[Continued listening extract audio not available in printed QP] Music (continued) In a jazz combo, the double bass plays a walking bass line and the drummer...
Question 1 Report
[Continued listening extract audio not available in printed QP]
Music (continued)
In a jazz combo, the double bass plays a walking bass line and the drummer uses brushes during a piano solo.
(a) Describe a walking bass line. [1]
(b) Why might the drummer use brushes rather than sticks? [1]
[Total: 2 marks]
Answer Details
(a) A walking bass line is a bass line that moves mainly by step (ascending or descending by small intervals, typically semitones or tones), playing one note per beat in a steady, continuous rhythm. The term "walking" comes from the even, stepwise movement that gives the impression of steadily walking forward. In jazz, the double bass typically plays a walking bass line during the head (main theme) and during solos, outlining the chord changes while maintaining a smooth, flowing motion through the harmony. [1]
(b) The drummer uses brushes rather than sticks to play more quietly so that the piano solo can be heard clearly. Brushes produce a softer, smoother sound with a characteristic swishing quality when swept across the snare drum head. This gentler rhythmic texture supports rather than competes with the soloist, allowing the piano's melodic and harmonic ideas to remain at the forefront of the listener's attention. Using sticks would risk overpowering the piano, especially in an intimate jazz combo setting where dynamic balance is essential. [1]
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