Bossa Nova Bass Lines for Beginners

[@The8powder8]

Thanks Geoff. having made Ipanema our ensemble's first bossa, (surprise), this review, years later is most appreciated. Especially the reminder of the distinction between straight and swing.

[@GERALDOuncleG]

Great lesson, I’m a beginner on double bass, with some experience on electric guitar bass. And I’m happy to see a lesson on how to play bossa nova on double bass. I’ll try it soon. Thanks.

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

That's great. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Best of luck with all your practice.

[@marielleassouline-amozig6835]

Thank you ! It helps me a lot to play with my friends Bossa, "correctly". Merci !!

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Happy to help :-)

[@cpaterso28]

Another good one! Good point re: NOT swinging the feel in a bossa tune.

[@mauriciovieira637]

Viva Jobim, viva a música Brasileira!

[@drumsnbass]

Sim!

[@cameronsteuart1197]

really useful

[@cpaterso28]

BTW - that bass of yours sounds VERY good! Nice E string sounds especially!

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Thanks! :-)

[@bluetokenz]

Subscribed. I'm a piano player but can't find any good advice on how to handle bass root and fifth bossa nova with dim chords/augmented/#11/etc. This would be so helpful and couldn't find anyone explaining it. Thanks! Do I play perfect fifths for these or the flat5/aug5/etc. for bossa nova bass?

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

If you're playing a bass lines using 5ths, you should always play the correct 5th of the chord, so if it's a Minor7 b5 chord, then you would play a flattened 5th. .... or if it's an augmented chord, you would play a sharp fifth. I hope that helps.

[@bluetokenz]

Cool thanks. Much appreciated. I was hearing recently some treat the b5 or aug5 for 7th chords bossa nova as a #11 or b13. I guess in that case of interpretation you could play a perfect 5th with a lower bass supplemented with the b5 (as #11) or aug5 (b13) with RH piano. Your teaching is very helpful. @@DiscoverDoubleBass

[@hhohn]

Great lesson Geoff. The bass sounds amazing, as usual. Thank you. What are you using for a backing track? Software? Recording?

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it. The tracks are recorded by a live band.

[@hallanvaara6106]

Hi Geoff! Thanks for the video! Are you using Spiros now? The sound is different from the older videos.

[@hayleycomet8029]

Great video - my question is what do I play on slash chords? Obviously the root becomes the note under the slash but do I play the fifth of the top chord? Thx!

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

It really depends on the context, but a good approach would be to either repeat the lowest note of the chord, or if use the root note in place of the 5th.

[@hayleycomet8029]

@@DiscoverDoubleBass thanks!

[@fivossavva]

Nice lesson Geoff! Is it common for the 8th notes to sound more percussive and less melodic? I tend to do that as I think it grooves more.

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Yes, I think the subdivisions of the beat do make it more percussive and less melodic. I've not thought of it that way before but I'm sure you're right.

[@zackbochicchio]

Hey Geoff. I know in past videos you have touched on hybrid strings, but I was just wondering, for the player who does equal parts jazz and classical, hybrid strings sometimes are the worst of both worlds instead of the best. Should we look for jazz strings with good bow response or good orchestra strings with good pizz sound? Or would having two sets of strings and changing them when need be be advisable.

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

It's such a tough one Zack, I find switching out strings is just too much hassle, unless its a very important gig I generally stick with one. If you were lucky enough to have two basses then that's a good option too. I think it's probably best to work with what you have got as you can bow pretty much all strings and actually if you don't mind the brightness a lot of sets that work great for jazz like Spirocores can be a good fit or bowing. I know Lauren really likes them.

[@bassviolin8180]

can you do a review on Acoustic image upshot?

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Yes, we are planning on doing one soon. :-)

[@bassviolin8180]

awsome! i watch a lot of you content, great stuff. Helps me a lot.

[@misoo4210]

Geil:-)