How To Improvise Walking Bass Lines Over A JAZZ BLUES

[@williammorson1535]

Dan you make everything look so easy. That tells me it's possible for me to make progress.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

It definitely is possible for huge progress with consistent practice and constantly pushing your boundaries. Keep it up!

[@denisblack9897]

Dan, I love your attitude! It's like your are training professional bass players, not just sharing bits of experience! Thank you, dude! You are the best!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks, Denis! Really appreciate the comment.

[@jshox]

Thanks Dan! This inspires me to put down my new (first) 5 string for a few minutes each practice session and get back to walking on my P bass! 😎

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Cool! Have fun.

[@josem.ignacio3370]

Please, more wolking bass blues. Thanks. Amazing videos.

[@patrickblay7684]

Thank you very much for your fantastic lessons like this one and thank you also for your generosity . A French Fan

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Merci, Patrick!

[@lauriecremore5601]

I've just come across your great video here... So the first key is " just to learn all" of the fretboard notes... memories all.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Learn how the notes work - how one follows the other related to how they are laid out on the piano. Then find some patterns on the bass. It will all come together!

[@lauriecremore5601]

@@OnlineBassCourses Hi Dan.... I've just ordered two of your books.. see how I go... 🎶

[@OnlineBassCourses]

@@lauriecremore5601 🙏🙏🙏 I hope you enjoy them!

[@lauriecremore5601]

@@OnlineBassCourses ordered your ..Bass Guitar Practice Journal... Plus Creative Bass Technique Exercises. I just want to ground myself.. than just flip around.. Many thanks.

[@flash001USA]

This is a good video. You mentioned that some of the great jazz players may not know the technical theory but they have the ear and I would have to agree with that because in the end it's really just a language and it's not totally written into stone but depending on what you grew up listening to really does influence your ear on note preference. What you said applies to a lot of good players across all styles of music. I've worked with some "butt kicking" smoking players who would say "we're changing gears here" because they didn't know the names of the chords they were playing but they definitely spoke the language quite well on their instrument. This is going to be a great video for me because I have some of this style and feel already built into my brain just from country and blues structures but I'm more rock in my mindset so learning the jazz part of this is going to be a great learning experience for me. Just hearing you clearly without the other instruments took me 90% of the way there and I can even hear the guitar and other instruments chords in my minds eye as you play these arrangements. For me this is will be a big BIG help. Once again thank you for putting videos like this out for people to learn from and may the music Gods take favor and shine more of their wisdom down onto you.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks very much. I’ve played with loads of amazing pro players who don’t really know a lot of the terminology when it comes to music theory. Doesn’t change that they’re world class though!

[@ChesterRodriguez]

Awesome lesson, Dan. Thank you.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks, Bruce. 🙏

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Thanks Dan much appreciated 🎶🎵🎸

[@OnlineBassCourses]

👍🙏

[@jamiemacdonald3635]

Great lesson Dan once again! I also try to say the individual notes names as I play them, as it helps me learn/memorise the fingerboard. I slow the tempo down till I’ve “got it”, then speed it up gradually. Quarter note walking lines are great for this 👍😎

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Cheers, Jamie. That’s a good thing to do. 🤣🙏

[@philiptoombes4149]

I've recently transcribed three parts of things aint what they used to be and it's not a traditional blues it has 4 bars of b flat and two of e flat etc.Steve Gadd band on you tube,really cool.

[@stevewilson6352]

Hi Dan, you helped me enormously with walking bass with previous tips such as starting with roots, then thirds, fifths, octaves and then using all arpeggio notes, or not lol! Still with the Funk course btw, slow and steady.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

That’s great, Steve. More walking bass lessons to come in the future!

[@kevmac1230]

My man! Another winner.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks Kevin!

[@wmkennard]

Awesome lessons.

[@ishaeldeguzman]

Hi Dan! ive been wanting to learn the bassline for Michael Buble’s “its a beautiful day” and i can hear a good walking basslines. will this lesson help me figure it out? its such a happy song. its jazzy, right?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

The principles of walking bass lines are the same so this should help. Have fun!

