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Sources for learning jazz bass movement

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Valde002

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Hi, is there a source for bass work for jazz music?

I'd like to learn more bass walking. Since I don't have a teacher, am looking to see what kind of patterns to play on the accordion. I do play some piano, but the voicing is totally different. 

Was contemplating going to a bass guitar musician to get their input on how a bass player approaches jazz, but that is a totally different instrument.

I have also seen references on this site on how to get like the major 7 and #4/b5 sound using other chord structures. Is there a source for this, or will I have to create my own based on theory and what I hear?

Anyone point me in the right direction? Much appreciated
 
Hey Valde,

Here are a couple of resources that I like that might help you:


This video is somewhat cryptic but if you watch it slow, and follow his fingers, it may help you.

This page gives you some theory and interesting combinations:

http://www.dannychesnut.com/Music/Accordion/AccordionHowTo/chcomb.html

Im sure there are some good books out there. One thing to do would be to look at the chords on a standard from a Real Book and try them out using the combinations from above. Simplify them if you have to.

As far as walking bass, there are many patterns that bassists use, depending on the complexity desired and underlying chord pattern. You can try something simple, like 1,3,5,3,1 of the chord or a longer pattern like 1,2,3,5,6,b7,6,5,3,1. Its up to your taste. You can also use voice leading in your walking bass, which is to play 1 half step above or below the 1 of the next chord on the 4th or and of 4th beat. You can also make up patterns over 2 or more chords, and use chromatics in your walking bass. There is no one size fits all solution, If it sounds good, it is good. As they say.

Goid luck!!!!
 
Nice vid Tom, thanks... I like this guys knowledge
 
Cory Pesaturo was asked this very question at a workshop last year, and his answer consisted of a couple of points...
1. LOTS of listening to the jazz you like and listing/hearing the bass lines
2. Practice.

I would tend to think that playing your bass line along with whatever jazz you like and learning to improvise along would definitely be a step in the right direction.
 
Valde002 pid=65803 dateline=1561466733 said:
Hi, is there a source for bass work for jazz music?

Id like to learn more bass walking. Since I dont have a teacher, am looking to see what kind of patterns to play on the accordion. I do play some piano, but the voicing is totally different. 

Was contemplating going to a bass guitar musician to get their input on how a bass player approaches jazz, but that is a totally different instrument.

I have also seen references on this site on how to get like the major 7 and #4/b5 sound using other chord structures. Is there a source for this, or will I have to create my own based on theory and what I hear?

Anyone point me in the right direction? Much appreciated
I have a book, Jazz Theory and Improvisation Studies for Accordion by Ralph Stricker and Frank Marocco, that gets right down to exercises in left and right hand. It presents probably everything you need to know to advance from intermediate or to claw your way up from a casual noodler to a competent noodler.
I found it at    http://www.henrydoktorski.com/store/Jazz_Theory for $32.95 plus tax/handling. Henry has a review of it on that site.

Craig
 
Have you seen www.arrigotomasi.com. I invested in this a couple of years ago but it's way over my head. Worth the money though just for all the unimprovised sheet music!
 
I have a book, Jazz Theory and Improvisation Studies for Accordion by Ralph Stricker and Frank Marocco, that gets right down to exercises in left and right hand. It presents probably everything you need to know to advance from intermediate or to claw your way up from a casual noodler to a competent noodler.
I found it at http://www.henrydoktorski.com/store/Jazz_Theory for $32.95 plus tax/handling. Henry has a review of it on that site.

