And The Bass Walks On

[@ghadymrad]

"It wouldn't be jazz if we always did the easy thing" ...

[@12tone]

^_^

[@dougalstanton]

Accompanied by the Tau symbol. Some quality mathematical jokes in this one.

[@maywasp]

Talks about resolving tension. Draws a nuke. I like it.

[@camf35]

How walking basslines work has always been a question I've had in the back of my mind. Thank you so much, I love your videos.

[@12tone]

Thanks! We were really surprised at how many people apparently really wanted to know about this one, but I'm glad we could help!

[@OriginalKingRichTv]

Isn't it just root notes?

[@awesome_dude332]

@@OriginalKingRichTv thirds, fifths, etc

[@lazyjackass77]

Walking bass is my favorite upright bass sound. As a drummer, I find myself becoming enamored with it without realizing it. The thing is, once you place limiting paramaters on a musical technique or style, music finds a way to still make it interesting and entertaining.

[@norigib6186]

Y O U L I K E J A Z Z ?

[@12tone]

Sometimes! It's not really my style, but there's a couple jazz artists I really enjoy.

[@nicosarracio3318]

12tone that is a reference to bee movie lol

[@banjomango145]

*YaLikeJAZZZZZZZZZ?;)*

[@StainlessHelena]

Ｙｏｕ　ｌｉｋｅ　Ｊａｚｚ？

[@godnotavailable2094]

You stole my comment, but then again, as if I expected someone wouldn't do it.

[@Sreven199]

Jazz Bassist here. Nice to see an explanation of how this works, as it's just something I had to learn on my own. Picked up through feel more than anything, as I never really learned the names of notes and all the other music theory stuff mentioned in the video. Something I really want to work on if I'm to ever move on to more professional jazz playing.

[@12tone]

Thanks! It's awesome that you were able to pick it up through feeling, not everyone can do that!

[@bcubed72]

When he said "walking bass don't care," I was expecting him to draw a honey badger.

[@fabianpilinski4079]

I’m a bassist and this explains walking bass better than most KZbin videos I’ve seen, thanks

[@Max-ti5nq]

Best bass lesson I've ever watched. 1st time that I could understand it. Thank you so much.

[@xtruthunfiltrd1192]

Jazz bassist here, you covered everything very nicely!

[@12tone]

Thanks, that's great to hear from an expert!

[@pizzasub3194]

Ari Eschtruth why did i read your comment at "jazz jazzist here,"

[@ace-smith]

@@pizzasub3194 Bass jazzist here,

[@alannoob1926]

He just summarized what bassists spend their whole lives practicing

[@Krakabraka]

@@ace-smith Bazz Jassist

[@grberendzenproductions312]

As a jazz bassist, I'm happy you decided to show folks how important and innovative we are. I usually pick the beat 4 note on the spot by feel. Sometimes I know beforehand, if we're playing a standard that gets played often, though you've got to mix things up, so strike that thought.... And, I love the "jazz hands"!

[@ATTACKofthe6STRINGS]

ha, I love how you drew in a Mandelbrot set when talking about not following the pattern! That’s some quality joking right there!

[@12tone]

Thanks!

[@yuyurtrtrt2160]

I don't get it. What does the mandelbrot set have to do with not following patterns?

[@Heybuditsme]

Infinite complexity? *shrug*

[@StranaHyena]

i didnt see a mandelbrot anywhere

[@MisterAppleEsq]

Josh B Cried the terrified mathematician.

[@guillequerol]

I think this is my favorite 12tone video so far. Keep on rocking dude.

[@12tone]

Aw, thanks!

[@timofy2641]

more like keep on jazzing

[@colinedmunds2238]

this is cool. having something you've always understood but couldn't really explain in a meaning full way ("dunno, just FEEL it, man") broken down like this is super useful

[@12tone]

Thanks!

[@MrMiau2]

love how you drew a tau when talking about not doing the easy thing

[@nemo227]

Good video/narration, entertaining and informative. We play bass because we like the bass, like the sound, like the shape, and we can lean on it while we play. But some of us don't think about the technical elements; we merely play a note that "fits" in the tune and one note suggests another so we follow the notes the same way a mountain man follows a trail . . . or we simply read the notes written on the score.

[@orphanos]

I love all of your videos so much, you've taught me so much and i've applied a lot of it to writing and it just all makes sense to me now, thank you

[@harczymarczy]

I _love_ jazz, it has everything necessary to make good music. It has the beats, complex chords and, in some styles, those good old crying sax riffs, too...

[@jameskennedy7093]

"It wouldn't be jazz if we always did the easy thing" ---Did you use Tau as the symbol of "easy thing"? I think Numberphile would have a field day with that.

