So ur saying when walking a bass line in jazz the bass player's role isn't to hit the root on the downbeat of 1? Of course it is- what else r u gonna play?
www.basslessonslosangeles.com
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
How To Not Be a Dumb Bassist
- Thread starter brandonjshaw
- Start date
So ur saying when walking a bass line in jazz the bass player's role isn't to hit the root on the downbeat of 1? Of course it is- what else r u gonna play?
www.basslessonslosangeles.com
How not to be a dumb bassist, rule 1;
If the bassist giving you advice has a soul patch, shades, a 'trendy in the '90s' flat cap, jorts, and plays their bass on a really short strap....
Ignore all their advice.
I think the annoyed people, me tentatively being among them, just don't like unilateral rules being handed out with the inference that anyone who doesn't follow them is 'dumb'. It's either deliberately inflammatory marketing to get more views, or it's just that insulting, and I don't think either of those options is a good thing.
Enjoyed the OP's article, and found some good ideas in it, especially concerning the bassist/drummer relationship.
I'm also really enjoying this thread and reading other folks' take on the subject.
Personally I'm a big fan of the 'Keep It Simple Stupid' school.
I like being the foundation and letting others (and the song) shine.
I'm also really enjoying this thread and reading other folks' take on the subject.
Personally I'm a big fan of the 'Keep It Simple Stupid' school.
I like being the foundation and letting others (and the song) shine.
+1
Especially when it comes from failed Berklee types, stuck in the mid '90s, who couldn't make stirring or emotionally involved music if you put a gun to their heads...
Yeah I hear you. Still, playing the root on the downbeat of 1- for most genres- is very important. Sure u have drop 1 and drop 2's in reggae, and there are many timbau's that u never play on 1. But for the most part, as bassists we're gonna play the root on the downbeat of 1. IMO, I think that part of the article is right on.
www.basslessonslosangeles.com
But... but... I like my #9...
Me too!!! love my #9 on the downbeat of 1 all the time!! thats my style yo!!
www.basslessonslosangeles.com
How about any other chord tone. I don't quite get the root bias.
And I don't play the #9 on every downbeat, way to take it the wrong way.
the guy who wrote this is a failed mid 90s Berklee type? If he is maybe I know him, cuz thats when i was there. I noticed ur from Scotland, ur not referring to players like a Scottish pianist who graduated in 95- Steve Hamilton? Because he was amazing, and played vibes really good too. Anyways, seems ur putting down the Berklee vibe a little, any reason for that? -d
www.basslessonslosangeles.com
Was totally joking about the #9 thing. When ur walking over changes in a jazz tune, most of the time u play root on the downbeat of one...most of the time. not always, but most of the time. I can quote or make a video explaining it in detail with musical examples but not right now. Sometimes u play the 3rd in the bass, sometimes the 5th, sometimes the 7th, especially if the line is moving somewhere. for instance, "Beautiful Love" in D minor, i think the 5th bar where the changes are: g-7| C7| Fma|E-7b5 - A7| D-7 etc... I lke to play a long chromatic line, and this example would be at a fast up tempo and playing whole notes going by fast(except the E to Eb, those r half notes)...I'll play. G | Gb | F | E, Eb| D etc.. just rearming the dom chords with their subV's...theres an example. Also a tune like "My one and only Love"...the chords are: Cmaj A-7 | D7 G7 | C Fmaj |...for a bass line u can play | C,b, A, G, | F#, F | E, F| etc.. so its a bass line that has nice descending motion to the target Fmaj. ur playing: root, 7, root, b7 | 3rd, b7| 3rd, root | thats a good example where the line is so strong that u don't need the root in the bass...but most of time you will play the root on the downbeat of 1...
www.basslessonslosangeles.com
Couldn't disagree more. People capable of playing purely for money are probably the only ones that deserve to be called musicians. That's because somebody actually pays to hear them play on a regular basis. That's commitment.
If you make your money being say an engineer and play bass in spare time than you're a bass-playing engineer, not a musician.
you can play the 5th or the 3rd ... you know chord tones to create something a little more melodic instead of playing boxes (1-3-5-7) on every chords ...
Not combative, ignorant. I guess Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, Victor Wooten all play in their mother's basement?
I probably play the root on the downbeat 99% of the time. The problem with these type of articles is that they don't allow for the possibility of other roles for a bass player. Although that's the role I play by choice, I don't need some nobody wannabe pontificating to the world that it is the only role.
Here's my five points on how to not be a "dumb bassist":
1) Know the tunes.
2) Know your chords.
3) Know the melodies.
4) Listen.
5) Don't be a dick.
The question of what you make of your knowledge is another thing. Pound the root, go totally fly wheel crazy, but the above I consider the requirements to be able to play about anything you want.
1) Know the tunes.
2) Know your chords.
3) Know the melodies.
4) Listen.
5) Don't be a dick.
The question of what you make of your knowledge is another thing. Pound the root, go totally fly wheel crazy, but the above I consider the requirements to be able to play about anything you want.
Im talking about walking over changes in a jazz standard- thats all. and you don't play (1-3-5-7) walking a bass line. that would be arpeggiating the chords- no where near a walking bass line. I listened to a little of one of ur vids- u can obviously play, but is it possible you don't play much straight ahead jazz? here's something i wrote: When ur walking over changes in a jazz tune, most of the time u play root on the downbeat of one...most of the time. not always, but most of the time. I can quote or make a video explaining it in detail with musical examples but not right now. Sometimes u play the 3rd in the bass, sometimes the 5th, sometimes the 7th, especially if the line is moving somewhere. for instance, "Beautiful Love" in D minor, i think the 5th bar where the changes are: g-7| C7| Fma|E-7b5 - A7| D-7 etc... I lke to play a long chromatic line, and this example would be at a fast up tempo and playing whole notes going by fast(except the E to Eb, those r half notes)...I'll play. G | Gb | F | E, Eb| D etc.. just reharming the dom chords with their subV's...theres an example. Also a tune like "My one and only Love"...the chords are: Cmaj A-7 | D7 G7 | C Fmaj |...for a bass line u can play | C,b, A, G, | F#, F | E, F| etc.. so its a bass line that has nice descending motion to the target Fmaj. ur playing: root, 7, root, b7 | 3rd, b7| 3rd, root | thats a good example where the line is so strong that u don't need the root in the bass...but most of time you will play the root on the downbeat of 1...
www.basslessonslosangeles.com
