Playing jazz guitar bass lines with chords the guitar is an extremely versatile instrument, with seemingly endless techniques and tones around every corner. Walking bass lines part 2 learn jazz piano online with. The bass lines are good and one simple addition to know is that just about any chord walking bass line, you can always use a leading tone that is, 12 step below to whatever is the next chord. Download the sheet music for the arrangement of lets fall in love that is featur ed in our walking bass for piano youtube video. And walking bass lines are a continuous sequence of quarter notes, generally played on the beat 4 notes per bar in 44 time. And walking bass lines are a continuous sequence of quarter notes, generally played on the beat 4 notes per bar in 44 time walking bass lines. The function of a bass player in the jazz combo is to work with the piano player and drummer to provide both a harmonic and rhythmic stability for the tune. Improvise jazz piano with walking bass line piano with jonny. Walking bass line theory basicspart 1by chris fitzgerald.
How to play walking bass lines at the piano cocktail. For example, when you do steps 1, 2, or 3 above, you are creating the most basic kinds of ostinato. A guitar in standard tuning will never reach the lower bass notes of a real bass, but. This blues lesson is great for intermediate to advanced pianists. A walking bass line is simply a melodic bass line found mainly in jazz and blues styles in which you walk around in quarter notes connecting the chords. This is a short demonstration lesson detailing the basic principles of walking bass lines. How to play a blues walking bass line on the piano piano. Obviously the sound of the contrabass is warmer and softer than the percussive sound of the piano and some shadings are impossible with the piano, for example glissando or bender. Learn to play the bass line and the thirds and sevenths all at one time. When starting out with walking bass lines, i would recommend that you always target the root when changing chords. Walking bass lines are really useful in jazz piano they give you a cool, pro sound and a. Nothing too difficult, just make sure you are stamping your foot two times per second and that you are counting from 1 to 4 in time with your foot beat. The following is an example of a common bass line construction when the harmonic rhythm is moving at the rate of two chords per bar target notes are designated with t, and approach notes are designated with a.
It is absolutely crucial for the student to learn the material in the correct order and not to go ahead of oneself. Nothing too difficult, just make sure you are stamping your foot two times per second and that you are counting from 1 to 4 in time with your foot. R 3 5 6 7 walking bass line theory basics chris fitzgerald. The cd includes recordings of the lesson materail as well as detailed explanations by mark. This collection of lessons contributed by todd johnson, the man behind the technique builders, walking bass line module system vol. Pay close attention to the quality of the chords dominant seven or minor seven chords. From todd johnson, a 4page pdf look at a style of jazz known as modal tunes. Here is the bass lines for autumn leaves that everyone contributed to last week. I got into this by creating and memorizing a bass line tangerine is a good tune for this and then trying to improvise over that same bass line for many choruses. Looking forward to hearing your walking bass lines over autumn leaves. To get started with walking bass lines it is important to be aware of the root notes in each of the chords you are playing. There are 24 modules and each lesson, a cd and notationtab of the module material, comes in the mail every 2 weeks. In part 2 of this lesson we continue our study of walking bass lines. Build a walking bass line from scales the jazz piano left hand.
With this tutorial you will learn tips to improve your walking bass technique. This example has a unique, but common set of substitute chords in the last two measures. I really liked all of the lines that you guys wrote and hope you enjoy playing through this line as well. Apr 26, 2017 our basic method for bass line construction is pretty straightforward.
Watch this piano tutorial video to learn how to play a walk down bass line on piano. You dont need create bass lines that are on ron carters level. Music educational books and sheet music downloads for blues, jazz, funk, latin, gospel, rock, celtic styles for instruments including piano, keyboards, sax, flute. In this seventh lesson of a blues piano crash course, learn how to play the simple but challenging walking bass. Intermediate pianists will have no trouble learning how to play a descending walking bass line on piano by watching this helpful howto video. In part 1 we created waling bass lines over major and minor 251s using the tones of the triad in combination with chromatic or stepwise approach patterns. There is a big tendency for players to seek for advanced and complicated topics while they still did not master the basics. Blue moon with walking bass and improvisation sheet.
