Bass Transcription – Blues for Alice

“Blues for Alice” is a great example of Charlie Parker’s BeBop style in action.

Parker took the simple 12 bar blues concept and added a clever series of chord changes to enhance the complexity of the melody, which relies heavily upon the cycle of 4ths.  I tabbed this out for my students, who tend to have a difficult time translating the melody onto the bass.  This layout will work equally well on upright or electric bass.  I have seen several variations on this melody and have chosen my favorite.  I hope you enjoy stepping into BeBop bass with “Blues for Alice”!

Click to Download Blues For Alice, Arrangement by Josh Needleman