Simple Walking Bass Line For Jazz Beginners (Autumn Leaves)

All Lesson Material and tab can be found here: www.talkingbas...
In this week's lesson we're looking at a very simple walking bass line through the chord changes of the Jazz standard Autumn Leaves.
We'll be looking at basic scale degree patterns that can be applied to each chord in creating a walking bass line. This makes for a very simple and repetitive line but by learning a basic line over a tune
you can then use it as a springboard for adding more and more ideas as your vocabulary develops.
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[@shammock112]

You called it boring, I called it fun!

[@tgacree]

This is a really good lesson. As you point out, the technique involved isn't difficult, but it facilitates a nice way to enhance one's knowledge of harmony, relationships between chords and becoming comfortable with the neck--even if you are not into jazz. A nice follow up to this lesson is to perhaps demonstrate a solo over the same song. As this is a classic, you could play it at virtually any jam session.

[@TherahBeats]

I started playing the bass 4 days ago and this is the best channel I found to learn, thanks for this, im buying the material also.

[@shinobi3337]

Mark is the best teacher on youtube in my opinion. No bs just straight to the point very practical!

[@dovahkiinvokul9073]

Yeah me too I started on this channel, but then realized a live teacher was better, and what's best? A live teacher that plays in an active band.

[@skatetheway2115]

I started 1 day ago and I ageee

[@2wados416]

Mark, you're the best mate. You got a no BS approach, love it

[@nathanielthompson1114]

Mark,is,a, good, teacher.

[@jonathanguillory8321]

Boy I'm glad I found this channel really help me out

[@GaryBass100]

I got a lot of benefit out of this lesson. I used a music notation program to study your arrangement, but tried writing my own bass line by reference to the notes in each chord, using your techniques. I would then compare each of my bars to yours; In most cases I duplicated what you notated on my own, but when we differed I looked to see why. This brought a lot of insight into the process. I would really like it if you could revisit "Autumn Leaves" with a more advanced bass line, as you opined that this bass line is simple and boring (I don't think it is boring), and I want to see what the next step is in becoming a more advanced bassist.

[@The_PlagueDoctor]

I really appreciate you including standard notation

[@andersonrandis7587]

What a superb lesson! Mark, you are the greatest bass teacher one can have! Thank you for your work and dedication!

[@electorize]

The best practical walking bass instruction I have seen on YT so far. Well done!

[@DiagonalCoff33]

I dont play bass, but my god i love a walking bass line sounds so good!

[@juanttt25]

Totally useful and well explained. Thank Mark.

[@JohnGawlik]

Great stuff, Mark! I really want to be able to walk and this is a great way to start.

[@levi_ak3512]

0:29 i listen to it on repeat

[@pompouscrotch2033]

Wow this came just when I need it! Cheers Mark thanks for the great lesson once again

[@pattybreiland7015]

Excellent lesson. Thank you!

[@shinobi3337]

Not boring for me my friend. I am grateful for this lesson thank you! And nice jam at the end 🤙🤙💪

[@WinterlyHeights]

Love this - exactly what I needed! Thank you!

[@mannypineda447]

Good teacher and i like have tablature. God bless you.

[@chachaman4980]

Great lesson, ...organist !

[@milandemin2758]

brilliantly, thank you Mark. So nicely explained...I learned a lot..Tnx

[@VietHungNguyenspiderfan]

very good explanation!

[@erkameksen7481]

A Locrian Scale ==>> (A)(Bb)(C)(D)(Eb)(F)(G)(A) For easy to understand which scale notes will we use for Am7(b5) >>to>>D7

[@paests]

Beautiful arrangement and excellent teaching material. Subscribed to your site!

[@Hello__isi]

Thank you!

[@OoTZOMMMoO]

Damn this outro groove gets me every time! I love it

[@Paul-jg4jy]

This is just what I needed, a good lesson on starting Jazz. Can you tell me how I can down load the Audio files using a Mac? Many thanks

[@Ale-uj2nz]

Perfectoooooooooooo, muchas gracias :D

[@titoine1212]

I don't really get the myxolidian structure and hence that B in the 8th bar. It doesn't fit the G minor scale, no ? I feel like i'm missing something, help me please !

