Walking Basslines

[rjthakid]

Is there any theory behind doing walking basslines?  It's something I'd LOVE to learn how to do, but nobody can explain it.

[rjthakid]

Don't just view people

RESPOND!!!

[rjthakid]

This is a shame.   

[Muziqmann]

Don't be discouraged.  The theory behind walking basslines is difficult for me to explain.  I'll to some research and get back to you as soon as I can. 

[diverse379]

I thought I had answered this but I guress I did not
mystery man is right walking is a concept that you can get pretty deep about

but to give you the basics

the first thing you want to do is

is layout your chords in measures meaning

a measure is a amount oif time that has four beats if you are in common time
and three beats in 3/4 time

if you are dealing with common time

then each measure will have four beats

now your chord progression will fit into these measures in different ways you have to count to see how long they last

but lets look at a simple song and se if we cant create a walk ing bass line

Rule 1
for the one chord and the four chord play
root 3 5 6

for the five chord play
root b7 5 b7 5

notice each chord has four notes one note per bar

for minor chords play
Root 2 b3 3

If you use these notes and combine them with
the following ideas you may be able to get strarted

10 tips

play the root on beat one of the bar frequently the fifth can work too in the porper context and sometimes the b7
think ahead know where you are going
play primarily chord tones or diatonic tones on the strong beats
repeat notes especially the root
add occasional 8th notes
thing of the bass line as a second melody
sing a bass line then play it
you should seek to approach your chord target by either a half step or scale step
vary your lines by rocking octaves


here are some patterns for
the numbers are all in the key of whatever the one is so when you see the four chord the numbers still are referrin to the scale of the one chord  na mean?
your chords good luck

1 going to four
1 b7 6 5 4
1 3 5 b5 4
1 2 b3 3 4
1 b7 5 b5 4
1 2 3 5 4

These methods will get you from the one to the four chord

what about if you want to go back to the one from the four?

4 b3 2 b2 1
4 6 b7 7 1


what about you hanging out on one for a while

1 3 5 6 b7 6 5 3 1

1 1 4 #4 5 6 b7 7 1


what about
2 5 1

II           V           I
2 3 4 #4 5 6 b7 7 1

2 1 7 6 5 4 3 2 1


These patterns will get you started

my suggestion is either buy a bass book and practice out of it

or pick up bl;ues keyboard intermdiate and beginner by alfred press they have lots of ideas on walking

but the bass book is your best bet   it is a longer route but hey youy already have several patterns to keep you busy invest your time now in understanding how to think like a bass player

na mean?

[rjthakid]

I thought I had answered this but I guress I did not
mystery man is right walking is a concept that you can get pretty deep about

but to give you the basics

the first thing you want to do is

is layout your chords in measures meaning

a measure is a amount oif time that has four beats if you are in common time
and three beats in 3/4 time

if you are dealing with common time

then each measure will have four beats

now your chord progression will fit into these measures in different ways you have to count to see how long they last

but lets look at a simple song and se if we cant create a walk ing bass line

Rule 1
for the one chord and the four chord play
root 3 5 6

for the five chord play
root b7 5 b7 5

notice each chord has four notes one note per bar

for minor chords play
Root 2 b3 3

If you use these notes and combine them with
the following ideas you may be able to get strarted

10 tips

play the root on beat one of the bar frequently the fifth can work too in the porper context and sometimes the b7
think ahead know where you are going
play primarily chord tones or diatonic tones on the strong beats
repeat notes especially the root
add occasional 8th notes
thing of the bass line as a second melody
sing a bass line then play it
you should seek to approach your chord target by either a half step or scale step
vary your lines by rocking octaves


here are some patterns for
the numbers are all in the key of whatever the one is so when you see the four chord the numbers still are referrin to the scale of the one chord  na mean?
your chords good luck

1 going to four
1 b7 6 5 4
1 3 5 b5 4
1 2 b3 3 4
1 b7 5 b5 4
1 2 3 5 4

These methods will get you from the one to the four chord

what about if you want to go back to the one from the four?

4 b3 2 b2 1
4 6 b7 7 1


what about you hanging out on one for a while

1 3 5 6 b7 6 5 3 1

1 1 4 #4 5 6 b7 7 1


what about
2 5 1

II           V           I
2 3 4 #4 5 6 b7 7 1

2 1 7 6 5 4 3 2 1


These patterns will get you started

my suggestion is either buy a bass book and practice out of it

or pick up bl;ues keyboard intermdiate and beginner by alfred press they have lots of ideas on walking

but the bass book is your best bet   it is a longer route but hey youy already have several patterns to keep you busy invest your time now in understanding how to think like a bass player

na mean?

Thanks alot D.  I gotta come up to the Bronx to hear you play.  You must be a monster.      

[diverse379]

Monster???
yeah Elmo maybe

 I m just learning like you im just a little further down the road

[rjthakid]

Monster???
yeah Elmo maybe

    

[4hisglory]

Walkikng bass lines are all about knowing w"where" you are going and how you are going to get there in the correct timing (which I can't do by the way ).

[lorenz_j]

1.  Here's a simple definition:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walking_bass

2.  Do a search on "Milt Hinton" and "Walking bass".  Many credit bass musician, Hinton with making 'walking the bass' popular.

[trenton16]

here r the scale degrees that i learn how to walk a bass. it works for me when i'm playin by ear or by notes... 1 3 4 41/2 5 6 61/2 7

[jomo7]

 

[HustleMan]

diverse379's post was so good I had to bump this one up.

[fretai03]

I learned to do it by learning & combining the circle of 5ths & each mode. Well that's the theory side of things...

As for putting it into an actual song!?   I'm getting there...

[Cherri]

I know the feeling...

[diverse379]

wow a blast from the past

it was good seeing those ideas again

i need to revisit those concepts

[HustleMan]

wow a blast from the past

it was good seeing those ideas again

i need to revisit those concepts

Don't see you in the Organ room too much these days.

(I don't see ANYBODY in the Organ room too much these days.  lol)

[diverse379]

I dont know what it is about the organists on this site they dont share a lot.

the organ room seems to be a running commentary on who is the favorite organists or what town has the baddest runs

or did anybody see kim burrell in chicago


there does not seem to be a lot of teaching and when I do teach what little i know no body really chimes in to add or refute or have a dialogue

so i tend to post more in the keyboard room

some of the advanced cats probably dont have the time to post or their stuff is way to intricate to articulate.

I know key wiz does some amazing chord posts

and I am sure others do from time to time but my posts are slowing up because I am now in school and I am doing a lot of classical stuff so I dont really have much to offer now but when the inspiration hits I will definitely share.

[HustleMan]

It's odd.

The Organ is one of the most complex instruments to play, and one of the most beautiful....Yet the Organ Room is one of the most DEAD Instrument Rooms.

There are some many different techniques to be played on the Organ it's STAGGERING....Yet the posting here is so sparse.

 

[mt_spiffy]

While it's geared towards jazz organ, and not gospel, this is a very good site about learning to play walking bass:

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