Walking

Bass
Static Minor
Chords
 Scott Devine

Walking Bass Lesson - Static minor Chords (L#27)

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08:02 Ex.1 D dorian scale

°? 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ
4 œ œ
1 2 4 1 4 1 2 4

4 5 7
5 7
¢¤ 5 7 8

03:47 Ex.2 D dorian scale with chromatic notes

°? 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ™ œ# œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ œ™
4 œœ
4 5 0 6 7 5 4
5 7 8 7 5
¢¤ 5 7 8 8
5
7

Superimposing a ii - V - I over the chord progression

D‹7 E‹7(b5) A7
? ™™44 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ™™

06:10 Ex.3 Scott's example

D‹7 E‹7(b5) A7 D‹7 E‹7(b5) A7
°? œ œ œ ™ œ œ œ œ™
¿ œ bœ ™ ¿ œ bœ ™ œ œ œ œ ¿ œ bœ œ œ™ ¿
3
Etc
5
7 8 7 7
¢¤ 5 5 X 8 7 X 4 0 5 8 5 8 X 7
6 5
7 X

Copyright © 2013 Scott's Bass Lessons

 2

Superimposing using 3 bars of chord I. then one bar of ii - V.

D‹7 E‹7(b5) A7
? ™™
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ™™

08:24 Ex.4 Scott's example

D‹7
E‹7(b5)
œ A7
°? œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ™ ¿#œ œ nœ œ œ bœ œ b œ

Etc
5 X 6 7 5 4 7 9 6
5 7 9 8 7
¢¤ 5 7 8

"It's putting these turnarounds in that really frees you up from only thinking D Minor"

Superimposing using 3 bars of chord I. then one bar of ii - V.

D‹7 B‹7 E‹7(b5) A7
? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

09:33 Ex.5 Scott's example (first 4 bars using previous chords)

E‹7(b5) A7
°? œ œ œ œ D‹7 œ œ œ ™ ¿# œ œ n œ œ ™ #œ œ ™ ¿ bœ œ ™ ¿
¿ #œ

4 5 X 6 7 5
5 7 7 5 7 7
¢¤ 5 7 8 X X 7 X
9

D‹7 bœ œœ
°? œ #œ ™ ¿ œ #œ œ
b œ ™
¿ œ œ nœ œ #œ œ™ ¿ bœ œ bœ
3
Etc
9 7 5
8 9 8 7 7
¢¤ 5 X 6 7 X 5 3 5 7
X 6 5
6

Copyright © 2013 Scott's Bass Lessons

Walking Bass – Static minor
Chords (L#27)

Your Action Plan

1. Walking on static minor chords, for instance Dm7, for

16 bars, used to drive me crazy! I just couldn't get it
to sound 'right'. It simply sounded like I was running
up and down a scale. When I discovered how to
implement chromatic notes within my bass lines it
saved me, and in the video tutorial I cover exactly
how to do this.

How did I find out about the chromatic notes? Well,

simply by listening to what other bass players were
doing, then sitting down and transcribing their bass
lines. I tell all my students; when in doubt, find
someone who is doing a great job of whatever you're
struggling with and simply transcribe what they're
doing. Going through this process will highlight
exactly what they're doing and give you the tools and
knowledge to do the same.

When it comes to playing a walking bass line over a

static minor chord there is no better example than
Paul Chambers playing bass of the Miles Davis tune
'So What'. This recording is on the 'Kind Of Blue'
album recorded in 1959.

Copyright © 2013 Scott’s Bass Lessons

 Get your hands on this recording. Listen to how the
bass line is constantly moving, but being supportive
and solid at the same time.

A great exercise would be to transcribe two whole

choruses of Paul Chambers' bass line on this
recording.

2. Just as you can have a pre-learned melody

(otherwise known as a 'lick') over certain chords. You
can also have pre-learned walking bass ideas, almost
like short 4 and 8 note phrases (we can call these
'cells') that can be used together in any combination
and will give you a great sounding walking bass line.

Compose at least 4 'cells' so whenever you have to

play a walking bass line over a static minor chord you
have instant starting points that you can draw
inspiration from.

3. Experiment with tempos. Playing walking bass lines

at faster tempos can be a real challenge, as you have
to be solid and supportive but also deal with being
inventive and interactive at the same time. This can
cause what I call brain freeze!

The only way to stop this happening is to practice

regularly at high tempos so you start to build the
stamina it takes. For instance, try playing a walking
bass line for 5 minutes at 300bpm. It's tough!

Copyright © 2013 Scott’s Bass Lessons

Similarly, you should also practice playing walking
bass lines at very slow tempos to make sure you can
sustain a slow pulse for a long period of time. Most
bass players end up speeding up, so make sure
you're aware of that and always try and subdivide the
pulse internally to stop this happening.

Scott Devine

Copyright © 2013 Scott’s Bass Lessons