Craig
I have the book. I bought it from Mr. Stricker and he inscribed it for me. That said, don't ask me for any advice regarding jazz playing.
Z
 
 
I've created this tab that shows how to play all combined chords in all keys, take a look:
https://accordionchords.com/all-chords/

I've also created a list of rhythms (jazz grooves included) played by a virtual drum that can be used as a metronome or as accompaniment:
https://accordionchords.com/playing-along-with-groove-scribe-rhythms/

A very interesting YouTube channel is Jazz Accordion Solos by Julien Labro, I talk about it in this article:
https://accordionchords.com/tutorials/jazz-accordion-solos/
 
I was a jazz bass major in college, though I don't play jazz on accordion. There is lots of good advise already. I like the video that Losthobos posted ("Stop walking bass lines like this"). One thing that I noticed when listening to non-bass players playing bass lines is that they don't think like a bass player. I often hear big jumps that don't connect the lines. It works and is correct, but there are other options. Obviously, there are large jumps, but there are things that can make them more fluid, like a chromatic passing tone, or a tritone resolution. I recommend checking out that video for examples.

Tom also pointed out voice leadings and patterns, which is important. Playing patterns, makes the line more interesting, and sometimes you can get away with playing non-scale tones on stronger beats that give it a bit of tension, but makes it sound natural.

Since I don't play jazz on accordion, and my left hand is pretty much 'root-5th,' I can't give specific advice for the accordion, but I can try and help with thinking like a bass player. The best thing that I can suggest is to listen to the legendary bassists---Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, Ray Brown, etc. Transcribe them if you want to dig in deeper, or you can purchase books of transcribed bass lines from recordings. Then, once you have the sound in your head, put pencil to paper and compose chorus after chorus of bass lines. My teacher had me write out 4 choruses of a 12 bar blues every week. Same key each time. By the end of the year, I was exploring some pretty crazy stuff since I didn't want to repeat myself too often. We would play through them and discuss why I approached or left a certain tone the way I did. Keep in mind strong beats and where you place the chord tones. Things like chromatic resolutions worked best on beat 4 resolved to beat 1.
 
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I've created this tab that shows how to play all combined chords in all keys, take a look:
https://accordionchords.com/all-chords/

I've also created a list of rhythms (jazz grooves included) played by a virtual drum that can be used as a metronome or as accompaniment:
https://accordionchords.com/playing-along-with-groove-scribe-rhythms/

A very interesting YouTube channel is Jazz Accordion Solos by Julien Labro, I talk about it in this article:
https://accordionchords.com/tutorials/jazz-accordion-solos/
Wow, what an amazing chart of chords, Lucio!!!! Thanks so much for making that (along with everything else).
 
Thank you Tom for your appreciation! Every instrument had a website that shows all chords except the accordion, so I made it.
I'm glad you like it!
 
Thank you Tom for your appreciation! Every instrument had a website that shows all chords except the accordion, so I made it.
I'm glad you like it!
Yup! Mostly way over my head, but I have it bookmarked and look forward to future articles.
 
I've created this tab that shows how to play all combined chords in all keys, take a look:
https://accordionchords.com/all-chords/

I've also created a list of rhythms (jazz grooves included) played by a virtual drum that can be used as a metronome or as accompaniment:
https://accordionchords.com/playing-along-with-groove-scribe-rhythms/

A very interesting YouTube channel is Jazz Accordion Solos by Julien Labro, I talk about it in this article:
https://accordionchords.com/tutorials/jazz-accordion-solos/
Hi Lucio. This is really awesome and very helpful. Thanks a lot.
 
Being an intermediate level Jazz according player (coming originaly from the piano), playing a decent bass is one of the things I most struggle with. I virtually gave up on doing much more than playing the usual oom-pa plus a few very simple runs.

One of the main reasons is, that I could almost find no solo accordion recordings with a decent jazz accordion bass work, which I could try to transcribe and learn from. Most jazz accordion records are treble side only. Any recommendations for recordings where you can here a decent bass work would be highly welcome.
 
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One of the main reasons is, that I could almost find no solo accordion recordings with a decent jazz accordion bass work
Really?
There're many solo concerts by Frank Marocco, Richard Galliano and many others.
For example, just Frank Marocco:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEOwav3z2oE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz9os9NaXQk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az2IX3s1W-Q

Marocco also wrote his bass arrangements, there are some of his sheet music books you can consult.
Obviously, the bass accompaniment on the accordion can't be exactly the same as a double bass or an electric bass accompaniment.
 
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