Developing techniques to improve improvisation and explore composition

Let’s face it – we all are bass player wannabes, it’s just that many of us are intelligent enough to know that carrying a tuba around has its problems. And a string bass? I don’t think so. Even a bass guitar requires a bigger amp!

But we love what bass players do. And what they do is especially cool. Did you ever see a group of tourists being led around by a guide carrying a little flag? That’s the bass player, leading us from site to site, or chord to chord in a musical sense.

But what, exactly, is their job? And how do they lead?

Let’s brainstorm:

• Timekeeper
• Tonal anchor
• Provides tonal and rhythmic direction

The Blues

The simplest and most common song form. The blues is a 12 measure song form. Each verse is a repetition of the same 12 measure pattern, so the repetition makes it is easy to learn. The blues is based on a simple chord pattern that is familiar to American jazz and popular music, usually involving just 3 chords. Jazz educator Jamey Aebersold compiled a wonderful text called the Jazz Handbook, available free as a pdf through this link. On page 35 he includes Dan Haerle’s 17 examples of blues progressions. For this lesson we will concentrate on variation 1.

1. I – I – I – I

2. IV – IV – I – I

3. V – V – I – I

In the key of C a I chord is C, a IV chord is F, and a V chord would be a G. Also, in the blues all chords are dominant (they contain a dominant, or flat, 7th). This is the only form of music where the dominant chord is used in this way. 

Here is what a bass player might see. What to do?

In this example, the slashes are shorthand for quarter notes

Play roots

Play scale tones

1-2-3-2 or Do-Re-Mi-Re

1-2-3-5 or Do-Re-Mi-Sol

1-2-3-5 / 3-2-1-7

Build in Backgrounds

3rds and 7ths will work well

• In the key ofBb:
  • I chord isBb
    • 3rd is D
    • 7th is Ab
  • IV chord is Eb
    • 7th is Db
    • 3rd is G
  • V chord is F
    • 7th is Eb
    • 3rd is A
• So, begin on the 3rd of the I chord and play notes in red: D, Db, Eb (3, 7, 7)
• Or, begin on the 7th of the I chord and play notes in green: Ab, Db, A (7, 3, 3)

 

 

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More blues tunes: Huckle Buck (Now’s the Time), Count Basie, Blue Monk, Blue Trane, C Jam Blues, Freddie Freeloader, Mr. P.C., Sonnymoon for Two, Straight No Chaser, Tenor Madness, K.C. Blues (Max Roach), Blues Back, (Art Blakey), The Blues March