Ron Carter: 9 Transcriptions Every Bass Player Should Study

About the 9 Transcriptions I am often asked about my bass lines and about the value of studying them. As is often the case in jazz, they can be made up on the spot, during the performance, as a spontaneous creation based on what that particular group of musicians was doing at that particular moment. Studying them as a way to be able to repeat them isn’t helpful because that particular musical moment happened only once, and you will never find yourself in that same moment. However, studying transcriptions is a valuable tool and essential in learning how to build your own unique bass lines. The transcriptions in this book aren’t just enjoyable to study. They are invaluable tools in every bassist’s education. How to Get the Most Out of this Book To get the most out of this book, analyze these bass lines with this in mind: 1. Why they are so effective - both in the choice of rhythms and the choice of notes. 2. Find the rhythmic sequences (patterns) and notice how often they occur, where