Which of the following best describes a walking bass line?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks: Which of the following best describes a walking bass line?

Option 1: 'The bass player plays while walking around, something that audiences found very entertaining.' This is a colorful image, but it describes a performer's movement on stage rather than the musical definition of a walking bass line. It misses the technical aspect of how the bass line is constructed and sounds within the music.

Option 2: 'The bass plays an ostinato with 8 notes in each measure.' An ostinato is a repeated pattern, and while a walking bass can have repetition, classic walking bass lines are not typically defined by a fixed 8-note per measure ostinato; they are characterized by steady, stepwise motion rather than a specific per-measure note count.

Option 3: 'The bass plays at a speed that is similar to the speed of footsteps as one is walking down the street.' This metaphor could describe the general feel of walking, but it is vague about the actual technique and rhythm. Walking bass lines are more specifically about continuous; evenly spaced, usually quarter-note motion, rather than a literal tempo comparison to footsteps.

Option 4: 'The bass plays "pizzicato" notes, usually four notes per measure (a note on each beat).' This description aligns with the classical concept of a walking bass line: a steady, evenly spaced sequence of notes (often plucked pizzicato on string bass or double bass) that typically outlines a bass line with one note per beat, creating the sense of a walk. The four-note-per-measure rhythm is a common standard in many walking bass patterns, especially in jazz.

Option 5: 'The bass plays rhythms that contradict the beat.' A walking bass line is defined by its adherence to the beat and smooth, continuous motion; rhythms that contradict the beat would disrupt the forward drive that characterizes walking bass lines, making this option incorrect.

In summary, the most accurate description is that the walking bass line uses a steady, evenly spaced sequence of notes (often in pizzicato) across measures, typically aligning with one note per beat. The remaining options describe stage movement, a different rhythmic concept, vague tempo imagery, or contrary rhythms, which do not capture the standard definition of a walking bass line.

MUSIC-15A-43484-F25 Quiz #5

Which of the following best describes a walking bass line?

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

In a consumer society, many adults channel creativity into buying things

Economic stress and unpredictable times have resulted in a booming industry for self-help products

People born without creativity never can develop it

A product has a selling price of $20, a contribution margin ratio of 40% and fixed cost of $120,000. To make a profit of $30,000. The number of units that must be sold is: Type the number without $ and a comma. Eg: 20000

Which of the following statement regarding cost is correct:

Under the assumptions used in cost-volume-profit analysis, as the activity increases:

The CVP and break-even analysis are supported by a range of important assumptions. Which of the following is not an assumption of the CVP:

The break-even point is that at which:

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler