4

Different Kinds of Accompaniment

“Accompaniment” is what goes on underneath the melody or solo.

Here is a review of many types of guitar accompaniment / bass line ideas.

• Roots (and 5ths) of Chords

• Boom Chick Style (a la Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel, Richard Smith)
• Boo-Boom BAP Style (Like “Ricky Don’t Lose that Number” & “Mas Que Nada”)
• Boogie Woogie Bass Lines
• Walking Bass Lines!

FYI - that’s me comping piano chords

on the mp3 backing tracks.

It was my first “studio gig” on piano!

:-)

Walking bass lines sound the most like an “independent voice” and provide
true counterpoint to the music.

Using them in solo guitar arrangements takes planning & practice!

http://studywithadam.com Fingerstyle Guitar Lessons with Adam Rafferty

 5

What is Counterpoint?

Counterpoint is the art of placing melodies against each other.

J.S. Bach was a master of the art of counterpoint.

Even if you can’t read music - look at the independence of the parts!

Right Hand

Left Hand

(This is from Bach’s 2 Part Invention in D minor.)

Can you see how the top part and bottom part contrast each other?
Trust me, they sound good together!

When we add a “walking” bass line - we actually put a whole independent

flowing melody line against the music, it’s more than just a pattern!

http://studywithadam.com Fingerstyle Guitar Lessons with Adam Rafferty

 6

Where (& Who) I Got These Bass Line Sounds From..

I have had the good fortune to play with many world class bassists.
Here are a few top guys who are also great friends.

Paul Beaudry - Paul is one of the top on call bass players in NYC.
He and I have toured, recorded and spent lots of time working on music together. He
plays all the time for jazz at Lincoln Center in NYC. We did a CD a few years ago -
shown here. His groove has highly influenced me.

Danton Boller - You can see him playing with Roy Hargrove HERE. He & I also toured
a lot, and yeah the ladies loved him. :-) He would bring the house down with his
amazing solos.

http://studywithadam.com Fingerstyle Guitar Lessons with Adam Rafferty

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A Name You Should Know - Bob Cranshaw

Bob Cranshaw played on thousands of albums, many of the classic Blue Note recordings,
and Paul & Danton (and I) worshipped the ground he walked on! RIP Bob, he was one of
the all time greats.

Most notably he was Sonny Rollins bass player from 1959-ish onward.

Bob played on my 2nd CD “Blood Sweat and Bebop” and refused to take any money after
the session. I was breathless. He just wanted to help me and all the younger guys keep
the music alive.

Listening to his playing on my own CD over and over taught me the sound of the bass.
This is the sound, touch, tone and groove that I try to achieve when I play fingerstyle guitar .

http://studywithadam.com Fingerstyle Guitar Lessons with Adam Rafferty