Getting in the groove - basslines

Exploring Bass Lines and Chord Voicings

So, on the backing track, you just heard a bassline as an accompaniment for your left-hand chords. If you're playing with a friend or teacher, you can always get them to play this bassline , that makes it more fun!

Different Types of Bass Lines

Let's run through some of the different types of bass lines you're going to find in the pieces of this course:

• Walking Bass Line:
  That's four quarter notes, a bar kind of thing. There are many variations of this.

• Two Feel Bass Line:
  This consists of two beats per note, usually using the root and fifth. It will sound more like this.

• Straight Eighths or Latin Groove:
  Again, you might have roots and fifth played more like this.

• Syncopated Patterns:
  Often occur and will sound something like the example I just played.

You don't actually need to play these bass lines at the moment because they're all on the backing tracks for you. But eventually, it would be nice if you learned them. We'll be doing that more in part two. For now, you can check them out on the attached PDF.

Adding Color to Your Playing

In Arpeggio Fun, if you restricted yourself to the root, third, and fifth of the chord as I suggested, there will be absolutely no dissonance. However, music without dissonance can be a little dull.

It would be interesting to experiment with adding extra notes from the scale. For instance, we can start in a five-finger position by playing the first five notes of the scale against the chord and seeing how they sound. This is kind of easy because you don't have to worry about the fingering , everything's taken care of!

Be Mindful of the Fourth

However, be careful that you don't get the fourth on the wrong foot. By that, I mean something like this: the fourth is on the beat at the same time as the chord. Some people would call that an "avoid note." That doesn't mean you should never play it; it just means you shouldn't stress it or come to rest on it.

There are lots of phrases used in jazz that include the fourth. For instance, consider this Charlie Parker lick. You can play that with a chord, no problem, because the fourth is a passing note.

Experimenting with Scale Notes

Let's try some of the other notes from the scale:

• Second:
  Let's see what it sounds like if you put that on the beat. Sounds pretty good to me!

• Sixth:
  No problem.

• Seventh:
  Again, these sounds are more interesting than just playing the root, third, and fifth. None of them create a clash like the fourth does.

One Chord Jam

The next piece, One Chord Jam, gives you a chance to apply this , not only using notes from the scale but still using the arpeggio. You can mix them up as you like!