This page features over 180 free bass transcriptions in standard notation. Apr 26, 2017 in my previous post, how to keep your bass lines interesting, we defined what a bass line is and what its functions are, and looked at a few ways in which we can creatively negotiate chord changes. How to write a walking bass line learn jazz standards. Jazz bass line construction thelonious monk institute of jazz online jazz handbook welcome to the bass chapter of the thelonious monk institute of jazz s online jazz handbook. The term walking is used lescribe the moving feeling that quarter notes create in the bass part. This document was uploaded by user and they confirmed that they have the permission to share it. Walking bass line theory basics pdf file chris fitzgerald. Incorporating the 3rd of the chord will also give your bass line a stronger harmonic foundation.
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. From jazz bassist to popular music icon by joshua andrew zarbo, b. Jazz bass line construction thelonious monk institute of. Josquin des pres bass fitness there is document josquin des pres bass fitness available here for reading and downloading. The purpose of this book is to provide the beginning to intermediate jazz bassist a working vocabulary of walking basslines and concepts for improvising. Youll be able to easily drag and drop the chord progressions, lead melodies, bass lines, drum patterns and other midi data into your daw of choice.
Just like walking with your feet, tyjwalking bass line is one step after the other that takes you somewhere. We explore how to walk that bass in your left hand up basic triad shapes and scale fragments. The bass lines in the section are for you to learn, memorize, and play in a real live playing situation. Use these lines to get you going the right direction when you start playing a blues.
Dorian pentatonic blues bass line ideas guitar pro zip file mp3 jam track. Simple walking bass line for jazz beginners talkingbass. As im sure you have heard before, practice makes perfect. A walking bass line is the most common approach to jazz bass playing. S7 e7 all of me example bass line john marley 3 3 3 5 2 2 4. The man was a genius of jazz guitar, one of the most influential musicians of his generation, and someone who changed the face of jazz forever. But if you listen closely youll find a myriad of subtle variations that give the music an extra kick without destroying the underlying groove.
Mike downes the jazz bass lines book free ebook download as pdf file. A very basic primer for walking bass lines connecting the dots part 1 david hodge guitar lessons guitar columns by david hodge, guitar lessons for beginners weve mentioned this before, but it certainly bears repeating. We offer a broad selection free bass tabs pdf sheets to help you learn songs. Free stuff national jazz workshop a summer jazz camp at. The majority of the presentation will focus on walking bass lines in a 44 meter. Whether it is melody, bass lines, or accompaniment, we have to be ready to tackle any situation at a. How to create bass lines 5 ostinato or riff bass an ostinato is a repeated rhythmicmelodic. Also included in each example are the scales, modes and. Mike downes the jazz bass lines book chord music melody. 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. The symbol of the bass clef is derived from the old german way of writing f.
Free bass tabs printable, downloadable pdf bass tabs. When you use our free bass tabs pdf youll be able to download and save them to your computer for future use. S7 e7 bass bass a7 10fr d7 5 a7 d7 bass bass e7 a7 9 e7 a7 bass bass 10fr d7 10fr d7 g7 d7 d7 g7 bass bass 8fr c. Walking bass line piano tutorial walking bass jazz piano. Here are some tips to aid you in mastering these bass blues licks. Walking bass lines for jazz guitar by stephan badreau is a step by step guide to harmonizing bass lines on the guitar. The language of jazz or the jazz idiom is in a constant state of flux. Fundamentals of jazz bass and beyond is the perfect fit for you if. With these jazz standard study guides you learn how to master your favorite jazz tunes on guitar.
All transcriptions are available in pdf format for free download. Ron carter building jazz bass lines free download pdf kupdf. For example, when you do steps 1, 2, or 3 above, you are creating the most basic kinds of ostinato. For example, a short pattern that is played on two strings could be played on strings 12, 23, 34, 45. If youre looking for bass tabs, then click here these free bass transcriptions are provided for educational use only click on the transcription title to view and download the pdf. Heres an easy pretty slow walking bass line, in the key of am. Each generation of jazz musicians contribute their own unique ideas, feelings, and sound to the music and this is what. The two dots on the right of the bass clef symbol surround the line on which f pitch is written. The file extension pdf and ranks to the documents category.
Includes a written solo for alto sax, then open sections for other players. Jamersons jazz experience and his eventual evolved music persona. Each example includes not only written basslines, but also a series of exercises that stepbystep introduce root motion, chord tones, scale patterns and chromatic halfstep approaches. In this 5 minute masterclass, were going create a bass line over a blues in f. Many of the documents on this page are in pdf format. If you find it useful why not give a small donation to a charity of your choice.
