HELP! practicing Walking Bass Lines

[bassike]

I just started studying Ed Friedland's Building walking bass lines book, and I'm really enjoying it.

what i'd like to know is if there are any other books or transcriptions where I could practice this lessons.

for those of you who are familiar with the book, you know that when you start, you just play the roots and after add the fifth, octave, etc.

what I'd like to do is practice those lessons in different keys and different circles. So instead of doing the 3 or 4 exercises in the book I'd like to expand it to a bunch of songs or patterns so it that way i'll be able to master the lesson.

hope I'm making myself clear.

 

[oldsalt]

Real Book? I'm not familiar with Ed's book, but if you know how to make your way through a chart, Real Book all the way. Nothing out there better to work those walkin lines against than the real tunes, IMHO, naturally.

 

[bassike]

I'll check that out thank you.

would this bee the regular approach?

I have Zero knowledge in Jazz but I know how to read music and some theory.

 

[bassike]

Me again I was checking out the real book and i found a bunch of them.

there are like 6 volumes in the bass clef edition.

should I just get any of them?

 

[ryco]

You might be interested in checking out the Aebersold Play*A*Long series.

Turn off the left channel and it drops out the bass player, so you can practice your own lines with piano & drums.

I'd recommend Vol 1, 2, 3, 16, 24, 42, 57 & 84.

some FREE ideas

 

[mixx80]

Creating Jazz Bass Lines by Jim Stinnett my Prof. at Berklee.

 

[bassike]

You might be interested in checking out the Aebersold Play*A*Long series.
I'd recommend Vol 1, 2, 3, 16, 24, 42, 57 & 84.

I just remembered I have vol. 21 and I found it a bit complicated and I dropped the ball.

would vol 1 be the right for my purpose?

I have a tendency to buy books, start studying them and drop them as soon as they get complicated.

this time I have my mind set on the walking bass lines book and i'd like to practice it as much as I can.

 

[younggun]

If you've got a Mac or an iPhone/iPod you can always download the iReal b. Its essentially the Realbook and you can play along with any changes or create your own. Really nice tool for practicing walking lines over changes.

 

[GeoffT]

There's 10 songs at the back of the book/end of the CD you can work through with each new concept. That is actually how the book was meant to be used according to Ed when he has joined us here for discussions about his book.

 

[JWetzel96]

I used the Ed Friedland building Walking BL book for a long time. If you are really thorough about practicing all of the approaches (chromatic, double chromatic, 5th, arpeggios and scalar) to the blues in 6 different keys and rhythm changes he provides, it can really last you a long time. He also provides play-alongs for ten standards which should fit that material nicely. Try to really rigorously use his book before moving on.
If you must find other resources for applying those same concepts, consider the tunes: Alice in Wonderland, Autumn Leaves or Fly Me to the Moon. These are all tunes with a lot of motion up by a perfect fourth.
Best wishes!

 

[LeonD]

I've been using Ed's Walking book on and off for years. I think the best way to use it is learn a concept, do the exercises in the book, then apply that concept to songs outside the book.

It can be jazz standards, pop tunes, anything you have the changes to. Once you feel comfortable with that, go back to Ed's book and learn the next concept. Repeat.

It'll take longer to get thru the book but that's ok. It's not a race; it's a journey.

And I'd second getting the iReal b. It's a great practice tool for not a lot of money.

 

[bassike]

If you've got a Mac or an iPhone/iPod you can always download the iReal b. Its essentially the Realbook and you can play along with any changes or create your own. Really nice tool for practicing walking lines over changes.

hey thank you I saw the app. but I didn't know if it was any good.

 

[bassike]

There's 10 songs at the back of the book/end of the CD you can work through with each new concept. That is actually how the book was meant to be used according to Ed when he has joined us here for discussions about his book.

can't belive I didn't think of that

 

[bassike]

I think the best way to use it is learn a concept, do the exercises in the book, then apply that concept to songs outside the book.
It'll take longer to get thru the book but that's ok. It's not a race; it's a journey.

yes that's what I taught, and like I said I know I have a problem trying to go trough books so, I guess I'll start useing the 10 songs in the back of the book and follow the advice of the real book app.

I really have to finish one of my books.

 

[GreggBummer]

You might be interested in checking out the Aebersold Play*A*Long series.

Turn off the left channel and it drops out the bass player, so you can practice your own lines with piano & drums.

I'd recommend Vol 1, 2, 3, 16, 24, 42, 57 & 84.

some FREE ideas

WOW! That jazz handbook is incredible! I can't believe it is a free download. What a great reference/course!

Thanks!

 

[bassike]

I've been practicing the 10 last songs of the book and it is exactly what I was looking for.

I have to admit that I have to practice more cause I've been trying to play the basic Root, 5th, octave. Playing along with the song and I have to admit that I get lost some times, due to unexpected changes.

Oh well I guess it's not so bad for someone who never played Jazz.

 

[younggun]

I've been practicing the 10 last songs of the book and it is exactly what I was looking for.

I have to admit that I have to practice more cause I've been trying to play the basic Root, 5th, octave. Playing along with the song and I have to admit that I get lost some times, due to unexpected changes.

Oh well I guess it's not so bad for someone who never played Jazz.

Keep plugging away at it. It gets easier with time and practice!