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More Than Just The BASS-ics!

Ian Stillmunks

St. Francis High School

St. Francis, MN

The personal viewpoints expressed in this session are solely those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or views of Music Will.

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Let’s Take That Bass For a Walk!

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F

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Survey of Comfort

How did it go?

Fist to 5

0.) I didn’t even try.

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Survey of Comfort

How did it go?

Fist to 5

0.) I didn’t even try.

1.) I gave it my best shot… It didn’t go well

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Survey of Comfort

How did it go?

Fist to 5

0.) I didn’t even try.

1.) I gave it my best shot… It didn’t go well

2.) I tried, I actually made a few cool sounds

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Survey of Comfort

How did it go?

Fist to 5

0.) I didn’t even try.

1.) I gave it my best shot… It didn’t go well

2.) I tried, I actually made a few cool sounds

3.) I did some cool stuff, not great, not bad.

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Survey of Comfort

How did it go?

Fist to 5

0.) I didn’t even try.

1.) I gave it my best shot… It didn’t go well

2.) I tried, I actually made a few cool sounds

3.) I did some cool stuff, not great, not bad.

4.) I feel very comfortable with the structure of walking bass

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Survey of Comfort

How did it go?

Fist to 5

0.) I didn’t even try.

1.) I gave it my best shot… It didn’t go well

2.) I tried, I actually made a few cool sounds

3.) I did some cool stuff, not great, not bad.

4.) I feel very comfortable with the structure of walking bass

5.) I have mastered walking bass, I’m just here because Ian is so handsome <3

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Who is this guy?

My name is Ian Stillmunks. I’m the choral director and modern band director at St. Francis High School in St. Francis, MN. I’m also the director of the Bridge Street Singers show choir.

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I’m a big fan of ska.

Come see my SKA-natomy 102 poster session!

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Get the LOW down on your neighbor

Introduce yourself to the folks around you!

Are you a newbie, beginner, intermediate, or expert in the world of bass?

Do you have a favorite bassist?

This is a safe place, don’t feel the need to sell us on your answer

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Let’s get to bass!

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That’s a bass…

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Bass guitar.

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No.. that’s BEHS.

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Bass guitar

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There you go!

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Questions/ Comments?

Ian.stillmunks@isd15.org

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Learning to Walk…(ing Bass)

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How to create a walking bass

  1. Root on Quarter Notes
  2. Root and 5th
  3. Root and 3rd
  4. Root, 3rd, and 5th
  5. Root, 3rd, 5th, and chromatics

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Finding Shapes:

Roots

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Remember each fret is a half step apart. You can count up or down to find each note based on the open strings

As a beginner, work to memorize the roots on strings 4 and 3.

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Finding Shapes:

Roots and Octaves

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Up two over two!

This is why knowing the 3rd and 4th string roots is so important!

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Finding Shapes:

Root and 5th

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Up two over one!

(Think of power chords!)

R

R

5

5

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Finding Shapes:

Root and 3rd

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Major or Minor Dependent

R

3

R

3

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Finding Shapes

Root, 3rd, and 5th:

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Putting it all together! This gives you a solid BASS of operations!

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Finding Shapes:

Root, 3rd, 5th, and Chromatics

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Any chromatic note (a half step away from your goal note) is fair game! 7ths and 4ths are likely winners.

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Finding Shapes:

Chords/ Arpeggios

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Bass Interval and Arpeggio Patterns

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© MUSIC WILL 2022 • MUSICWILL.ORG

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Lets Jam!

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How to create a walking bass

  1. Root on Quarter Notes
  2. Root and 5th
  3. Root and 3rd
  4. Root, 3rd, and 5th
  5. Root, 3rd, 5th, and chromatics

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Verse:

A Bm G A

Chorus:

D A D A D A D E

A

B

G

D

E

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Wish You Were Here

Video Follow Along!

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Questions/ Comments?

Ian.stillmunks@isd15.org

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Music Will will make all presentations available after the conference.

Please be sure to fill out your session evaluation form in the event app.

The personal viewpoints expressed in this session are solely those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or views of Music Will.

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Build Your Own Elements

6 Fret Chord Boxes

5 Fret Chord Boxes

4 Fret Chord Boxes

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A

Place these objects on or over chord boxes. Copy and paste to make duplicates. They can be resized.

Click on the chord letter or fret number to type a new one.

4fr

Strum Pattern Template

© MUSIC WILL 2022 • MUSICWILL.ORG