I've been playing the bass guitar for a few weeks now, and I was curious if anyone knows of some easy jazz songs I could learn. Any type of jazz is fine with me, from easy-going groove jazz, to hyped up jazz like Ray Charles is fine with me. just start breaking apart arpeggios. take a tune like 'all the things you are' straight out of the jazz fake book and play all "root-3rd-5th-7th" arpeggios for each chord....double it for the chords that stay static for two measures. if you really want to get down on JAZZ, that's the beginning. ray charles ISN'T jazz, btw.
what alot of guys don't seem to get in the beginning is that jazz is knowledge of how to play, but MORE SO, it's knowledge of the tunes that actually make up the jazz library. If you want to get into jazz playing, learn a bunch of jazz standards. here's everybody's first jazz tunes:
1- all the things you are
2- autumn leaves
3-oleo (or ANY rhythm changes form)
4-straight, no chaser (or ANY jazz/blues form)
jazz bass ed isn't like rock. you definitely get alot out of learning the specific basslines of great players, but MOREOVER, you need to get your hands and ears on the real jazz library.
good luck and have fun! download sibelius and run it,
then.... using sibelius, download the bass cleff....... of thousands of music sheet.(just name, what tune You want ,You will have it)
there is another software (free trial and cheaper to buy)
"noteworthy composer"
same as the previous...thousands of free music sheets.
attachable to the keyboard/Midi thru the USB.( so the noteworthy composer may play it and You listen it) ''Rock Creek Park'' by the Blackbyrds. It has a sweet hyped up bass-line. I've been giving this a lot of thought lately because my daughter is taking up electric bass. You can't go wrong with these:
Soul Dressing (Booker T and the MGs)
Killer Joe
Maiden Voyage (Herbie Hancock)
Coming Home Baby
Standard Jazz Blues progressions
Stolen Moments
Sugar (Stanley Turrentine)
Saint Thomas
A number of "play along" recordings (see below) are available that are a lot of fun and are great way to learn these songs. You can turn down the bass part by adjusting the balance on your stereo and it's like you have your own pro combo in your living room. Have fun! | 