[@Professorelliot]

I was actually just wondering about this yesterday. Informative as always!

[@12tone]

What a coincidence, I was just wondering about gross fermented herrings! Ok, no I wasn't, but still.

[@Professorelliot]

Our daily lives do seem to have minor differences :P

[@12tone]

We all appreciate the sacrifices you make in the name of science. And in the name of making Kristaan do unpleasant things on camera too, if we're all being honest.

[@GregsBassShed]

Excellent video - you summarise walking bass brilliantly. Perfect!

[@Antilles1974]

"Let's start with an A minor 7th..." ...and all I hear is C Major with an added 6th...

[@DeinCouseng]

All I hear is C maj7 over A

[@wnxa85]

heiii, never watched any of your videos til today...automatically turned into a 12tone big fan!! awesome job, greetings from chile

[@12tone]

Aw, thanks!

[@helios5868]

Hitting the root on one is a good idea in a more traditional setting, but most jazz I've heard breaks that rule all the time. In fact, the way I learned walking bass lines was basically, "hit chord tones on 1 and 3, don't go too crazy, and...go!" (not a bass player, but this is what I've picked up from playing the music)

[@BrunoWiebelt]

like this "teaching" I take a "lesson" every day , and it makes me always smile

[@nicholasfernandez2490]

Ive been playing bass for years! Your videos are addicting

[@12tone]

Thanks!

[@vincentkoster6291]

the best video I've found on walking bass! very easy to understand and remember, respect!

[@12tone]

Thanks!

[@dash_R]

this guys needs *more subs*

[@12tone]

Thanks! Feel free to share if you know anyone who'd be interested!

[@drewdarnel233]

You don’t understand how much I love you for this video

[@kearnsguitars2236]

Never heard it explained so well.

[@silentyouber2816]

James Jamerson was a jazz player who played bass for Motown. Listen to his lines; soo amazing and unique.

[@0120130140130122]

"In normal music, " loved that line

[@JavierMartinez-ke8ok]

This made way more sense then some other walking bass lessons

[@zacharytaylor190]

That one moment when you took calculus 30 in addition to your advanced band. I can spot a Mandelbrot set from 1/2 a kilometre away. I like how it kind of implies that, like music (both theory and practice) are infinitely detailed, not unlike the Mandelbrot set. Amazing video btw.

[@12tone]

Thanks! ^_^

[@bubbert]

jazz guitarist here. I often throw in a few base notes as I comp. thanks for the vid! gave me some ideas on how to fit a baseline in. gonna try it over 'your me to the moon' changes rn :D

[@lateralus88vicarious]

I think this is the best explanation I ve seen ,about walking bass

[@jacehoward5706]

Epic video! I’m just learning how to walk on bass and this will be very helpful!!!!!

[@andrewdrennan9436]

A good musician can have favorite styles. The important thing to remember is that all styles/sub-styles contribute to the tapestry and intersect with each other in some way. Definite sub here. Looking forward to your upcoming work.

[@12tone]

Exactly! It's like being a chef: You don't have to like every ingredient, but you should still know how to use them.

[@gitarooman4397]

Great video, this really helped me on my way to learning how to walk jazz basslines. Keep up the good work

[@steadyrhythms9571]

Thank you, I have to audition for jazz region soon and I was thinking about how to map out a walking bass line for a section.

[@evelynyturralde4113]

Great clear explanation in a short time! I like your doodles. I'm left-handed, too.

[@noahbell3221]

That Mandelbrot set at the end though

[@12tone]

Yeah, that's a fun one to toss in sometimes...

[@bodowartke95]

"And they'd stick it in about anything, if you'd give'em the chance". Same!

[@sengroagers1111]

Fly me to the moon... no matter how hard I try, how many jam sessions I go to, how many different players I play with, I can't escape that song

[@12tone]

It's just a great progression!

[@DrumApe]

Best explanation I ever heard. I think NOW I understand it. I'm a drummer, so I'm excused. Right?

[@12tone]

Heh, sure!

[@rohanvijay9910]

I have been struggling with walking bass lines. But you have provided me with clarity. Love your channel.

[@contrapunctusmammalia3993]

Could become a series about different styles' accompaniment traditions, and when you get to basso continuo - you could have "and the continuo continues on"

[@InventorZahran]

This bass was made for walking, and that's what it will do! Someday, this bass will walk all over you!

[@DrLumpyDMus]

I've often wondered about those very early urb players. They weren't amplified. Even the smallest combo, duet w/piano, presents a challenge for the bass to be heard. Throw in a wailing sax or trumpet, much less an entire section (or three!). Those early doghouse slappers must have had monster forearms to be heard. Thanks for the F clef walk, 12Tone.