[@talkingbasslessons]

The B is the 3rd of the G7 chord. The final bar changes from Gm to G7 to give a strong resolution back to the first chord (Cm7). This is called a secondary dominant chord. It's very important to understand the diatonic notes and chords in harmony but it's also vital you understand chromatic notes and their role in chord progressions.

[@lee_parker]

What type of strings and bass guitar is that? I think those are La Bellas FL and that looks like a Mexican Fender P bass...

[@SquareBody_Crewcab]

Sounds very good thank you. Did you get a new base? Very classy looking.

[@user-qm3zj4dt3e]

bass

[@patrickrushton]

11:55 D to G, did you mean to say perfect fourth? If we're sticking with what you mention earlier about chord movements being described as ascending?

[@tranquilhawk5110]

his talking and head movements make me think im watching in 2x speed but then i go to settings and it shows normal

[@Pantouflor]

There are problems with the partition. In the first line, the Cm7 include a D which is not in this chord. Same thing with F7 which include a G, Bb maj including B, A, and G, and finaly Eb maj that include D and C. Can anyone explain these discrepancies?

[@talkingbasslessons]

I think you’re under the impression that a walking line is limited to using only chord tones. That couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, a walking line containing ONLY chord tones will generally sound pretty bad due to the angular leaps.

[@Pantouflor]

@@talkingbasslessons Thanks a lot for your feedback, I was quite misinformed on the matter. Thanks again for the lesson!

[@mertuzun2384]

well thank you for your great working, i'm really getting a lot from you yet, i have one question which i'm getting trouble to understand: cm7 consists of: C-Eb-G-Bb but you're using: C-D-Eb-G so basically the line of yours lack of seventh but at the same time aren't seventh chords purpose to add the seventh?

[@talkingbasslessons]

You don't have to use every chord tone in a walking line. Think about a typical 2 feel bass line: You might only use root and 5th. The chord tones are the main points of resolution over that chord and a good palette to use but what you play is down to you.

[@kahwigulum]

In the Real Book for Bass Clef Sixth edition, Autumn Leaves starts on A-7, D7 Gmaj7, Cmaj7. Why is it different compared to this lesson? I thought these were standards... ?

[@WRCStudio]

Standards can still be played in any key the band wants. E minor is what's written in the book and probably the most common, but b flat minor is the next most common key that is called for the song

[@Hexenhammer]

The term "standard" refers more to the progression. You learn the "standard" to learn the progression, which you should then be able to play in any key (because you know it ii -V - I, for example). This version also, is a little different because it goes from a Gm7 to a G7, and in most cases, you play two measures Gm7 (for instance, the Cannonball Adderly version with Sam Jones on bass).

[@fullmetal8518]

is this the same for guitar?

[@talkingbasslessons]

Same for any instrument

[@aswinkrishnar1987]

How to do your intro ?

[@sigiriabeysekara8723]

0:26

[@jahmarsshiva5064]

Cant GET the link ?

[@talkingbasslessons]

Whoops. The blog post was still privately published. All there now!

[@jonathanvasquez1925]

teaches jazz basslines *plays p bass* lol ironic but really helpful stuff thanks man

[@martinheath5947]

Leo Fender created the P Bass (BEFORE the Jazz Bass) for double bassists who wanted to modernise their tone, volume and playing. P Bass is excellent for jazz styles.

[@talkingbasslessons]

I'd argue the Precision is way better for walking bass than a Jazz. Bigger, warmer sound

[@maximusheronimus23980]

this sounds awesome, only thing is, i just can play with 1 finger, due health reasons... so a walking baseline is way impossible for me :(

[@mrebear9758]

In your plucking hand? Shouldn't be a problem at all

[@franciscomarroquin3524]

If you don't add the swing bro you're just sounding classical

[@kevinmichaelx4894]

Can you talk a little faster? Oh my goodness, my head hurts.

[@johnd942]

Where's the FIRE!? Far too 'rapid fire' verbose for learners. Don't worry about this, don't worry about that! Why mention things in the first place IF you then going to say ..."don't worry about this/that!" So silly.

[@LindaPituccini]

sucks. just play slow with tabs thats all!!!!

[@MrViolero]

I'd love to hear more the instrument and less the explanation

[@talkingbasslessons]

This is a complete analysis of the walking line and how to create it. Learning the line as and of itself is pretty pointless without the analysis because it's an improvised line.