If you are wishing to order the pdfmp3 files please go to the correct page as this product is for the pdf file only. You will learn some easy scales and how to play a walking bass line for whatever song you are playing. We can create a walking bass line over the following twelvebar blues chord progression. Walking bass lines the blues in 12 keys upright bass and electric bass method pdf created date 10272016 9. Walking bass lines are a very specific and classic jazz piano sound and generally considered an advanced concept. The walking bass technique with the piano left hand has great effect.
Youll receive a pdf of all the lines played in the lesson, an arpeggio reference sheet and the backing tracks in c major and f major. This technique resumes in a direct way the style of a bass instrument. I have included your bass lines in here so see if you can find your line as you play through these. How to play basic walking bass lines bass wonderhowto. Beginners guide to walking bass lines bass tabs bass. A twobeat and walking bass line on the changes of the tune beautiful love 2. Sep 26, 2010 the walking bass technique with the piano left hand has great effect. The book will show the musician how to connect familiar chord shapes with the appropriate bass notes. Incorporating the 3rd of the chord will also give your bass line a stronger harmonic foundation. This arrangement is good for when you are in a trio setting with a bass player, but it can also be played alone without a rhythm section. Bass lessons beginners guide to walking bass lines bass tab standard string tuning g,d,a,e recommended 1. The bass is a transposing instrument which sounds one octave lower than written. Our basic method for bass line construction is pretty straightforward.
Satb with piano, electric guitar, electric bass and percussion upright citizens brigade comedy. Walking bass lines for jazz guitar by stephan badreau is a step by step guide to harmonizing bass lines on the guitar. Therefore, the bass is played by the left hand on the lower part of the keyboard of the piano. A jazz bassist must learn how to walk a line based on the chords of a tune. In this 5 minute masterclass, were going create a bass line over a blues in f. The course covers standard head arrangements, walking lines and solos for bass. Walking bass lines are a fascinating part of jazz, as they support and mark the harmony underneath the chords and melody. An example of four common chord progressions found in jazz, including a blues, minor blues, modal song form and rhythm changes.
Chord tones root, 3rd, 5th, 7th are the most powerful choice you can make when creating your walking lines. The c in measure 10 of your example is the c on the a string of a 4 string bass. Print and download in pdf or midi walking bass line. Walking bass lines are an essential part of blues and jazz piano especially if youre playing solo or without any.
Take some standards or show tunes and apply this principle of using only chord tones. A slightly embellished version of this kind of line would also be typical of a basic boogie woogie type bass line, as in the following example. Subscribe to a membership plan for full access to this quick tips sheet music and backing tracks. Instruction includes names of the chords and an overhead view so you can learn by watching. And walking basslines are a continuous sequence of quarter notes, generally played on the beat 4 notes per bar in 44 time walking basslines. How to play walking bass lines at the piano cocktail piano. This example has a unique, but common set of substitute chords in. Just play bass notes first, then later add some chord forms with or without various syncopations. Walking bass lines are a style of playing in which the bass player plays quarter notes which clearly outline the chords and chord tones. The wonderful thing about it is that walking a basic bass line is not all that difficult once you learn a few simple steps. A bassline is a melody line played in the bass by a lowpitched instrument such as the piano, double bass, electric bass, tuba, etc. To put it another way, to read piano music on the bass, you need to transpose it up an octave. The goal of a walking bassline is to outline the chord progression but with an interesting. Instead of having a few different things to try in this lesson, we are going to learn a written.
The blues in 12 keys upright bass and electric bass method pdf. Autori richard rodgers e lorenz hart arrangiamento per piano di marco farina blue moon with walking bass and improvisation sheet music for piano download free in pdf or midi. One very important and widely used jazz guitar technique is playing bass lines in combination with chords. How to create bass lines 2 3 play in four quarters. The goal of a walking bass line is to outline the chord progression but with an interesting. Walking bass lines piano tutorial 5 minute masterclass. So what walking bass line the complete bass player. Walking bass line theory basics pdf file chris fitzgerald. Paypal will automatically convert from us dollars to your currency using the exchange rate at the. How to write a walking bass line learn jazz standards. When creating walking bass lines, its important to outline the root and 5th of the chord. The term walking is used lescribe the moving feeling that quarter notes create in the bass part.
