Walking bass

A jazz bass line that moves steadily through chord tones and connecting notes, often one note per beat. It anchors harmony and pulse while linking one chord to the next.

Chord tone: A note that belongs to the chord sounding at a given moment. Chord tones make the harmony audible as the bass moves through each measure.
Double bass: A large bowed or plucked string instrument with a low register. It is the standard acoustic instrument used to play walking bass in jazz.
Jazz trio: A small jazz ensemble, commonly built around piano, bass, and drums. The bass connects harmonic accompaniment and rhythmic drive in this sparse format.
Pedal point: A sustained or repeated pitch maintained while harmonies change around it. Unlike a walking line, a pedal point holds one pitch across changing chords.
Passing tone: A nonchord note that connects two chord tones by step. Passing tones fill the gaps between stable bass notes.
Electric bass guitar: A fretted, amplified string instrument that usually plays low-register bass parts. It offers a distinct timbre and attack for walking lines in some jazz settings.
Jazz standard: A widely performed song or composition that forms part of the jazz repertoire. Standard chord progressions provide familiar settings for improvised walking lines.
Ostinato: A short musical pattern repeated persistently throughout a passage or piece. An ostinato repeats a set figure rather than tracing each chord with a moving line.
Voice leading: The smooth connection of individual notes between successive chords. Small movements between chord tones make changes sound connected.
Meter (music): The recurring organization of musical beats into groups. Meter determines how a walking line’s steady beats fall into measures.

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