How do you play a walking jazz bass line?
How to Create a Walking Bass Line
- Beat One: Determine the chord tonality (major, minor, dominant, or half-diminished) and play the root of that chord.
- Beat Two: Play any chord tone of the chord, or any note in the scale related to that chord.
- Beat Three: Play any chord tone or scale tone of the chord.
What is the difference between a walking bass line and chords?
A walking bass line walks between chords, outlining the harmony and using quarter notes to keep a steady rhythm. We generally walk with a swing feel, so we are more likely to play a walking bass line in styles where swing is most commonly used, like jazz and blues.
What is a walking bass line jazz?
A walking bass line generally consists of notes of equal duration and intensity (typically 1/4 notes) that create a feeling of forward motion. It is possible to add rhythmic variations, but in general, a walking bassline drives the song forward step by step.
Is walking bass hard?
Walking bass lines are just one of many many tools that exist in the world of bass playing. It’s usually not too hard to get the basics of any particular tool down, so if that sound speaks to you, I say give it a try.
Why is it called walking bass?
While often associated with jazz, walking bass can be found in any genre. It is simply a moving bass line consisting of a constant rhythmic pulse; the walking bass name refers to the footstep-like regularity of the rhythmic motion.
Can a jazz guitar player play walking bass?
While walking bass in a band is generally played by the bass guitar or double bass player, being able to play walking bass lines is an essential skill for jazz guitarists when playing without a bass player. The difficulty in walking bass on the guitar lies in the combination of playing chords and bass at the same time.
What are passing notes in a walking bass?
The final piece of the walking bass puzzle is to include passing notes. A passing note is just a note that helps lead from one chord tone to the next. For example, in an F7 chord, we have the notes Eb and F.
What kind of chords does a jazz bassist play?
This isn’t the case and many of the great jazz bassists would often start on the 3rd, 7th or an extension of the new chord. However, it is common to start on the root and the root should nearly always be included. Often, pianists and guitarists miss the root out of their chords as they assume the bassist will play it.
What’s the purpose of a walking bass line?
As club and restaurant owners are cutting budgets, one way to keep our gig as a guitar player is to slim down the ensemble to a duo or solo. A walking bass line walks through the chord progression, one note per beat. Its function is to outline the chords of the progression and provide a smooth transition from one chord to another.