Beginner Jazz Tracks?

[Basschatfield]

I really want to start playing Jazz, but don't know where to start. What are a few beginner tracks that i can learn?

[steve-bbb]

loads - but i would thoroughly recommend check out scott devine's lessons on youtube especially the one where he covers walking bass lines

[Bilbo]

Try 'O Solitude' by Branford Marsalis Quartet. Or 'Mr. Gone' by Weather Report. The lines are only two or three bars long and repeat. indefinately. 10 minutes work and you are playing whole tracks with some of the greats. Not Jazz per se but somewhere to start.

The Marsalis track is on youtube and mr gone is on spotify.

[Coilte]

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1366876853' post='2058301']
loads - but i would thoroughly recommend check out scott devine's lessons on youtube especially the one where he covers walking bass lines
[/quote]

+1.

Another good series of Walking Bass line lessons on You Tube are Dave Mark's :

I think there are about ten in all.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dave+marks+walking+bass+lesson+01&oq=dave+marks+&gs_l=youtube.1.0.0l6.220864.225840.0.229432.11.11.0.0.0.0.234.1650.2j6j3.11.0.ytns%2Cpt%3D-30%2Cn%3D2..0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.zH87LjVj4C0"]http://www.youtube.c...ube.zH87LjVj4C0[/url]



A great book to get you started is this one :

[url="http://www.amazon.com/Mel-Walking-Jazz-Lines-Bass/dp/0786659963"]http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/0786659963[/url]



When you have got through that one, follow it up with :

[url="http://www.amazon.com/Building-Walking-Bass-Lines-Friedland/dp/0793542049"]http://www.amazon.co...d/dp/0793542049[/url]



Both books come with a CD which feature some play along jazz standards. The bass can be isolated, so whan you progress, you can play along to the drums and piano.

Edited April 25, 2013 by Coilte

[Bilbo]

But, most of all, listen to shedloads of Jazz.

[goingdownslow]

Surprised no one has mentioned Moondance...

[phil625sxc]

+all the above then maybe try the Jamey Aebersold playalong books/tracks, there some of the playalongs on spotify if you have charts/real books.

[Bilbo]

[quote name='goingdownslow' timestamp='1366880434' post='2058368']
Surprised no one has mentioned Moondance...
[/quote]

He said Jazz.

[Coilte]

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1366894384' post='2058661']
He said Jazz.
[/quote]

That's true, but as this song contains walking bass lines, it is still good place to start learning the basics for "walking".

IMO, learning the lines to this song wont be a waste of time when it comes to playing jazz.

Lets not get into a genre labeling discussion.

Edited April 25, 2013 by Coilte

[lowdown]

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1366901409' post='2058788']
IMO, learning the lines to this song wont be a waste of time when it comes to playing jazz.
[/quote]

'I got Rhythm' and 'Autumn Leaves' are possibly a better starting point than Moondance.
Two tunes that will get you tuned into hearing Jazz related form, 2/5/1's and chord structure, they do wonders for your Lug chops,
very important in playing Jazz..[Along with some/ a lot theory of course]
Some of the Jazz Twelve bars as well.
Moondance is just a load of old humping about.

As Bilbo said....Listen to shedloads.

Garry

Edited April 25, 2013 by lowdown

[Coilte]

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1366903935' post='2058846']
'I got Rhythm' and 'Autumn Leaves' are possibly a better starting point than Moondance.
Two tunes that will get you tuned into hearing Jazz related form, 2/5/1's and chord structure, they do wonders for your Lug chops,
very important in playing Jazz..[Along with some/ a lot theory of course]
Some of the Jazz Twelve bars as well.
Moondance is just a load of old humping about.

As Bilbo said....Listen to shedloads.

Garry
[/quote]


I agree. I was just talking from a "walking" aspect.

[Bilbo]

The walking lines in Moondance are clumsy, unmusical and don't swing. Other than that, they are perfect

[Basschatfield]

Aha words from the experts, cheers guys.
There's so much here to check out.
I've already been on Scott Devine Bass Lessons, he's a brilliant player and the story about the gloves is quite an interesting read.

I've started listening to jazz, alot of Jaco, Richard Bona and just jam videos on youtube.

I shall be starting these songs now!! Ahh i love the sound of jazz I'll be starting a new uni course on music performance and theres like a whole module on jazz players and improvisation so that will. . . be. . . amazing!

So jazz basslines are mainly built on walking basslines?

[Coilte]

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1366907903' post='2058930']
The walking lines in Moondance are clumsy, unmusical and don't swing.
[/quote]

I disagree.

[dlloyd]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u37RF5xKNq8[/media]

[BassTractor]

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1366914964' post='2059059']
I disagree.
[/quote]

If it's the Van Morrison song you guys are talking about, then I disagree with you.

best,
bert

[thumperbob 2002]

Listen to lee Morgan's album the sidewinder. More groove than walking bass. If you like than go on to autumn leaves rhythm changes etc. one step at a time. Most people that think of jazz are really imagining something different than what is good. Don't start with Jaco weather report. Bona. Wooten. Go straight to groove and swing. You'll like it.

[Bilbo]

You need to learn the distinctions between fusiion, jazz, jazz-rock, jazz-funk etc. Jazz is a broad church and a lot of what is described as Jazz is just advanced funk Latin, pop etc. A lot of Jaco, Bona, Wooten etc is not going to be found in jazz text s.

[Bilbo]

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1366914964' post='2059059']
I disagree.
[/quote]

Feel free. Just don't ask me to listen to it again. Ever.

[lojo]

Nows the time
Blue bossa
Someday my prince will come
Autumn leaves
So what


Just to add Ive been a beginner for 25 years

Edited April 25, 2013 by lojo

[grumble]

[url="http://www.playjazznow.com/"]http://www.playjazznow.com/[/url]

Has some backing tracks with common changes you can buy . I bought a couple of packs and they are good fun for just messing around and finding out what works and what doesn't.

[Coilte]

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1366921834' post='2059158']
Just don't ask me to listen to it again. Ever.
[/quote]
That's your call. To each their own. I did not even suggest the song in the first place.

I merely suggested that as there were walking lines in the song, the OP could do worse than learn them.

YMMV...etc.

[dlloyd]

[quote name='Basschatfield' timestamp='1366908194' post='2058934']
I've started listening to jazz, alot of Jaco, Richard Bona and just jam videos on youtube.

I shall be starting these songs now!! Ahh i love the sound of jazz I'll be starting a new uni course on music performance and theres like a whole module on jazz players and improvisation so that will. . . be. . . amazing!

So jazz basslines are mainly built on walking basslines?
[/quote]

First thing I would do if I were you is broaden your knowledge of jazz and its history. The Ken Burn's Jazz series is excellent.

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jazz-Film-Ken-Burns-DVD/dp/B002VPXZ0E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366924358&sr=8-1&keywords=ken+burns+jazz"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jazz-Film-Ken-Burns-DVD/dp/B002VPXZ0E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366924358&sr=8-1&keywords=ken+burns+jazz[/url]

It's 12 hours long and Jaco isn't mentioned once... but don't let that put you off.

[Bilbo]

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1366923816' post='2059191']
the OP could do worse than learn them.
[/quote]

Not much

[Coilte]

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1366956436' post='2059341']
Not much
[/quote]

Ok, Ok.....you can have the last word on it !!!!