Understand and Walk on a II V I

🎸 Take the complete Bass Fundamentals Course: https://payhip.com/b/2KZ69 I’m Gregori Hofmann, a professional bassist and educator with over 15 years of touring and teaching experience, including teaching Bass, Music Theory and Performance at BIMM London. The Bass Fundamentals Course is a structured 15-lesson pathway covering the essential scales, modes, triads, 7th chords, pentatonics and voicings every bassist should understand and how to apply them creatively in real music. You’ll get the complete video course, a clear syllabus, downloadable fretboard diagrams, exercises, checklists, practice plans and a bonus introduction to sight-reading. No more jumping between random lessons. This course gives you a logical path through the fundamentals and helps you turn them into music. Understand, outline, and improvise over a II-V-I chord progression. The lesson progresses from fundamental music theory to practical application, including techniques for walking basslines. Theory Foundations: Triads and Seventh Chords (0:00 - 8:46): I'll explain how to build chords by "stacking thirds" within a major scale. We cover the sequence of chords in a major key (Major, Minor, Minor, Major, Major, Minor, Diminished) and demonstrate how to play these arpeggios in one position and across a single string. Defining the II-V-I (8:46 - 12:13): We break down what a II-V-I progression is (the 2nd, 5th, and 1st chords of a major key) and shows how to identify them in various keys like C major, G major, and A major. Practical Application: Seventh Chords and Voicings (12:13 - 22:20): Transitioning from triads to seventh chords is key for jazz harmony. I demonstrate specific chord voicings on the bass that allow for smooth voice leading, helping bassists hear the harmony move rather than just individual notes. Walking Basslines (22:20 - 34:24): The latter part of the video focuses on turning these exercises into musical walking basslines. Swing and Inflection (25:04 - 27:07): Adding rhythmic "skips" and swing feel to arpeggios. Voice Leading (27:08 - 28:51): Moving beyond simple root-note movements to create smoother melodic lines between chords. Professional Vocabulary (28:52 - 34:24): Learning from legendary bassists like Ray Brown. I'll teach you a specific Ray Brown-style line (from Autumn Leaves) to demonstrate how professional phrasing, ghost notes, and triplet skips create a authentic walking bass sound.