Use the same method that is illustrated with the ii v is. Jazz bass line construction thelonious monk institute of jazz. Lessons in this segment focus on the fundamentals of bass playing. In this lesson well take a look at scale style and intervalic bass lines, and even mix them up a bit. Popularized by piano greats lennie tristano and dave mckenna, among others, the walking lh bass line can effectively subtitute for a rhythm section, if desired, and provides a rhythmic and melodic foundation for rh improvisations. This is very useful in weaving a walking bass line through a chord progression while holding one position. Take two different chords and you want to move as stepwise as possible between the roots of the two chords. Fly me to the moon walking bass and left hand voicings piano tutorial and demonstration duration.
All sheet music, big note piano, easy piano, piano and keyboard, rock instant access. Print and download in pdf or midi giant steps trio piano arrangement. A bass line is a melody line played in the bass by a lowpitched instrument such as the piano, double bass, electric bass, tuba, etc. Intermediate pianists will have no trouble learning how to play a descending walking bass line. Walking bass line sheet music for piano download free in. A walking bass line is the most common approach to jazz bass playing. If you are looking to begin playing the bass then this how to video is the place to start. Chords and walking bass part 1 in this lesson ill demonstrate how i approach playing walking bass lines and chords at the same time. How to play walking bass lines at the piano cocktail piano lessons. How to create bass lines 5 ostinato or riff bass an ostinato is a repeated rhythmicmelodic.
Walking bass definition of walking bass by the free. For beginning bass lines, the root of the chord is the most common target note to play because it is the fundamental note of the chord. In this example, the bass line consists of simple arpeggiations of each chord, giving the overall effect of a simple blues bass line. Walking a bass line with the left hand is a skill every jazz, rock, and pop pianist should know. Walking bass lines for jazz guitar digital sheet music. Walking bass line piano tutorial walking bass jazz piano. Walking bass noterange usually the bass lies in the lower sound range of the music. By starting with the anchor bass line, you will be able to unlock the door to creating your own swinging walking bass lines. Jazz bass line construction thelonious monk institute of.
The description below is for the pdf and audio files. Learn how to play a walking bass pattern and and pretty funky right hand riff on the piano or keyboard. Just like walking with your feet, tyjwalking bass line is one step after the other that takes you somewhere. Walking bass with the piano left hand classic jazz piano. Playing jazz guitar bass lines and chords terence wright. It is full of ideas, examples, chord voicings and substitutions, as well as short chord progressions for you to try your new learned skills. Playing a walking jazz guitar bass line is a captivating method of comping for other musicians, and yourself. Fundamental concepts for walking bass a systematic method ebook by george urbaszek. This is a a way of playing that i use really a lot in situations where theres no bass player, so mostly duo settings with a guitar player, singer or horn player. A fundamental aspect of bass line construction allows that any target note may be approached by a halfstep leading tone. A jazz blues progression written in all twelve keys. Includes great two handed chord voicings, left hand voicings for soloing, walking bass that can be played using the left.
But the truth is that walking bass lines are fairly easy to practice and, like everything in music and life, the more you practice the more comfortable you will become when playing in this style. Playing with a walking bass line is a style of piano playing that is used most often in solo jazz performance. Even alan broadbent and dave mckenna two of the greats use a few devices and dont try to over complicate things. Simple walking bass line for jazz beginners talkingbass. A piano arrangement for the song giant steps by john coltrane. These leading tones may approach the target note from a halfstep below or above this fundamental tenant may apply in almost any situation in any chord progression in a walking bass style the following fourmeasure examples are repeated four times.
Therefore being in control of them and becoming fluent is crucial. Walking bass mascari piano studios piano lessons, music. Dave frank school of jazz, new york city music videos. T 1 2 a t 3 by chris fitzgerald a 4 t 1 a 2 t 3 a 4 walking bass line theory basics. The possible noterange of a walking bass can reach from subcontra a to middle c. Walking bass lines are a fascinating part of jazz, as they support and mark the harmony underneath the chords and.