[@jdmarino]

Excellent. Simplified formula.

[@brauliodiaz3925]

Thanks for making me understand this. I only took classical composition, I thought this was going to be harder to understand but it's pretty much basic harmony. Thanks!

[@12tone]

That's awesome, glad we could help!

[@barth1977]

Hi 12tone. Very nice breakdown of the bare essentials indeed! One minor point: if I would have played a C# in a two-chords-per-bar progression like | A-7 D-7 | I would have been corrected by my teacher to play the C that is actually in the A-7 chord. The situation would be different in a one-chord-per-bar situation, for example to play the C# as a passing note to a D, but in the case you show (2:45) I would not choose to play a C#... Apart from that: great video as always!

[@alanbarnett718]

Yeah, I caught that. Still, great video!

[@connorketchum9063]

This is exactly what I needed, thank you

[@PatGBass]

I've just discovered your channel and it's fascinating. I've been watching your videos for...too long :) and just subscribed.

[@12tone]

Aw, thanks!

[@lythd]

this is the best music channel ever good job!!!

[@12tone]

Thanks!

[@ReCapRealMusicforu]

Well done! I'm looking forward to seeing all of your work.

[@12tone]

Thanks!

[@checkYVELLUAP]

walks on, walks on, hold on and the bass walks on

[@giocosovelasco]

BRUH I WAS LITERALLY GONN WRITE THAT

[@danthesque]

Hi, amazing video, so useful! I´m a little confused tho, in the example bass line (min 3:59) in the 8th bar, the last change is noted as chromatic but it goes from C# to A, aren´t chromatic changes the closest ones?

[@12tone]

Depends where it's going next! If the 8 bars repeat, then yes, it's going back to A, but the harmony's actually an excerpt from Fly Me To The Moon, and the next chord is a D chord, which C# approaches by half step. (Actually, the chord in that bar switches to A7 on beat 3, so the C# is just a chord tone, but apparently I forgot to notate that. Whoops!)

[@danthesque]

Ah I see! I didn´t recognize the melody and assumed that it was an 8 bar exercise. Thanks for the explanation and keep up the good work.

[@nicosarracio3318]

4:41 keep on jazzing

[@12tone]

^_^

[@generallee7414]

you sir are a GOD, i will watch your EVERY video

[@Christopherjazzcat]

This is really solid.

[@jensbomholt4529]

Cool! Let's walk that walk!

[@BoomChockolaca]

Great starting lesson on walking bass! Thanks

[@BigDaddyWes]

Fly me to the moon....

[@12tone]

Yup!

[@kaphizmey6229]

...let me gaze upon the stars? (i think)

[@Da_Swifta]

DJ Fork something like that, yeah

[@netuno51]

OOOOHHHH I just noticed now!!!

[@jojotheworld]

Sounds like the chords to fly me to the moon

[@12tone]

It was a while ago so I'm not sure anymore, but I think that's exactly what it was!

[@thelbronius]

Yep, that's what I was thinking too

[@l_ndonmusic]

That’s the cycle 5ths progression. It’s used a lot in jazz standards.

[@weldon29]

Do a video on jazz reharmonization

[@12tone]

Good idea! We did a video on chord substitutions in general (kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoqnn32vfad1hpo ) but it'd be interesting to look at some more advanced jazz techniques in specific. I'll add it to our list!

[@cryowreck3193]

The best advice that I ever got about walking bass was "Worry that it grooves, then how it grooves, then why it grooves. You're making music, not rocket fuel."

[@lukeh9300]

How could you not like jazz?!?

[@Christopherjazzcat]

That pun was glorious

[@EmeraldMinotaur]

This was sooo helpful

[@ace-smith]

Hey! Welcome to 12tone! _Ya like jazz?_

[@Geeee34lfe]

Great vid guys. Very interesting.

[@12tone]

Thanks!

[@easter.bunny.6]

just like counterpoint, simple but amazing.

[@StanEclipse]

Holy shit, this is what I needed!

[@joefagan9335]

Great video! Remarkable how many people look at music theory and also recognize Mandelbrot bugs!

[@12tone]

Thanks!

[@cruchinggo4678]

A tutorial that I can finally understand!

[@minggnim]

“One of my professors taught a chimpanzee to play the saxophone. We all think he’s great. But he only plays jazz, so there’s no way to tell.” -Modern Family

[@TheLemonyBard]

4:12 Y u no resolve!? Just kidding, that's fun sometimes. Being a jazz bassist is one of the many things with which I keep my self busy, and though I have a good ear and a decent understanding of theory, I never really put to words why I do some of the stranger things I do in walking bass lines. Like Ari said, you covered everything very nicely. Great channel!

