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Struggling with Walking

Discussion in 'Jazz Technique [DB]' started by BHurn, Jan 7, 2009.

  1. Jan 7, 2009 #1
    BHurn

    BHurn Guest

    Sep 29, 2008
    Baltimore, MD
    I'm doing an audition saturday for a jazz ensemble and I am having trouble walking a Swing line. I have the chords and, as I said, I have to write the line. If anybody can take this and come up with some idea that I can work with that would be great. I'll write it out as clearly as I can.

    Swing
    Quarter - 144
    Key of Eb Major

    (EbMaj7) - (Em7(b5)/A+7(#9)) - (Dmin6/9) - (Db7) - (Cmin7) - (F7) - (Fmin7) - (Bb7/(eighth rest followed by E7(#9) hold)) - (EbMaj7) - (Em7(b5)/A+7(#9)) - (Dmin7) - (G7) - (2 measures written) - (Bmin7 coming off Bb dotted eighth from prior measure) - (E7/Bb7.E*Eb)

    Key: ()-Measure /-beginning of chord at 3rd beat
    *-eighth notes .-End of chord at beat 4

    If any clarification is needed, please don't hesitate to ask. I also needed to ask about a ballad bass line. Let me know if you have interest in helping and I will post that chord chart out as well.

    Thanks for the help!
     
  2. Jan 7, 2009 #2
    bThumper38

    bThumper38 brian ebert

    May 22, 2008
    Cascade Mts. Washington
    Use the chords to make your bass line, and just try to make a walking bass line that flows. not to much jumpin' around. Use tri-tones in the 1/2 measure chord changes, and practice is really slow till you get it up to speed. good luck=) brian
     
  3. Jan 7, 2009 #3
    CamMcIntyre

    CamMcIntyre

    Jun 6, 2000
    USA
    I'd recommend spelling out the chords. This will let you see where the smooth transitions are. You have a ton of options...welcome to the world of walking bass. The more you do it, the easier it gets.

    A quick example for the first 2 bars:

    Eb G Bb G | E Bb A E| D etc etc etc.

    OR

    Eb Bb Ab G| E G A A(low)| D

    I see that you're in a Youth Orchestra, have you studied much chord theory or walking lines in general? A few things that have helped me a lot are: transcribing & listening, Ed Friedland's Building Walking Bass Lines, taking lessons from someone who can guide you.

    all the best.
     
  4. Jan 7, 2009 #4
    BHurn

    BHurn Guest

    Sep 29, 2008
    Baltimore, MD
    It's a classical youth orchestra...so the music, obviously, is more busy then a jazz line. I appreciate the help though. If you could, what would your recommendation be for the Dmin6/9? I don't know what to do with that one at all...
     
  5. Jan 7, 2009 #5
    MarkMcCombs

    MarkMcCombs

    Nov 26, 2000
    Lee's Summit, MO
    do you know what notes are in a Dmin6/9 ? I couldn't tell if you do or not - and I'm not dissing you if you don't. If you don't, then I would recommend studying up on chord theory and nomenclature.

    MLM
     
  6. Jan 7, 2009 #6
    Altitude

    Altitude An ounce of perception, a pound of obscure. Supporting Member

    Mar 9, 2005
    Denver, nee Austin
    The simplest and most effective advice I ever received about structuring walking basslines was to approach the root by half step. As a rule, it doesn't always stand up, but it helps me get through charts I'm not familiar with, and is especially useful when each bar has two chords.
     
  7. Jan 7, 2009 #7
    Marc Piane

    Marc Piane

    Jun 14, 2004
    Chicago
    Ed wrote a good book on this very topic. I use it with my students that are learning to walk.
     
  8. Jan 8, 2009 #8
    hdiddy

    hdiddy Official Forum Flunkee Supporting Member

    Mar 16, 2004
    Richmond, CA
    Beyond Ed's book, there's also lots of discussions about this in the past. Check the newbie links.