Approach notes
Lesson time: (2min 29sec)
Bruce demonstrates how to use approach notes in his bass lines.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Contemporary Bass Guitar Grooves
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Approaching the F Note
Okay, so say I want to approach the F by half step above.
- Play two Cs.
- This is a half step above the note.
- Here's a half step below the note.
Example 1: Combinations of Chromatic Approaches
Now, combining these ideas with:
- Triads
- Scales up
- Scales down
- Root fifths
- Octaves
Here's what we get:
1, 2, 3, 4.
Okay, that was just Example 1.
Example 2: Two Beats Per Chord
I should probably give you an example of that:
1, 2.
1, 2, 3, 4.
About the instructor
Bruce Gertz is an award-winning bassist (acoustic and electric), composer, educator, and author. He is a professor of bass at Berklee College of Music, where he has taught since 1976. Bruce is the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Performance Award Grant, the Massachusetts Cultural Council Musical Composition Award, and numerous outstanding bassist awards from the Boston Music Awards, A.S.C.A.P. Plus Popular Awards, and multiple recognition awards from the International Association of Jazz Educators and the Jazz Education Network. Bruce also serves on the board of directors of the International Society of Bassists. He has performed and recorded with such artists as Gary Burton, Jerry Bergonzi, John Abercrombie, Joey Calderazzo, Kenny Werner, Mick Goodrick, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Billy Hart, George Garzone, Mike Stern, Larry Coryell, Joe Lovano, Cab Calloway, and Count Basie, among many others. In Contemporary Bass Guitar Grooves, Bruce puts all of that experience to work for you. You'll learn to build solid, swinging bass lines and lock into authentic grooves across funk, jazz, and fusion, so you can hold down the bottom end and walk into any band situation with confidence. His extensive discography and additional information can be found at www.brucegertz.com. read more