Lenny Breau Lesson?

[mahayana]

Here's something I play that I think came from an old "Guitar Player" article about Lenny Breau.

string
1----5---------5-------7-----------------5
2----5---------5-------7--------8--------5--------6
3----4---------5-------7--------7--------5--------5
4----3---------5-------7--------6--------5--------4
5--------------------------8--7--------------6--5
6-3-----4--5-----6--7--------------6--5-------------4--3

[mahayana]

If you played it, you probably figured out it's a "walking bass" exercise. I looked through a bunch of old "Guitar Player" mags last night looking for where I got it, but no luck. Did find another walking bass lesson, he suggested playing the bass line first when you try learning one of these things, then add the chords.

[mahayana]

The notes on strings six and five (the bass line) each get one beat, so you really can play that first to hear what it sounds like. Then stick the simple chords in between.

I always modulate this little pattern, you know, hit a passing chord like X33344 after you get to the end, then play the whole pattern up two frets (start with A on the 6 string). I told Jazzalta somewhere that you can play this while the rest of the band puts down their instruments for a break.

Try it, you'll like it!

[jazzalta]

And in addition to the walking bass stuff you can comp on the tritones (5th and 4th strings) and do a little improv at the same time.

[mahayana]

It's true you can play this many ways once you memorize it, add tones to the bass notes, change speed and rhythm. My tempo is moderate 2/2, takes about 8 seconds (real reason to modulate is to make it longer).

One thing that works is substituting chords for the last two notes, so it ends:

XX456X

X5454X

3X443X

[slowpoke]

cool stuff! i'm pretty new to this type of thing so any sort of excercise helps.

[kawe]

I've got "Lenny Breau - Fingerstyle Jazz" as a pdf-file, but it's about 50 mb's large. If you should be interested in that, let me know.
kawe

[slowpoke]

Thanks again for the book kawe, it seems pretty awesome. I'll have to pick it up soon, I think.

So is this progression G13, Amin7, Bmin7, E7#9, Amin7, D7#9?

I'm pretty sure about all that except the first chord does that have the 9 in there too? So what's the proper naming for that?

Would anyone be willing to type up some of their variations?

[mahayana]

The 9th is part of the G13 chord, so, same name (Mickey Baker chord #29).

This one does make you think about variations, once you've got it memorized, you know, playing it without looking at it.

Have you tried starting it up a couple of frets yet? Or down? That's the easiest change-up. Or were you thinking of different bassline, different chords, riffing on it?

Now you've got me thinking of turning it into a song, hah!

[slowpoke]

Yeah mahayana, I've played a lot of this pattern. I'm interested in altering the pattern but I'm not really sure where to start. I know how to come up with bass lines but I get confused about playing the chords. Maybe I just need to pick chords and find out how to get to next chords. Anyone have any ideas for creating excercises like this?

[mahayana]

I'm no Lenny Breau, but here's a variation, one string over.

X3
XX2233
X4
X5
XX4555
X6
X7
XX5777
XX8
XX7
XXX688
X6
X5
XXX565
XX6
XX5
XXX666
X4
X3(5453)

[mahayana]

This is an easy one, for any beginners visiting here.

Should I put in some more short things featuring simple jazz chords?