| Many musicians play with a bassist the same way | | | | 5-BASS=G |
| as they play solo, technically, this is incorrect. You | | | | YLH=BF |
| can do it at times but you have to 'pick your | | | | YRH=DGB or FACE (G9) |
| spots'. Personally I don't prefer this type of | | | | 1-BASS=C |
| playing. If your left hand plays the C two octaves | | | | YLH= BE or CE (around middle C or just below |
| below a middle C on the keyboard while the | | | | middle C) |
| bassist play a C note, it tends to produce a | | | | YRH= EGC or DGC (Cadd9) or BDEG (Cmaj9) |
| muddy type of sound, which is something you | | | | In any chord or say{Cmaj7=C(1)E(3)G(5)B(7th).... |
| don't want! | | | | the third tells whether the chord is major or |
| Here are a few options you can apply instead of | | | | minor and the 7th tells whether the chord is |
| playing what the bassist is playing. | | | | stable or not, that's why in the key of C when |
| We'll do the example in the key of C (since many | | | | you finish a song you don't play C dominant7 but |
| of you are familiar with your chords this should be | | | | you play a Cmaj7. G in the key of C is unstable it |
| easy to understand) | | | | wants to go somewhere, that's why you'll play it |
| Here are the first two very important things you | | | | as a G7 chord. |
| should know: | | | | If you notice on my left hand I uses the 3's and |
| 1) Play anything except what the bassist is | | | | the 7's of each chord for these are the most |
| playing, the options are endless, will explain below. | | | | important notes in any given chord...you can add |
| 2) Let your left-hand play chords notes around | | | | other notes to these to add flavor as long as |
| middle C, whatever the key, your ear will tell you | | | | they include the 3 and the 7(the same chords |
| if your sound is getting too muddy. | | | | that I used for the right you can also use for the |
| Now, in the key of C you will use major7, minor7, | | | | left hand, because they include 3 and the 7. |
| dominant7 and diminished seventh chords. | | | | A minor 3rd and flat a flat 7 in a dominant chord |
| Important: you need to learn to play these type | | | | is called a tritone,e.g. G7=GBDF, the B and the F |
| of chords with your left hand in various inversions, | | | | are called a tritone. |
| but as you play you discover which inversions | | | | When playing chords with your left hand, you can |
| work for you. | | | | also play scales with your right hand, that's how |
| Now, this is not rocket science, here is an | | | | the jazz guys play. |
| example below: | | | | Experiment also with chords on your right hand |
| Let's use this example below, we'll take the | | | | when playing dominant chords, |
| following progression: (2-5-1=Dmin7-G7-CMaj7) in | | | | G7-BASS=G |
| the key of C, | | | | LH =BF |
| 2-BASSIST=D | | | | RH =BEAb(E Major chord), this gives you G13b9 |
| Your Left Hand=CF | | | | chord. |
| Your Right Hand=CFA or CEFA (Dmin9) | | | | Enjoy your learning. |