Giant Steps - 8 String Guitar/Bass

I have only been playing 8 string since Feb '07 (I was just a bassist before) so be nice with the comments! :) All feedback greatfully received.

Me having a go at comping and walking on this immense tune. I chose this to work on as it has a few different ii-V-I patterns as well as some more 'unusual' chord changes.

Check out http://funkyniblets.blogspot.com for more lessons and FREE transcriptions

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Wes
• Lambe
• Novax
• Fanned
• Frets
• Charlie
• Hunter
• 8
• String
• Guitar
• Bass
• Solo
• Walking
• Comping
• Jazz
• Giant
• Steps

[mufasamusic]

Thanks for your nice comment. props on even attempting Giant Steps. well done. I'd love to see you improvise on that thing!

[funkyniblet]

Unfortunately I had to sell it! :( You can see if being used on here by the guy I sold it to, Martin Blanes.

However, I am now in the place where I can afford to buy another one very soon...can't wait to get my hands on one again!

[xis333]

great job on a difficult tune!..question: does the fanned fret layout make you alter your fret-hand position? it doesn't appear to do so in your video...which is what i want to know...

[funkyniblet]

Cheers. It actually makes it easier for most chords, only at the first fret can it be a bit of a stretch if play the low f in a chord. Also barre chords take a bit more work to press down the guitar strings while playing a bass note. However, I unfortunately don't have this guitar anymore! :(

[speaknow06]

it's just a guitar with a low b and a low f..it's technically not a bass

[funkyniblet]

Actually, it is 3 bass strings (EAD) and 5 guitar strings (adgbe).

[funkyniblet]

Well if you hadn't noticed....

[greyblooz]

Great bass line and nice voicings. The only thing missing is some articulation and rhythmic variety in the chords. True, it's only an exercise but that's all that is stopping an exercise from becoming music!

[SkooterBush]

so you were playing bass, and went straight to playing an 8 string guitar?

[Snypro]

give the bass some funk and you'll be well on your way ^^

[ajwolf]

I too had a bad hand injury after I had just purchased a good instrument. In my case it was a five string double bass. I had been tying to satisfy my solistic needs with a cello, but it just didn't do it for me, so I sought out a 5-stringer. And just like you, a month after I had bought it, I injured my hand. It's been four years now sine it happened. I'm starting to get over it. I'm now pursuing guitar/bass-combinatory stufff, since I'm not so limited in guitar as I am on double bass.

[MatthewKaras]

@aflatironwade27 Jazz is not "all 251s", common as the ii-V-I is. Also the title "Giant Steps" refers to the shifting key center, which modulates by Major 3rds/Minor 6ths.

[MikaelLilienthal]

Amazing

[mwljazzguitar]

very nice. i play this tune as a comping/walking warm-up as well. it's great for practice, but has little practical importance.

[aflatironwade27]

What are you talking about???

jazz is all 251s

the whole thing about giant steps is that the root movement keeps going down in 5ths, which is the basis for pretty much all bebop.

[losipoop]

what the fuck??? Huh??? you just twisted my imaginary frets!!! nice playing anyways.

[rtfk101]

dude that is a really badass instrument.

i still dont get how anyone can do tht playing style though. it looks like it would take me 30 years to perfect that.