Learning to Walk

[John Perrin]

So I've got tons of experience playing classical music in orchestras and solo stuff but I've never really learned how to play any jazz. This is something I'd like to remedy!


I get the whole root-3rd-5th-b7 thing but I'd like to get better at improvising walking lines and wondered if anybody had some recommendations about what to listen to, read, and practice with that in mind.

[IrishBassLad]

Recommendation 1: Learn to crawl first.

[EggyToast]

The "Modern Walking Bass Technique" book is $20 and has some very good lines that emphasize how to learn "what's up," rather than just copying stuff. It builds up through the course of the book, so you're learning techniques as well as more challenging stuff.

http://www.bassbooks.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=673

I've poked at it a bit myself and it's pretty good. I assume you don't just want to learn jazz standards.

[zeytoun]

This basic introductory article gives you a nice intro...

http://chrisfitzgeraldmusic.com/arti...nstruction.htm

[stuonbass]

Listen to Stevie Ray Vaughn albums or any blues artists you can find.

[wineaux]

I recommend "Walking Bassics" by Ed Fuqua, who hangs out on this site. It has helped me immensely.

[John Perrin]

Originally Posted by zeytoun

This basic introductory article gives you a nice intro...

http://chrisfitzgeraldmusic.com/arti...nstruction.htm

That is a nice article! Actually, there are a couple of good articles there.


I'll see if I can't find the Fuqua book

[Ed Fuqua]

Here ya go.

[relacey]

At one time or another I've owned most of the books on walking bass lines out there and I'd have to say that Ed's book is the best I found at clearly explaining the basics and getting you started on the right path. I think this book plus some dedicated listening (he provides some suggested albums) will take you a long way.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by John Perrin

I'll see if I can't find the Fuqua book

Just do it!
Ed plays more meaningful bass lines than most jazz bassists play solos.
Just SO nice.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by stuonbass

Listen to Stevie Ray Vaughn albums or any blues artists you can find.

Thing have no brain.

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Just do it!
Ed plays more meaningful bass lines than most jazz bassists play solos.

I also step on my johnson (and I ain't talkin' Marcus!) a fair bit....

[Kevin Hsieh]

Originally Posted by stuonbass

Listen to Stevie Ray Vaughn albums or any blues artists you can find.

no





The books help but the most important thing is to listen, play along with the records, and spend some time transcribing the lines.

I recommend listening to Paul Chambers, Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Sam Jones, Percy Heath and many others

After listening, try to emulate the feel and the note choice that these greats had. If you have extra time, it'd be helpful to transcribe the bass lines.

The last thing that is helpful is to find some people that can play and force yourself (and them) to play together. through trial by fire with some musicians (who are hopefully more experienced), you will be able improve drastically since you will be forced to apply all the things you learned from the activities above in a real situation. It'll be difficult at first, but it gets easier and more enjoyable with time.

[hdiddy]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Thing have no brain.

LOL. Funny thing tho... Steve Ray Vaughan was my re-entry into jazz. Aside from all the chicago blues, they did have some really kickin fast swing tunes that get no recognition whatsoever. Bass line wasn't bad, but it was on EB and it was more functional that something super-expressive ala Ray Brown. When I was learning guitar I was like... forget this blues stuff - gimmie teh swing! Next thing you know I start listening to Coltrane and then never looked back. He did a cover of a Kenny Burrell tune (Chitlins Con Carne) which showed that he could do just a little bit more than mimic Albert King and Hendrix's playing. He had good ears and would have been interesting had he gone all the way into jazz.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

I also step on my johnson (and I ain't talkin' Marcus!) a fair bit....

I didn't notice. Now that you bring it up (so to speak ), I will reduce my usual kick-back fee to: 3,002.38 American dollars and cents.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Last week, I stepped on my Fuqua'in Warmbutton. Hurt like hell.

I'm sure the pain was exquisite.

[MDEbass]

I learned with Todd Johnson's Walking Bass Line Module System Vol. 1 DVD and Jim Stinnett's Creating Jazz Bass Lines book. However you do choose to learn to play walking lines, TAKE YOUR TIME!!! Even if you think you've got it under your fingers, keep repeating it over and over. And then once you've got a hold on bass line structure etc, TRANSCRIBE!!! Analyze these bass lines: how they work with the chord structure, leading tones, phrases, etc. Start with songs you know well. Transcribe PC, Percy Heath, Ray Brown, Percy Heath, or any of your favorite players.

[Paul Warburton]

Oh yez, Oh yez! ANALYSE, Analyse and analyse some more.
And TRANSCRIBE, and Transcribe and transcribe some more.
And more than anything, don't make the fatal mistake of picking up your bass and tryin' to cop some lines AND feel of some of our great bassists. To attempt to do this, you may have to use some things not mentioned much in this thread.....Your blarg fargin' EARS!!!!

[Jake deVilliers]

Geez PEEDUB you're ****ing sarcastic today! Where were you when that 13 year old girl was leading the guys around by the nose in the Basses Forum?

[BluesHonky]

Play the Blues... Also 1 ,8 , b7 , 5 on a 4 count is a good blues pattern... Learn pentonic minor scale... Im assuming U got the turnaround down 4, b5, 5 , 1 '''' just jam with the blues... the walkin bass as U described and the turnaround is basically it.... 1,4, 5 chord progression