Walking bass lines, a different question.

[BassJuju]

I understand the “How” in walking bass lines. Love them. Use them often. Like creating my own lines as well.

The question I have is related to why, I suppose. My first goal is to serve the song. To support the song. I’m not always successful, but it is my goal. This question arose when I was thinking about Contemporary Christian Music. I play it often and I like it as well. I find most of the lines in this genre to be very plain, often lazy. However, when I try to apply my walking skills, it just doesn’t fit.

I’ve played the same song with 2 different groups, one demanded walking and the other was 1/4 note roots, and any other choice would have sounded wrong. So, this leads me to believe it isn’t time signatures or melodies. Is it because one played on the beat and the other swung?

I gather it’s a “style” thing. I feel it, so I get it, but is there a definitive “why?” Is it the drummer and their rhythms? Is it some other component of the song? Maybe “feel” is the best answer, but I’m curious about your thoughts.

Thanks in advance for playing along.

 

[Papuzzo]

I play in a jazz funk band and often we do jazz standards and either play them as intended or funk them up a bit. When we switch it over to funk I almost never walk or do a 2 feel and instead start using funk lines and phrases. It just sounds better. I think it has to do with locking in with the drummer, and jazz rhythms seem to need a steady pulse on the bass with some occasional swing accents, whereas funk rhythms need funky syncopations.

 

[Malcolm35]

..... The question I have is related to why, I suppose. My first goal is to serve the song. To support the song. I’m not always successful, but it is my goal. This question arose when I was thinking about Contemporary Christian Music. I play it often and I like it as well. I find most of the lines in this genre to be very plain, often lazy. However, when I try to apply my walking skills, it just doesn’t fit. ----- I gather it’s a “style” thing. ...... Maybe “feel” is the best answer, but I’m curious about your thoughts.

My Praise walks are between verses - if someone has not clamed that walk. The Praise bassline in my area is roots to the beat. Any walks, fills, runs, etc. come between verses.

IMO In Praise the lyrics (story being told) should not have to compete with the bass line. We are there to augment, not compete.

Another thing I have found effective is during the Prayer song, a root note on 1 and nothing else, i.e. let it ring, will call attention (augment) the lyric words being sung. Also works when the drummer brings out his brushes.

Good luck.

 

[JRA]

it’s a “style” thing

swing.

 

[BassJuju]

My Praise walks are between verses - if someone has not clamed that walk. The Praise bassline in my area is roots to the beat. Any walks, fills, runs, etc. come between verses.

IMO In Praise the lyrics (story being told) should not have to compete with the bass line. We are there to augment, not compete.

Another thing I have found effective is during the Prayer song, a root note on 1 and nothing else, i.e. let it ring, will call attention (augment) the lyric words being sung. Also works when the drummer brings out his brushes.

Good luck.

Totally agree... I’m not trying to find a way to walk during praise music. Nor am I upset with play diamonds and roots.

A little additional detail... I play with 2 worship teams. One is very typical straight forward modern CCM. It is by far the best group of musicians with which I’ve been involved. The other plays some CCM, hymns, and segue type pieces. We’ve played This Is Amazing Grace with both groups. One demands something approximating the original recording. The other I played a more southern gospel walking line.

Style.

 

[Guzzziman]

I’m just following along as I also play with a group and find that when my main drummer is out, and another talented musician takes place, I struggle to lock in and in turn lead and he follows with my beat. I like walking lines as well and sometimes, you’re right, they just don’t fit.

As an aside, and it may be a novice question to ask for the length of time I’ve been playing, but what do you mean by “diamonds” and roots? Roots I get... diamonds I’m at a loss.

 

[BassJuju]

...but what do you mean by “diamonds” and roots? Roots I get... diamonds I’m at a loss.

Diamonds are when you play the note, typically the root, and let it ring/shine until the next chord change, then play that note. And so on.

 

[Guzzziman]

Diamonds are when you play the note, typically the root, and let it ring/shine until the next chord change, then play that note. And so on.

ahh, I had never heard it called that! Thanks. Not the most engaging or fun to play, but some music calls for it.

 

[smeet]

In general I hate walking basslines, except in straight-ahead jazz. They are good practice, but since I'm not playing any jazz these days, it's just a practice technique for me.

