Voice Leading
Voice Leading is the first lesson in this series on walking bass line construction. In this lesson,
we will illustrate how voice leading can be used to enhance the shape of your lines.I have taught walking bass lines to beginning and intermediate players for many years. To these students, I always emphasize playing the root on the chord change. At a specific point of development, most students ask, "when do I play pitches other than the root at the beginning of a chord change, and which non-root pitches sound best?" In answer to this question, I introduce voice leading.By starting with chord tones and arpeggios, we can very clearly illustrate this concept.Part 1 - Arpeggios
Voice leading traditionally makes one think of moving lines in step-wise motion. In jazz, a good pianist
normally uses voice leading when playing chord changes. A typical illustration of voice leading would look
like the movement in example one. In this common chord progression, the 3rd of one chord becomes, or
leads to, the 7th of the next chord. Notice the common tones and the movement by step.
chord as opposed to the 3rd or 7th. A bass line obviously needs to be more grounded than a piano voicing.
Voice leading and using guide tones, traditionally implies step-wise motion between sevenths and thirds.
Example 2 begins with the ascending arpeggio on Dm7: root - minor third - perfect fifth - minor seventh.
Then on beat one of measure two, we move down to the closest chord tone of G7. We complete measure
two by walking down the arpeggio. Measure three begins with the chord tone that is the closest pitch below
beat four of the previous measure. We then walk up the CMaj7 arpeggio. Measure four begins with a drop
to the closest chord tone of A7 and walks downward.
Simply put, walk up one chord and down the next. Notice the step-wise motion of chord tones from one
chord change to the next. This is voice leading. Depending on the progression of the chords, this type of
line can be simple or complex.Many of these voice leading examples can be described as using a step-wise approach to a chord tone other than the root. While some of the voice leading approaches are 1/2 steps, others are whole-step approaches.The common factor is that they are all diatonic.In example three, we change the contour of our line by simply moving up to the closest chord tone for C major. We begin the same as we did in example one by going up the Dm7 arpeggio. In measure two, we drop to the closest chord tone and walk down the G7 chord. In measure three, we now move up to the closest chord tone and arpeggiate down the CMaj7. Because of our change of direction moving to measure three and the subsequent downward arpeggio, we now begin measure four in a different position from measure four in example one. Measure four ends with a chord tone that creates a voice leading movement
back to measure one.
highlighting the guide tone (3rd and 7th) motion from one chord to the next. Obviously, you can change the
order and octave of the chord tones you choose to voice lead. This, in turn, will lead your lines in many
different directions.
In the first lesson, Creating Jazz Bass Lines, we worked with a few specific patterns numbered with scale
degrees. Let us add these two new patterns to our vocabulary.
By combining voice leading with the techniques learned in the lesson Creating Jazz Bass Lines, you now
have the tools to make great sounding lines. The following examples are but a few possible combinations.
As with all new material, it will take much repetition to internalize and then be able to reproduce at will
these simple patterns. Isolate each element, and be specific in your practicing. I realize that no one would
play a good bass line with every measure using the same pattern of note choices. However, this type of
practice is necessary to learn these sounds by ear. Yes, it will sound like you are playing an exercise, but
remember you are learning a language. Be patient and willing to learn your ABC's.To improvise a good walking line you must master the components. Many students come to me with the complaint of, "I just play the same thing over and over." The problem is always the same - not owning the basics. When I speak to another person in normal conversation, I am improvising. I am speaking the same old words over and over again, yet every conversation is communicating a unique message. When I first transcribed walking bass lines from the great players, I was amazed at how much they repeated themselves. I came to recognize that the notes being played over and over again were like words in a language, and that the words were not "the thing." It was the message being created by the combination of words used that conveyed their ideas. Just as in verbal conversation, the number of times you say the words: is, the, at, were, yes, bass, etc., is not noticed in relationship to your message. You can use the same words in different combinations to express an infinite number of ideas. In your bass lines, the slightest variations in note choices result in a completely different message.
Learn the vocabulary of good walking bass line construction, and you can play all day without getting bored.
Ex. 7 - "There Will Never Be Another You" With Analysis
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