The bass has been called "the most important instrument in any band." The bass player must create interesting lines under the chord changes, keep the "time flow" or "pulse" steady, and keep the form of the song together. This book is designed to help bassists create beginning to advanced walking patterns (smooth-sounding lines) that can be used in jazz, blues, R&B, gospel, Latin and country music. By explaining the basics of intervals, chords, and scales the author builds a framework for understanding bass line patterns. Then the book presents one- and two-measure patterns that can be used in playing the blues, rhythm changes, the II-V-I progression, and 20 popular jazz standards. The book is written in standard notation with chord symbols. The audio gives you the opportunity to play with one of the finest rhythm sections around. It is in stereo, with the bass and drums on the left and piano and drums on the right. Since the examples in the book are presented both with sample bass lines and as chord progressions only, you can either follow along with the bass or practice your own lines with the audio as your accompaniment. Includes access to online audio.

Introduction
The Fingerboard
Notes on the Staff
Basic Intervals
Basic Chord Structure
The Major Scale
Patterns Using the Major Scale
The Blues
Walking with Intervals
Adding Two-Measure Patterns (Blues)
Combining One and Two Measure Patterns (Blues)
I-IV-I Walking Patterns
I-IV-I Walking Exercise
Rhythm Changes
Rhythm Changes Exercise
Rhythm Changes Using 3rds
Rhythm Changes Using 5ths
The IT-V-I Progression
II-V-I Exercise
II-V-I Written Exercise #1
II-V-I Written Exercise #2
Two Measure Walking Patterns
Standard #1
Minor Walking Patterns
Standard #2
II-V-I (Minor)
Standard #3
3/4 Walking Patterns
Standard #4 (3/4 Blues)
More Examples In 3/4
Standard #5 (Jazz Waltz)
The I-VI-II-V Progression
Standard #6
Descending Minor
Standard #7
Half Step Movement
Uncommon Chord Movement
V as a 11-V
Alternative Starting Notes
Added Notes
Ray Brown Walking the Blues with Added Notes
Part Two (Chords Only)
Standard #1
Standard #2
Standard #3
Standard #4
Standard #5
Standard #6
Standard #7
Standard #8
Standard #9
Standard #10
Standard #11
Standard#12
Standard #13
Standard#14
Standard #15
Standard #16
Standard #17
Standard #18
Standard #19
Standard #20
Part Three (Written Examples)
Standard #1
Standard #2
Standard #3
Standard #4
Standard #5
Standard #6
Standard #7
Standard #8
Standard #9
Standard #10
Standard #11
Standard #12
Standard #13
Standard #14
Standard #15
Standard #16
Standard #17
Standard #18
Standard #19
Standard #20
Blues Variations
Rhythm Changes Variations
A Daily Exercise
Diatonic Exercises
Modes of the Major Scale
Recommended Song List
Bass Players
About the Author