(CHAPTER 01-5 USING RHYTHM IN BASS LINES ‘The quarter note is the basic pulse of a walking bass line. However, there is a lot of room for rhythmic variation while still maintaining the basic pulse. So far most of the examples have used quarter notes. Now play this: F7 Fy Bi? F7 b Bi? By F7 ov oudUsing Rhythm in Bass Lines Rhythm can bring a walking bass line to life It can also destroy the momentum, 50 use discretion. Check out Paul Chamber's bass line on Straight No Chaser with Miles Davis, Not only is ita great bass line on its own, but it fits beautifully with what Miles is play- ing. Fr a7 Fr ‘7 Bb? Bh? ‘7 Av b7 DROPS Drops can happen on any beat, and they create a sense of motion towards the lowest, note. 7 Br cr #7 by 4 PULL-OFFS Play the first note of two slurred notes with both hands, then “pull” the left hand off the string, which sounds the second note, F7 Bi? cr 7 ‘SKIP BEATS ‘The left hand mutes the string while the right hand plays the note. This creates the sound of a “ghost note", or skip beat, Fr Bi Fr fF? 32Using Rhythm in Bass Lines EIGHTH NOTES @ TRIPLETS, If you overdo these it can sound like a bass solo, which could get you fired in a hurry, so use discretion! Beda st tet Ss |e i ANTICIPATIONS Comping instruments often anticipate the harmony (the “and” of four, for eg). To cre- ate a feeling of forward motion, the same can be done in a walling bass line: F7 Bh F7 ‘7 RHYTHMIC MODULATION / OVER-THE-BARLINE RHYTHMS In the right context, overthe-barline rhythms can sound great. This three-overfour pattern implies another time feel over the existing one. 7 B7 °7 F7 For more pattems, see chapter 12: “Over the-Barline Rhythms" later in the book. 33