Reviewing II-V-I basslines
With
Tim RichardsIn this lesson, we'll review the tune Jump Shuffle from part 1 of the course. We're going to upgrade that bassline and discover II-V-I bass lines using scales and chords.
What's in the course
15 lessons (0h 41m) · 1 free
Lesson transcript
Lesson Eight: Upgrading the Bass Line
You may remember in part one of lesson seven, we looked at a tune called Jump Shuffle, where we used sixth chords in the right hand and a root 3, 5, 6 bass line.
Upgrading the Bass Line
Now, we're going to upgrade this bass line and turn it into a two-bar pattern, similar to Riff Blues which we explored in lesson number nine.
The New Bass Line
The bass line will be:
- Root on top
- Include the seventh on top as well
Chord Changes
Another big difference is when we reach the last four bars. Instead of going G, F, C, we're going to play:
- D minor
- G7
- C
This is quite a common sequence at the end of a 12-bar blues.
- D minor: This is the 2 chord based on the second note of the scale.
- G7: This is the V chord.
So this progression is referred to as a 2, 5, 1. It's a very common chord sequence in jazz and blues.
Conclusion
The last part of the bass line goes like this, and then you've got two more bars to go before you start again.
15 lessons
0h 41m of structured video lessons
Advanced video features
Slow down, loop a passage, follow along
Mobile, tablet & desktop
Practise wherever you are
100% satisfaction guarantee
30-day money-back guarantee
Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Critically acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Tim Richards is one of Britain’s most experienced jazz educators, teaching piano privately for over 30 years, as well as at Morley College, Goldsmiths College, the University of Surrey, Premises Studios and other venues in the UK and abroad. He has produced numerous titles for Schott Music, including the best-selling two-volume Exploring Jazz Piano, Blues, Boogie & Gospel Collection and the acclaimed Improvising Blues Piano. He is also co-author, with John Crawford, of Exploring Latin Piano and Brazilian Piano Collection.
More recently Schott have published Jazz, Latin & Modern Collection (15 pieces for solo piano), comprising Tim Richards originals alongside pieces by Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk, and the two volume set Beginning Jazz Piano (now a two-part MusicGurus course).
“The real joy of Tim’s music… is that it is both hugely educational but also such great fun to play. Anyone with the slightest interest in learning to play or teach jazz piano should really acquire a set of Tim’s books.” PianoDao
As a performer Tim has been a presence on the UK jazz scene since the 1980s, also playing the blues with UK and US legends such as Otis Grand, Earl Green, Dana Gillespie, Larry Garner, Joe Louis Walker and Mojo Buford. He has released over a dozen albums as a leader (featuring many of London’s best jazz musicians including Pete King, Gilad Atzmon, Tony Kofi, Jason Yarde, Seb Rochford, Ed Jones, Dick Pearce and many others), and toured all over Europe with line-ups ranging from duo to nine-piece. His latest recording, the album ‘Telegraph Hill’ by the six-piece Hextet, was described in The Observer as "A true joy from beginning to end".
More info can be found on his website www.timrichards.ndo.co.uk
