of the chord the guitarist is actually playing at that moment, and not of the overall key/scale, right? I have a feeling this is a very stupid question, but I want to be sure.

If on the other hand the tune just gave you a wacky chord change, you should focus less on melody and more on navigation.

What would be an example of a wacky chord change? There's a weird noodly bridge/transition between the chords? Or the next chord is all weird and dissonant and out in left field?

Also, there's chord changes and then there's key changes. I... uhhhhh... my brain just stopped.

[Toronto Bassist]

Originally Posted by Barfy

The root of the chord the guitarist is actually playing at that moment, and not of the overall key/scale, right? I have a feeling this is a very stupid question, but I want to be sure.

Well yeah...one of the things that a walking bassline has to do is outline the chord progression. So if the chords are Dm7-G7-Cmaj7, then bar 1 should start on a D, bar 2 should start on a G, and bar 3 should start on a C.

Of course, you don't always have to start on the root, but for beginners this is sufficient.

What would be an example of a wacky chord change? There's a weird noodly bridge/transition between the chords? Or the next chord is all weird and dissonant and out in left field?

He seems to be advocating a fairly fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach to walking. Really, if you know the song, no chord changes should take you by surprise.

Also, there's chord changes and then there's key changes. I... uhhhhh... my brain just stopped.

If you outline the chord changes, then the key changes will take care of themselves.

[PlanetEarth]

Not to pull ya away from Ed's book which has some pretty serious endorsers but.... Evolving Bassist, Rufus Reid.

[joebar]

david 1234 said it perfectly- couldn't have said it better. it is all about chord fragments and intervals. i like the word 'approach' .

[Stumbo]

Here are a few TB threads you may want to check out:
Creating bass lines
Target Approach
Walking bass line examples
Ed Friedland on walking bass lines
Playing scales

[jonnyonbass]

yea, typically (when it's in 4) you'll wanna play the root note on the downbeat, for beat 2 you can play a chord tone or passing (scale) tone, for beat 3 you wanna play a chord tone, for beat 4 you can play a chord tone, but it usually makes more sense to play a leading tone either a half step above or below the root note of the next chord you're moving to. you don't always have to move in stepward motion and you don't always have to play arpeggios. there really aren't any rules. intonation is important, but the rhythm is king. waffle the notes before you give up on the pulse. your bandmates can handle a few wrong notes, but they absolutely need the pulse to keep pumping and chugging. you want to outline the chord, and play a nearby leading tone into the next chord, but most important is your groovin, in the pocket rhythm that gets your bandmates hopping!!!!