Bass & Creativity: Transposition Cycles

This new lesson focuses on using transposition cycles applied to both chord colors and intervallic shapes to offer an alternative to diatonic harmonization.

Here, we will explore how to build alternate chord changes, compose the section of a song, and imagine an improvisation canvas, as well as applying those concepts on improvised and melodic playing without chords comping.

We covered modulation techniques in previous lessons (Modulations + Alterations in depth Part 1 and Part 2), so please check them out!

Topics covered in the video below:

  • 0:00 – Introduction to Cycles & Transpositions
  • 0:32 – Em Gm Bbm Dbm cycle of m3
  • 0:50 – Song #1: A F# FM7 Esus + Transposing B section
  • 4:22 – Song #2: A section in Em dorian, B section in sus4 with half tones movements
  • 7:58 – Applications
  • 8:53 – Bass phrasing specifics & examples
  • 10:17 – Transposing and linking Bass lines using cycles
  • 10:36 – Bass line #1 in whole tone
  • 11:05 – Bass line #2 in minor thirds
  • 11:50 – Melodic playing & solos
  • 12:05 – Ex. 1 Triads descending in whole tones
  • 13:08 – Ex. 2 Descending thirds ascending by half tones
  • 13:30 – Ex. 3 4ths descending in tones
  • 13:44 – Conclusion & importance of intervalic shapes & cycles

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Leave a Reply to migliaribasso Cancel reply

  1. Fantastic lesson by Olivier, as usual. Very useful and tremendously relevant. I recommend his courses on Discover Double Bass.