Walking Bass rhythmic variations?

Ray Brown, Milt Hinton

 

There are a million different variations.

Lets say for instance your going to walk chromatically up to the next root note. And you already know what 4 notes your going to play if you were just playing quarters.

Well instead of quarters try playing the same 4 notes but lay the one way way back. Start it on time and let it linger almost like your going to let it ring as a whole note. Then in the last beat or beat + 1/2 play the 2,3,4 walk into the root. Gives a laid back feel then a fast walk to next chord. The more uniform you play the walking notes to each other the more it puts emphasis on the movement and the laid back 1.

This is just an example ( and one I kind of like the feel to personally) You literally can use 4 notes per chord and completely change the timing any way you want as long as you land on the 1's and it will completely work.

Just don't get too crazy with it. Smooth and steady.

-Rav

 

Try resolving your rhythmic variations on the second or fourth beat of the measure like this: 1 and 2 3 and 4. You can use triplets as well like this : 1 e e 2 3 4. This way you emphasing the strong beats of the feel which are the 2 & 4.

Anticipation of the first beat is greatly use as well to add some motion.

Ponctuate the 2 & 4 with slight accents is also very useful especially on repeated notes.

Hope this helps,

Sly

 

Just look up shuffle feel, or bossa nova if you really wanted to.

 

Here's a few more:
1) The usual shuffle feel: each quarter note = 3 eighth note triplets, with the first 2 tied ("daaaah-duh, daaaah-duh, daaaah-duh, daaaah-duh"); you can reverse it, so that it's "duh-daaaah" (to be used sparingly).
2) You can throw in quarter note triplets, occasionally.
3) You can rake eighth note triplets. (See: Ray Brown)

 

Personally, I believe when you start adding too much to a walking line, it ceases to be a walking line. I'm from the school of straight quarters. However, to add more rhythmic variation, instead of adding more "notes", try adding little touches like ghost-notes, and "biscuit-drops" between the quarters (following any of the rhythmic suggestions above). Also, variation in articulation can add a lot (accents, slides, etc.) as will changes in register. Keep it cool. Walking lines serve a purpose.

-kQ

 

Take a look at Ed Friedland's "Expanding Walking Bass Lines" book (second volume). Lots of good rhythmic variation guidance in there.

 

Incessant quarter notes bore me. Anything goes.