littledeucemike

Walking Bass a? Yes groove is important, very very important. Just listen to Paul Chambers line on 'So What', the first 4 bars into Miles' solo grooves like no other infact that line he plays in the 4 bars is recycled throughout, a good blues trick. For me when I play walking lines over any changes, I always try to underpin a theme for me to play other things, it's only after about 3-4 choruses that I get a feel for what I want. From my experience keeping a form I think makes you sound more melodic and confident over changes and lets the band especially frontline players know that you have the tune sussed. Have you tried walking along to records?. That's all I ever do (and transcribing) and it helps me with inspriation, something you need in bucket loads to play Jazz..............that and a heroin habit. Also I found that knowing how to get a wicked sound from your bass (double and electric) is key to groovin like a mo fo!. I copied a Ray Brown line and in 2 bars he just stretched out a major arpeggio, straight up major, no inversions, no drops but it was the best sounding arpeggio I ever heard and it had so much soul you wouldn't beleive because he was the master of the bass sound, check out Stevie Ray Vaughn, George Benson, John Entwistle, Tina Weymouth........all about the sound my friend!! Hope this helps?!