[@TPBass1224]

Awesome!!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

🙏🙏

[@peterbridge7940]

Very useful, well made and explained. Just two question... what made you chose this key, please? I have almost no musical background but am I correct in thinking the message would be the same but moved up or down a semi tone if in a different key? Also, when I play with friends or look on-line for chord sequences on which to base my bass playing, very few blues tracks seem to be in sharp keys. More like G, A, E etc. Diolch 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 thanks

[@peterbridge7940]

Ahhhhhh I've played more RandB such as Walking The Dog and Got My Mojo Working.....do jazz blues tend to use sharps / flats more to give that quite unique sound and feel

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Depends what key you’re in! You can do anything really although there tend to be more ‘standard’ keys.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks. Bb is a fairly standard key but I don’t really think about it too much. Yes, you can move keys around as you describe. There are more ‘standard’ keys than others, usually to do with keys that horn players and/or guitarists favour.

[@mr.t382]

Great stuff Dan, as usual mate!! Dan, are they worn in round wounds you’re using sir?? Lovely thud :) 🙏😎👍

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks! Yes, I usually have a set of worn in rounds on this bass as it has a lovely mellow character.

[@TerryD23]

Hi Dan - I do have a question. It may be inconsequential but I was curious. I have noticed that in many videos you choose Bb as the root. Is there a particular reason for this? Why not A or B? Thank you. Love your videos. I watch them every day and have also purchased your music theory course that has proven extremely helpful.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks, Terry! Glad you’re enjoying the course. I’ve got to be honest - I had no idea I’m favouring Bb! Across all my videos, I probably go for C Major the most as it’s easier to teach. It’s all the same though at the end of the day.

[@TerryD23]

@@OnlineBassCoursesThanks for the reply! and by the way, I love your lava lamp 😊

[@grahamcooper2144]

Really great lesson. I've really enjoyed a lot of your videos. I'm just starting out on walking bass and loving it. I manage the majority of triads, including m7b5 etc, and it was great to see a diminished chord explained here as stacked minor thirds (I assume augmented is the same idea using stacked major thirds?) but thing that's currently tripping me up is 'sus' chords eg 'Gsus4' or 'sus2'. Any pointers on how to tackle those in terms of intervals - or does it not work like that?

[@kevmac1230]

You and anyone learning are so lucky to have a guy like Dan.I'm an older player and these lessons would have sent my playing light years ahead so many years ago.But still he's taught me so many useful things.Keep at it and most importantly have fun!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks Graham and you’re spot on with augmented chords. ‘Sus’ stands for ‘suspended’ and they generally refer to chords without a 3rd. The number in the chord is added instead and they have a distinct and beautiful sound. I should do a video on them! Actually maybe I have, I can’t remember but check this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5y7ZpSLpsqUiKM

[@grahamcooper2144]

@@OnlineBassCourses Hi Dan. Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to write me such a considered response. You must get inundated with questions, so I am very grateful. I will check out the link you thoughtfully provided me with - and as a notification subscriber, if you do make a video on sus chords, I will be sure to hear about it and check it out. Have a great weekend.

[@PatGBass]

Interesting. What I'm struggling with is improvising walking bass lines on the fly that don't sound dull. I'm struggling not to get lost in the chord progression, figuring out what to play now and trying to think about what to play next. Really NOT easy.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

No it’s not, but you do reach a point, with practice, where you recognise the individual chords better and how they fit into the overall harmony. Those shortcuts allow you to be more creative as you cut out the thinking part. Knowing the arpeggios/scales/modes all over the neck is a must too.

[@drjazz7278]

Love your tone..is it DI?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks very much. Yes: this one was 78 P into Jules Monique.

[@drjazz7278]

@@OnlineBassCourses Jules Monique? well I've not heard of him/them/that. Sounds expensive and classy...

[@OnlineBassCourses]

@@drjazz7278 yes, it’s both those things…

[@paulhopkins686]

Excellent video