Learn to Play Walking Bass Lines like a Jazz Master with structured lessons to suit your goals.
Walkin’ The Blues …. Amazing what a few well structured lessons can do. Get Started Today.
Download the transcription to Walkin’ the Blues
Walking Bass Workshop Pt II Rhythm Changes
- Trying to find a way in to playing jazz bass ?
- Looking for a structured way to increase your current skill level ?
- Confused by all the chord changes, and want to learn Jazz Harmony ?
- Ready to build a vocabulary of walking bass lines ?
- Ready to structure your practice time ?
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Constructing-Walking-Jazz-Bass-Lines-Book-I-The-Blues-in-12-keysIf you’re just getting started download the Easy Walking Bass Lines pdf.
Get Started Today Download the FREE Easy Walking Bass Lines pdf.
What people are saying about Constructing Walking Jazz Bass Lines
” Steven’s approach is masterly crafted to ensure that you are playing strong Bass Lines right out of the Gate in all Twelve Keys with numerous exercises to reinforce each and every concept whether Theoretically and/or Harmonically in a very Comprehensive and Progressive approach including clearly written directions of the various concepts for the thoroughly written out exercises. As we all know, we all learn by doing. Steven’s method provides numerous exercises to keep each and every aspiring Bassist enthuse about Learning and Creating Walking Bass Lines.
I have worked with literally over twenty different method books and Steven Mooney’s approach is definitely the best of the best that I have worked with.. ” Jahrah
” I should take you a picture of the
stack of bass books I have, but I have never been able to retain or
understand how lines are constructed, how modes work, etc. The progression
of information you are presenting has made very clear what has been a fog to
me for years, and I am excited to be opening the door I have been standing
in front of since I was a teenager. ” Jon
” This book had a lot more information and was way more advanced than I expected. It’s the most comprehensive jazz bass book I’ve found to date. I’ve been working out of several books for the last year or so, but this is going to be my focus for the foreseeable future. I will definitely be getting the others in the series. ” S. Price
” Having fully written lines, you’re able to see and analysis how and why the lines work. Which goes a long way when writing out your own lines or using chord charts. I also appreciate that the first section is centred around one key. It has helped me adjust to my fret-less again. The use of different rhythmic variation is a good touch as well. ” Rick.
” Must have item to jazz bass students. ” Lee
” This is by far the most concise and exhaustive series of its kind. I highly recommend this and the other four books as well. ” Kevin
” I bought three of Steven’s books – this one, “rhythm Changes”, and “Jazz Standards” – and they are all excellent. Lots of introductory method books show what to play in a single measure to get from one chord to the next, and that is a good place to start. But the next step is to create a line that is melodic and interesting over the whole song form. That’s what these books do really well. The underlying theory is clearly presented, and the transcribed lines show how to put the theory in a useful musical context. Well worth the price. ” Mathemusician
” Writing-out all the bass lines instead of just the chord symbols lets the student learn the actual melodic motion of bass lines in the way that they are really used. The use of scale-type phrases, chromatic lines, occasional wide interval leaps, and rhythmic variations (such as quarter-note triplets and dotted-eighth/sixteenth notes) …in full context… really puts it all in proper perspective. It shows how those devices are actually used! That’s the stuff people learn-from through specific examples! Then once the student becomes familiar with it all and gets the hang of it, he or she should be able to call on these ideas in increasingly improvisational and hence musical ways. ” The Jazzer
” An “Absolute must have” Hands down!! The series delivers on how to walk the walk and talk the talk – ” Danny
” Great selection of bass lines and accompanying theory. ” William
Walking Bass Line Book
Jazz method books or walking bass line books can also be a great resource for learning to play jazz. When I was first starting out on Upright bass I studied with a teacher and worked out of Simandl (the Bible for upright players. I also studied out of jazz harmony books as well as the Ray Brown Book. Since then I have written many of my own books that each work on a different aspect of walking bass line techniques and jazz harmony.
- Constructing Walking Jazz Bass Lines Book I – The Blues in 12 keys
- Constructing Walking Jazz Bass Lines Book II – Rhythm Changes in 12 keys
- Constructing Walking Jazz Bass Lines Book III – Standard Lines
- Constructing Walking Jazz Bass Lines Book IV – Building a 12 key facility for the Jazz Bassist
- Constructing Walking Jazz Bass Lines Book V -Building a 12 key facility for the Jazz Bassist Pt II
- Constructing Walking Jazz Bass Lines – Daily warm up exercises for bass
All books are available in either standard notation or bass tab. Having the bass tab option is for the bass guitar player and will hopefully inspire them to read standard notation.
Being able to read music can open doors.
How I Got Started Playing Jazz Bass
Constructing Walking Jazz Bass Lines
Listening to a great jazz bass player walking bass lines was the defining moment for me. Once I heard that sound, I knew that was what I was going to do. The record was Giant Steps and the bassist was Paul Chambers.
Like many bass players, once they’re exposed to jazz thats what they want to do.The aim of our site is to make available the information to get bass players to that point. Like all good teachers, my first recommendation is to listen to as much music as you can. Listen to great bass players. Theres an endless list. Milt Hinton, Jimmy Blanton, Slam Stewart, Percy Heath, Doug Watkins, Paul Chambers, Wilbur Ware, Ron Carter, Ray Brown, Herbie Lewis.
Take the time to absorb the music and find out who the bass player is on the record date. Chances are that if your just starting out listening to records you will tune in to a particular style of walking bass player. Theres a big difference between Wilbur Ware and Paul Chambers.What is it that sets them apart ? They both play great and played with many of the same musicians of the time. The more you listen, and the more experience you gain, the easier it is to define the differences.
Transcribing
Transcribing records is another important aspect of playing walking bass lines. As any good teacher will tell you. Pick out your favorite bass line or bass player and sit down and try to work it out. In the beginning it can be slow, but like all things with practice it gets easier. The thing about transcribing is it develops many aspects of your playing at the same time.It develops your walking bass line vocabulary. It strengthens your technique, and it is great for your ear. Being able to hear root movement and recognize chord sequences is a very important skill to develop.
Walking Bass Line example from Book III Standard Lines.
Practicing – How to practice walking bass lines
When first starting out trying to learn to play jazz or walking bass lines it can be hard to know where to start.
If you can find a teacher, your off to a good start. Chances are they have already listened to and experienced most of what you are trying to learn.
A good teacher can help you with jazz harmony , learning to play the instrument and guide you in some great albums to listen to.
The good thing about listening to great records is playing along with them. This brings us back to transcribing. Work out a small section of bass line and then play along with the record.
Jazz bass lessons
If your looking for a good teacher and there isn’t one in your area, contact me. I Teach lessons online and have taught people from all over the world using that system.
I studied with Charles Banacos using that style of teaching, Charlie was in Boston and I was in New York at the time. We sent lessons to each other.
My email is constructwalkingjazzbasslines@gmail.com