 

[BassJuju]

In general I hate walking basslines, except in straight-ahead jazz.

So, you’re on to it right there. That’s the real real question. What makes them “magic” in jazz(my word, your example) but in other genres, not so much.

 

[bherman]

Its a good question, I dont play praise music so cannot relate it to that particular style. For me the difference say between playing a song in 2-beat and walking, is how much you want it to swing. A good example of this in a non-jazz setting might be a blues tune. Play it slow and gutsy or kick in the butt by a walking line that swings like crazy.

 

[buldog5151bass]

You can play the same song at the same tempo with very different feels.

 

[Wasnex]

I understand the “How” in walking bass lines. Love them. Use them often. Like creating my own lines as well.

The question I have is related to why, I suppose. My first goal is to serve the song. To support the song. I’m not always successful, but it is my goal. This question arose when I was thinking about Contemporary Christian Music. I play it often and I like it as well. I find most of the lines in this genre to be very plain, often lazy. However, when I try to apply my walking skills, it just doesn’t fit.

I’ve played the same song with 2 different groups, one demanded walking and the other was 1/4 note roots, and any other choice would have sounded wrong. So, this leads me to believe it isn’t time signatures or melodies. Is it because one played on the beat and the other swung?

I gather it’s a “style” thing. I feel it, so I get it, but is there a definitive “why?” Is it the drummer and their rhythms? Is it some other component of the song? Maybe “feel” is the best answer, but I’m curious about your thoughts.

Thanks in advance for playing along.

It's not just a style thing, it's a homogeneity thing.

 

[Wasnex]

View attachment 4044394

swing.

Not necessarily. You can definitely have a walking bass line over straight time. What comes to mind is the Devils breakdown in The Devil Went Down to Georgia. Bass starts at 1:30

 

[JRA]

Not necessarily. You can definitely have a walking bass line over straight time. What comes to mind is the Devils breakdown in The Devil Went Down to Georgia. Bass starts at 1:30

yes you can. i thought i might be simplifying for the OP. that said: swing tunes stop swinging after enough increase in tempo, e.g., lots of bop interpretations. so i get your point.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

If it's not working, it must be the drummer's fault

 

[REV]

Think about how your drummer would play if you were playing diamonds (roots) vs how your drummer would play if you were walking.

 

[smeet]

So, you’re on to it right there. That’s the real real question. What makes them “magic” in jazz(my word, your example) but in other genres, not so much.

Jazz is different from any other genres. The bass is the timekeeper and outlines the harmony. The drums provide spice and sauce but the bass is the constant. The motion of the walk resolves the changes. The swing comes from the drums bouncing off the walking line. There is a magic in the way that works, and it’s different from any other style that I’m aware of.

 

[Rumble Thunder]

You can walk briefly in Worship music but it has to be at the right place in the song and it depends on the song and the song style. If it’s a rock style that repeats a chord progression ( say VI, IV, I, V or 6, 4, 1, 5) and it builds and builds then you can walk when the song is climaxing right at the end for 8 to 16 bars. Think “Hey Joe” by Hendrix when the bass is doing quarter notes near the end. Just walk in the chord progression using thirds, fifths, chromatics and octaves. Also, there are some Gospel/R & B praise songs you can walk in as well. Remember, you can’t do it for the entire song, usually at the end when you’re building it to a climax. Pick your spots and go for that eight bars of glory. Hope this is helpful. Shalom.

 

[micguy]

Worship music is like most vocal centered music - we're the guys painting the background for the Mona Lisa, the singers are the face. What we do (with the other instrumentalists) helps establish a vibe for the singers to work off of. If you can do that with a walking bass line, great, but don't epect to be able to do that very often. You can grab a bit of attention during pauses between vocal parts, but when they're singing, you're support.

That doesn't mean it has to be boring. It may take a bit of work to create a good part, but the bassist in worship msic has the most lattitude of anyone - the guitar, keys, and drum parts are usually pretty "hooky" - thier parts are very recongizable to anyone who's heard the original; they have to play pretty much what was on the recording. We're the ones with some lattitude to change up rhythms, etc, to finesse the feel of things.