Hi, im currently practicing for my grade 8 on bass. There is a section on one song where you have to improvise a walking bass line over a Eb7 and a Db7. Im at a loose end as to what notes to use for a walking bass line over these chords. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
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Grade 8 walking bass line
- Thread starter Cinimod
- Start date
What does grade 8 mean? Are you in a secret society of bass players that rate each other according to a ranking system? How could you reach the 8th level without knowing which notes are available to you in a couple of 7th chords?
Not trying to be mean or sarcastic, in fact these are serious questions.
Not trying to be mean or sarcastic, in fact these are serious questions.
Hahaha, no worries. Grade 8 just shows that you show a good level of expertise on bass. People normally start out at grade 1 (this being the lowest level) and work there way up to grade 8. Most universities in the UK require you to be grade 8 if you go onto there music courses. More info can be found out here Link Removed (no thats not some stupid school where you have to study rock music, its just the silly name that they came up with for it)
Without knowing the context, it's a little difficult. Use chord tones for the most part, use an appropriate approach note before you change chords (something that targets the next chord's root).
Hi,
DOM7 chords are made up of the scale tones 1-3-5-b7
taken from the relative mixolydian mode
1-2-3-4-5-6-b7-8 (scale tones)
So for Eb7
Chord tones are Eb(1)-G(3)-Bb(5)-Db(b7)
Scale tones are Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C-Db-Eb
To get started put one of these chord tones on beats 1 and 3 in
each measure and use either a scale tone or chromatic passing
tone (half step above/below the next chord tone) on beats
2 and 4. Keep it simple at first using a lot of 1's and 5's as
your chord tones.
Use a nice full legato sound and let each note hang until
the next. Time, feel and tone are just as important as
note choices when walkin!
Sound more complicated than it is.... Best bet is to put
learn some Ray Brown or Ron Carter lines ,,, It will give
you all the education you'll need!
Best of luck,
Donn
DOM7 chords are made up of the scale tones 1-3-5-b7
taken from the relative mixolydian mode
1-2-3-4-5-6-b7-8 (scale tones)
So for Eb7
Chord tones are Eb(1)-G(3)-Bb(5)-Db(b7)
Scale tones are Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C-Db-Eb
To get started put one of these chord tones on beats 1 and 3 in
each measure and use either a scale tone or chromatic passing
tone (half step above/below the next chord tone) on beats
2 and 4. Keep it simple at first using a lot of 1's and 5's as
your chord tones.
Use a nice full legato sound and let each note hang until
the next. Time, feel and tone are just as important as
note choices when walkin!
Sound more complicated than it is.... Best bet is to put
learn some Ray Brown or Ron Carter lines ,,, It will give
you all the education you'll need!
Best of luck,
Donn
+1
Glad I hit the back button your explanation is better than mine would have been.
BTW, that whole rank system is pretty cool, IMHO. Eliminates the over/under confidence issues regarding your playing.
Cracking help chaps! Thank you very much!
heres how the song sounds. Olé!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CakNDn11I3s
heres how the song sounds. Olé! http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CakNDn11I3s
You know, a great example (probably THE classic example) of walking under these kind of changes is So What, by Miles Davis. Check it out on YouTube here:
You may find it helpful!
You may find it helpful!
no offense, but i would think if someone shows a "good level of expertise on bass," that they would be able to walk over some dominant 7th chords
That link does work, maybe your computer is just a bit uselss. Im not particularly good on chords so sorry for asking for some help. I thought thats what this place is for. Evidently not in your case
While its not exactly the same check out ray brown walking on killer joe (quincy jones) similar chord movement.
Aj
Aj
No it doesn't
I'd wager that when universities say they want Grade 8, they want something standard like RCM (or equivalent in your country).
Ah sorry! I thought that bloke was on about the youtube link. its Invalid Link Removed (my bad
) Yeah they want ABRSM or equivalent in the UKBbm7, Db7, Eb7, Db7, Eb7, Db7, Eb7, Db7, Eb7, Db7, Bb7, Eb, Bbm7, Db5, Bb5
Those are the chords written in the book sir.
You may know this or not......
I would be using Lydian Dom over the D flat cord because the aug 4th (G) is the 3rd of the Eflat.
Once you do that the only note that changes from the two scales is the B (C flat) and the C
Aj
I would be using Lydian Dom over the D flat cord because the aug 4th (G) is the 3rd of the Eflat.
Once you do that the only note that changes from the two scales is the B (C flat) and the C
Aj
Ah sorry! I thought that bloke was on about the youtube link. its Invalid Link Removed (my bad
Why not take that then? Why bother with this "Rock School" (which seems really dodgy to me personally)
ABRSM is more applicable to classical musicians.
There are three grading bodies in the UK, the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM), Trinity College and London College of Music (LCM). All are mostly concerned with classical music.
In the last few years all three have made some attempt to include popular styles. ABRSM have some jazz grades, but I don't think they include bass as yet. Trinity operate the Rock School grades and LCM are involved in the Registry of Guitar Teachers (RGT) grades.
The higher ABRSM, Trinity and LCM grades give what are called UCAS points, which count towards a requirement to get into colleges and universities, depending on the course (grade 8 oboe won't necessarily help you get onto an astrophysics course, but it might help in some of the liberal arts and humanities degrees). Rock school and RGT grades also count towards UCAS points, but would undoubtedly be less recognised than the 'serious' music grades.
It would be a no-brainer for a kid interested in pursuing a popular music degree to do either the RGT or Rock School grades.
