| The piano style is called "swing bass" because your | | | | gives it that unique jazz feel. |
| left hand swings back and forth between a low note | | | | The melodic unit of swing music to improvise over the |
| (or group of notes, such as a 10th, alternating with a | | | | swing bass are quarter, eighth, sixteenth and triplet |
| chord in the area right below middle C. | | | | notes. Again, playing around with these note values to |
| You definitely know the sound of swing bass when | | | | shorten or lengthen note sounds is at the heart of |
| you hear it, even though you may not know its | | | | swing playing and jazz improvisation. A piano player |
| characteristic name. The swing style of playing is great | | | | can jazz up even the most basic popular song by |
| for the piano because of the left-hand, right-hand ability | | | | adding swing elements to a piece. |
| the piano affords. You can play swing bass on the | | | | The swing bass sound and feel is great for the piano |
| piano with the left hand while the right hand improvises | | | | because of the lower notes. A piano player can give a |
| a melody over it. | | | | bass feel to a song without a string bass player |
| Swing bass starts with an underlying lower register | | | | present. The style a bass player would use can be |
| note feel given to a song. Its roots are in jazz from the | | | | part of the song, although the tone will be different. |
| 1920 to 1940 era. During the 1920s, dance music was | | | | This is because string bass creates a warmer sound, |
| very popular in North America. This dance music was | | | | while the piano makes a more percussive sound. While |
| of the jazz form. During this 20-year period, some of | | | | a string bass player can swing by bending strings and |
| jazz music's most creative musicians and composers | | | | doing glissandos, a pianist cannot. The pianist can give |
| stretched the limits of this music. | | | | the swing bass sound a more articulated, harder edge |
| Dance music tradition dictated sticking to melodies as | | | | with the percussive abilities the keys afford. |
| written. The pioneers of swing music and swing bass | | | | When should piano players use the swing bass style? |
| arrangements felt that melodies needed each individual | | | | It is ideal when a song needs a strong bass sound in a |
| musician's interpretation. Improvisation became the | | | | solo performance. Without accompanying musicians to |
| norm, and jazz had a new form that gave musicians a | | | | provide support, pianists can lay down their own swing |
| lot of freedom for personal music expression. | | | | bass line. In addition, a band missing the services of |
| Of course, these freer melodies required a supporting | | | | their bass player can have their pianists perform |
| bass line that fit the swing style. The swing bass style | | | | emergency swing bass services. They can vamp |
| developed based on rhythm, harmony, and melody | | | | away with their left hand and still have the freedom to |
| elements. Other names for swing bass are "stride" or | | | | create right-hand melodies. |
| "striding bass". The harmonic unit for swing bass is | | | | Swing bass is great for changing the mood of a song |
| sometimes tenths in the left hand. The piano player | | | | for jarring contrast. Staid semi-classical or traditional |
| plays notes that are 10 scale notes apart from each | | | | popular songs are great for this. Your listeners expect |
| other, often with the 5th of the chord included | | | | the next logical sounds to emanate from the piano, as |
| between the root and the 10th (10th is the same as a | | | | is normal for the piece you are playing. They are |
| 3rd, except an octave higher)taking big strides from | | | | familiar with the tune and have pre-conceived |
| the low group of notes up to the chord somewhere | | | | expectations of how it will sound. You can surprise |
| around or below middle C. Often on the 3rd beat of a | | | | them by tossing in a section with swing bass and |
| measure the 5th of the chord is used as the low note, | | | | improvised melody. It will delight and surprise them and |
| followed by another chord on the 4th beat. | | | | keep them alert for any other surprises in the rest of |
| The rhythmic unit for swing bass is a combination of | | | | your playing. |
| half-note swing bass and quarter note walking bass. | | | | Consider the swing bass style for some of your piano |
| The walking bass involves playing the bass line in a | | | | playing. It is a great tool for lending spark and variety to |
| single line, like a bass player would. The leaps are not | | | | songs. You will add a lot to your style as you practice |
| as extreme in the walking bass. Therefore, a pianist | | | | this technique more and keep your audience swinging |
| can mix the great striding sounds of swing with the | | | | with your music. |
| walking bass. This lends variety to a swing piece and | | | | |