walking bass book

[matias4000]

Ok so I've done a search on walking bass books in this forum, but I am trying to find a book that talks more rather than giving you exercises. Like a more theory approach, so I know what is good, what is not good from the theory point of view. thanks

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Ok so I've done a search on walking bass books in this forum, but I am trying to find a book that talks more rather than giving you exercises. Like a more theory approach, so I know what is good, what is not good from the theory point of view. thanks

I would recommend two books.
1) Bass Lines in Minutes - An easy method for creating bass lines by Kris Berg.
2) Building Walking Bass Lines by Ed Friedland.

Berg's book is a good get started book and follow that up with Ed's book . Ed's book is full of all kinds of different ways to build a bass line and take it walking to the next chord. My point - learn how to build a basic bass line, then learn how to walk it.

What you are doing is harmonizing the melody line with the bass line you build. Then you take that bass line walking... move (flow) it to the next chord in one of several ways.

So you first need to understand how the melody line and the chord line harmonize each other. Do a google on how to harmonize the melody line and get that into your bag of tricks first -- OK that is how the chord gets into the music. Now build a bass line around that chord - then using the walking methods explained in Ed' book flow (walk) that chord into the next chord.

Have fun.

 

[bigboy_78]

Ed Friedland's book. It gives you a basic outline of how to walk, with an example (in notation, 2 skills for the price of one) and then a progression for you to apply the concept to. The audio examples all have a bass line, but you can take the bass out of the mix and just jam your own line. You can also transcribe Ed's line for a bit of extra ear training if you like.

I like this book because it isn't just a book full of basslines, it describes a concept, displays the concept and then lets you apply concept without any sort of visual crutch. You actually are forced to learn how to play, rather than just read someone elses line.

 

[f.c.geil]

Another vote for Ed's book. He's a wonderful teacher, very clear and concise.

 

[younggun]

Todd Johnson's Walking Bassline books are great too. The DVD's that come with them have video lessons as well.

 

[sammyp]

last spring i picked up an order of Musician's Institute Press books as i am a guitar and bass teacher and needed some materials for advancing students ....i was particularly pleased with the bass books i bought!

Grooves for Electric Bass

The Art of Walking Bass - just what you want ...nice theoretical approach with lines to standards and work sheets etc ...with a play along CD ...

highly recommend the MI Press stuff!

http://www.halleonard.com/promo/promo.do?promotion=230002&subsiteid=7

 

[ryco]

I would very much recommend "Walking Bassics" by our own man from the TB Dark Side, Ed Fuqua.

I've just started into this book a couple of weeks ago and find it very well put together.
A well thought out step by step method with great ideas and tips. I'm working through it very slowly. It's like savoring a good, rich gumbo!

Plus it has an excellent picture of him on the cover.

 

[oren]

Not a method or theory book, but for sheer inspiration I recommend Walking in the Footsteps of Paul Chambers by Rob Gourlay. Theory is good, but studying how the masters put their lines together will also help a lot.

 

[anonymous122511]

Ok so I've done a search on walking bass books in this forum, but I am trying to find a book that talks more rather than giving you exercises. Like a more theory approach, so I know what is good, what is not good from the theory point of view. thanks

If you want to really get inside walking bassline construction nothing is better than transcription and analysis.
In other words write you own book.

 

[robwren]

Todd Johnson's stuff is great and is available for download from his website. Sounds like just what you're looking for.

 

[sammyp]

If you want to really get inside walking bassline construction nothing is better than transcription and analysis.
In other words write you own book.

can't beat getting inside your own transcriptions etc however when it comes to jazz ....if you're gonna do this try to stick to straight ahead versions of popular swing standards where you can get a Real book lead sheet to preview the chord progressions.

check and see if the recorded version is in the same key as the Real Book changes and if it's not ...make yourself a transposed lead sheet to the new key

just diving into a jazz tune blind can be mighty difficult on the ear!