LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Another Walking Bass Question
ronald1 -- 01/23/2007, 03:15:38 -- #32620
just wondering whether walking bass is only really played over simple chord progressions (blues, II-V-Is), because when I try and apply it to a more complicated progression it just sounds wrong.  Is this my problem? or do other people just use it for simple progressions? thanks

Scot -- 01/23/2007, 09:56:54 -- #32620
It's your problem.

If you use the simple rules of walking bass, you can make a bass line on any chord.

One of the major problems people have is always starting each chord on the root.

You don't have to do that, try starting chords on the third or the fifth or any other chord tone.

Have you gone through the walking bass lesson on this site?  There are some rules to walking bass that work for any chord progression.

But if you really want to learn about walking bass, take out one of your recordings that has Ray Brown or whoever you like and transcribe his bass lines.  You'll learn more about walking bass in an hour or two than you will in five years here.

Jazz+ -- 01/23/2007, 13:32:14 -- #32620
"when I try and apply it to a more complicated progression it just sounds wrong."

What song are you thinking of?

ronald1 -- 01/23/2007, 13:51:52 -- #32620
nothing inparticular.  just a piece with a less simple progression, e.g. dolphin dance - herbie hancock (not that the piece is particularly well-suited for walking bass)

Jazz+ -- 01/23/2007, 14:15:32 -- #32620
On tunes like Dolphin Dnac eI use a lot of the "Kenny Barron" style walking (hopping) bass:

1 5 8 5

or

1 5 8 5  9 b9 8 5

elwapo -- 01/24/2007, 00:28:04 -- #32620
HI Scot! Could you recommend any such Ray brown song so I can buy the album. Thanks in advance...

elwapo -- 01/24/2007, 00:32:38 -- #32620
Hi Ronald1 check this out (Should keep you busy for awhile)

http://organfreak.tripod.com//bass.html

Mike -- 01/24/2007, 05:44:17 -- #32620
While first learning to walk complex changes... Dophin Dance may not be the best choice... You many be hearing in your head all kinds of kicks from the original recording that you are not going to get in solo piano.
Giant Steps (relativily difficult changes)  is a better choice... because it is straight ahead walking.

jaledin -- 01/24/2007, 17:03:58 -- #32620
Where does Kenny Barron use walking bass in his LH, Jazz+?  I admire his playing, but I just don't have all that many of his albums as a leader.

It's certainly a good piece of advice -- the great Hammond organists often use similar patterns in their left hands as well.

Reharmonize_me -- 01/24/2007, 21:10:55 -- #32620
Which interval, exactly, sounded bad to you?

Reharmonize_me -- 01/24/2007, 21:11:48 -- #32620
Which interval (combination of notes ) sounded wrong to you?

Reharmonize_me -- 01/24/2007, 21:14:05 -- #32620
Which combination of notes, exactly, sounds "wrong" to you?

Reharmonize_me -- 01/24/2007, 21:19:56 -- #32620
Ronald.....

What combination of notes, exactly, sounds bad to your ear?

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