Ted:
I have a handout on blues bass lines which gives roughly 90,000,000 bass
lines on one page. I'm not sure the best way to get it to you. I could mail
it or attach a Finale file (for MAC). Let me know if you are interested.
I begin bass students with the basic concept of connecting lines from roots
to roots. There are, of course, exceptions. but I prefer to begin simply.
The next principle is to move to the root from a step. The root on beat one
should be preceded with a note above or below it, either a 1/2 or whole
step. The step across the barline makes the lines smooth. Leaps tend to
call attention to the downbeat and interrupt the flow. Consider that beat
one of a measure is the root, beat four is a step above or below the
following root and that leaves only two pitches to improvise. The choices
are: move up or down the scale or move up or down the arpeggio.
I wouldn't recommend trying to play colorful alterations or extensions,
just concern yourself with the key area. Upper extensions and alterations
are generally played by some other instrument and work because of the
fundamental pitches being played by the bass.
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Bert Ligon
Director of Jazz Studies
_______________________________________
School of Music
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
Voice: (803) 777-6565
Fax: (803) 777-6508
bligon@mozart.sc.edu
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