[@12tone]

Thanks! I go back and forth on whether or not to resolve things, but leaving it hanging just felt right on a jazz video...

[@svitale3546]

Love your videos. Thank you.

[@KimSE4]

Limitations can be liberating. The more constricted you are the more creative you need to become...

[@Hecatonicosachoron]

Talking about bass and string instruments more generally, how difficult are artificial harmonics to string players? Are they easier when bowed or played pizzicato? I'm not talking about the first few harmonics which should be trivial, but the higher ones... what is the highest one can hope to execute clearly? Is it around the 24th?

[@12tone]

I'm afraid I don't know very much about string playing technique. I'm primarily a vocalist and pianist by training. I know enough to write string parts for songs, and I've arranged a quintet or two in my time, but when it comes to advanced playing techniques like artificial harmonics, I'd be in a bit over my head. Sorry!

[@jeremycahillcorbeil9845]

Jason93609 I play a bit of guitar and from my experiences the 24th fret is just an octave higher than the open string (maybe two I'm not sure). So in order of ease of playing it goes 12th, 24th, 7th, 5th, 9th, 3rd. I also think they are in order of lowest to highest. (Don't quote me on that, I'm far from a professional)

[@cliffordchoy8230]

Awesome!! Now I understand

[@jakeman1397]

I enjoyed the tiny mandelbrot set at the end

[@johnnyappleseed5029]

Famous quote I picked up somewhere? "Jazz is just 8 guys all soloing to a different song" Pretty much says it all......

[@Nikhilkannankutty]

The first time I heard the term walking bass (a John Clayton performance), I legit thought the bassist would pick up the double bass and play it as he walked. I felt so stupid later :D

[@minimonkey252]

This was the approach I took for a while, but there's some addition piece of information real jazz bassists have that I just can't figure out. Something that makes the lines even smoother, and more.. compositionally appropriate. More interesting. I.. can't put my finger on it. In some way it feels like something you only really know when you've moved your fingers up and down the neck for ten thousand hours.

[@dgn0]

Amazing. Thanks for your videos.

[@12tone]

Aw, thanks!

[@elijahtxt2334]

BASS FOR LIFE I LOVEBASS I PLAY BASS AND I LOVE JAZZ AND METAL AND JAZZ METAL I LOVE TYHIS THIS IS GREAT YOU ARE GREAT !!!!!!!!!!

[@12tone]

Aw, thanks!

[@shateq]

Great resource 🎉

[@kms_domo]

It's not entirely true that we don't feel the swing in walking bass lines. A huge thing jazz oriented bassists focus on is where the quarter note ends; if placed correctly, it swings. This is something I learned from the incredible Canadian multi-instrumentalist John Lee.

[@matthieujoly424]

great explanations! really good job :)

[@12tone]

Thanks!

[@rachelzimet8310]

I heard from my jazz band instructor that some bands would slightly mix the two rhythms - straight and swung eighth notes - especially at slower tempos, since it doesn't feel quite as energetic and that can be useful. Is this regional, or did you maybe not cover it because it's beyond the scope of the video? I'd be curious to hear your input. Thanks for making the video, was great to know more since i'm a cellist and i kinda want to get more into jazz!

[@12tone]

That's definitely true! It was a little beyond the scope here, since this was more about the basics, but there's a lot of stuff that good jazz bassists add in to make things more interesting, and this is just scratching that surface.

[@hetul784]

I love the way you explain! Why don't you do classes teaching music theory?

[@syndddd]

I love walking bass lines so much! Thanks for the video :)

[@12tone]

Thanks! I agree, they're one of the main reasons I enjoy jazz. They're so smooth!

[@jackWfoot]

2-5-1 is life

[@blueberrymuffinscottage]

It's the gummy bears at the end for me

[@superandrd]

Adam Neely has one of the best tutorials on walking bass, people should absolutely check that out as well.

[@OttosTheName]

It's probably good, he has good lessons, but as a none-native English speaker and theory newbie I thought that one was very hard to follow. More of a sketch then a lesson. But yeah people can always check it out to see for themselves, sometimes an extra explanation helps :)

[@superandrd]

Very good point! It does go by quick and I can definitely see how the harmonized melody can get muddy.

[@12tone]

Cool, I'll check it out! Adam does some amazing work, I'd love to see what he has to say here!

[@jonathantimotius]

Could someone please tell me what the meaning of "Dom","Dim" and "Ch" in the 04:14,thanks

[@timseguine2]

dominant, diminished, and chromatic. He's referring to the different types of approach notes that he previously described.

[@bobwilkinsonguitar6142]

You like Jaazz?

[@luvindabass102]

great lesson