Autumn Leaves Walking Bass Line Tutorial
Welcome to this tutorial on Autumn Leaves Bass Lines.
In the intro lessons on walking bass we outline the essential knowledge for constructing simple walking bass lines. We will now apply the concepts to the well-known jazz standard “Autumn Leaves”.
We will also introduce rhythmic comping and other stylistic elements in our right hand. Previously, we have just placed the chords on beat 1 which allowed us to focus completely on the left hand bass line. We will now add other dynamics to the right hand chords including: chord duration, anticipation, syncopation and multiple alterations.
Throughout this lesson we will use a mixture of all of the different bass line options so that you can see how to combine and mix them together.
Related Lessons
First we discuss how the melody is phrased when playing with a medium swing. We also look at the placement and syncopation of the chords.
The concepts we’ll be focusing on are target notes, approach patterns and chromaticism. Understanding these principles will give you line structure.
Usually played in the key of G Minor, the tune follows a 32 measure AABC form and contains both major and minor 251 progressions.
Practice Tips
When playing walking bass lines, you are in control of the following dynamics:
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Chord Duration: Are you holding the chords down, are you playing them staccato, or perhaps a combination of all these things.
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The Anticipation: when a chord changes it's common to anticipate it on the & of 4 of the previous bar.... This gives the music a sense of forward motion and drives the music forward.
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Syncopated Rhythms: repeating the same chord multiple times in a measure using syncopated off the beat
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Adding Multiple Alterations: we have studied this before and now we will apply it above the walking bass lines. Remember to keep the voicings very light in the right hand.
THANK YOU! I have been anticipating this tutorial for some time. Hopefully I can implement these concepts into other songs as well. Cheers!
My pleasure Adam… it tied in nicely with the recent study of swing and so I hope you find it useful. I’ll be posting a follow-up video soon which explores a simplified bass line with additional melodic decoration and improvised section. Cheers!