Pay attention, burn through this as fast as you can, and you. James jamerson from jazz bassist to popular music icon. For when you have to learn to play the bass right now. It contains a huge range of movable scale, chord and arpeggio fingerboard diagrams allowing you to play in any key. In this handout, bert ligon shares some basic concepts of constructing good jazz bass lines. One that can be opened with guitar pro 6, and one with guitar pro 5. Try to play the phrase on as many sets of strings as possible. Approach notes usually occur on the beat before a target note. Dedicate at least 3060 minutes each day to playing the bass. You can also resize the bass tabs which makes them perfect for viewing on an ipad, smartphone or other tablet.
Lines in the style of wes, metheny, benson, and more. The collection of material of this book is, in our opinion, the basics to playing bass guitar for some event. Jazz has changed greatly over the past 70 years and is presently in transition. Were going to use basic chord tones and repetitive lines that will act as a springboard in developing your own lines. A compendium of techniques for great jazz bass lines.
Heres a blues in a jam track you can use to practice. The bassline construction method explored here uses chord tones, approach notes and basic reharmonization. The description below is for the pdf and audio files. Fun and swingin tune that is also a blast to blow solos over. Walking bass lines supplement this is a supplement for the lesson on walking bass. 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. Free stuff national jazz workshop a summer jazz camp. His ability to create seemingly endless streams of energetic, sophisticated lines, then turn on a dime and nail a blues run, made him fun and enjoyable for all jazz fans to listen to. These blues bass lines are like having a one chorus lick that you can rely on to always sound good when you play it. To read them, you will need to have the free adobe reader program installed on your computer. Each example includes not only written basslines, but also a series of.
The bass lines are good and one simple addition to know is that just about any chordwalking bass line, you can always use a leading tone that is, 12 step below to whatever is the next chord. Leave us your email below to download our pdf resources. In this example, the bass line consists of simple arpeggiations of each chord, giving the overall effect of a simple blues bass line. Bass tabs bb jazz blues bassline a foggy day bassline bireli lagrene. Jazz bass line construction thelonious monk institute of jazz online jazz handbook welcome to the bass chapter of the thelonious monk institute of jazzs online jazz handbook. This book contains the main afrolatin styles of bass playing as well as sections on latin jazz bass. In order to be a part of the jazz movement one must accept change.
Get a hold of the fundamentals before tackling this. This is a supplement for the lesson on walking bass. Now its time to learn how to create a complete bass line from scratch. Music educational books and sheet music downloads for blues, jazz, funk, latin, gospel, rock, celtic styles for instruments including piano, keyboards, sax, flute. While some knowledge of music theory is necessary, excellent bass lines can be.
In my previous post, how to keep your bass lines interesting, we defined what a bass line is and what its functions are, and looked at a few ways in which we can creatively negotiate chord changes. In this handout, bert ligon shows many different possibilities for improvising bass lines on a blues in f. Jazz bass explores the key ingredients necessary to play great jazz bass lines, including the sound, feel, foundation, and power. Constructing walking jazz bass lines book i the blues in 12 keys new 2hr mp3 playalong free download featuring all chord progressions in 12 keys from part ii of the book available from website. This book teaches everything you need to know to create great bass lines. Bass guitar scales chords and arpeggios is a printable pdf book for bass guitarists. Use the download button below or simple online reader. For educational and personal use only not to be sold but please share. If you are wishing to order the pdfmp3 files please go to the correct page as this product is for the pdf file only. R 3 5 6 7 walking bass line theory basics chris fitzgerald.
Take a one or two bar phrase and transpose it to all 12 keys. When creating walking bass lines, its important to outline the root and 5th of the chord. When starting out with walking bass lines, i would recommend that you always target the root when changing chords. Walking bass line theory basicspart 1by chris fitzgerald. Jazz piano lessons stepbystep lessons to master jazz theory. The fundamentals of music are pitch and rhythm which are placed in a grid of five lines and four spaces called staff. For a complete guide to walking bass lines be sure to check out the full course here. Jazz bass line construction thelonious monk institute of jazz. As guitar players, we can be responsible for playing any part of a tune. I added tabs on the bottom right of the screen, so you can learn easily this wal.
An easytouse, stepbystep approach to basic theory is given as a foundation, and then the essential stylesand many styles within each styleare explored from the bass point of view. All original piano compositions by lucas king transcribed by my sheet music transcriptions. First off, before we begin, it is important that you take a look at your skillset. From the funkiest bass grooves to the most lyrical bass solos, from the 50s up until 2020. More than 460 free transcriptions for bass and other instruments on basslessons. This page contains a variety of educational materials that are offered here free of charge. In this lesson, we will show you a couple of jazz bass lines that will help to open your eyes to the use of chords and chromatics within jazz bass guitar playing. In this weeks lesson were looking at a very simple walking bass line through the chord changes of the jazz standard autumn leaves. Building walking bass lines pdf free download epdf. Youll be able to easily drag and drop the chord progressions, lead melodies, bass lines. Throughout the course, you will learn techniques for playing effective walking bass lines over jazz chord changes.