This article is written by Toru Hoshino, a jazz bassist and instructor based in Japan who teaches online lessons to students worldwide. In this article, he recommends his favorite practice app, iReal Pro, and walks through how to use it for walking bass practice.
I love this app so much that I switched from a basic flip phone to a smartphone just so I could use it: iReal Pro.
Contents
What Is iReal Pro?
Used by everyone from total beginners to working professionals, this app is great for walking bass line practice, and just as useful if you’re into jazz, blues, improvising, or composing.
I use it constantly in my own practice too.
Practicing Bass With iReal Pro’s Backing Tracks
Here’s an example of practicing a bass line over an iReal Pro backing track — it generates remarkably realistic drum and piano accompaniment.
It’s the ideal app for practicing bass lines you’ve written yourself.
What Makes iReal Pro So Powerful
A Huge Song Library
Over 1,300 jazz standards alone.
On top of that, you can install Latin and Brazilian standards, well-known pop and rock tunes, Stevie Wonder songs, and more, all for free (installation steps below).
Transposing on the Fly
You can transpose into any of the 12 keys.
If you’re playing with a vocalist, the default key in a songbook or chart doesn’t always work for their range. iReal Pro lets you change keys instantly and apply that directly to your practice.
Tempo Control
Any tune can be played anywhere from tempo 40 to 360.
Organizing Songs Into Folders
I keep my songs organized into folders like:
· Tunes I didn’t know at a session
· Fundamentals practice tunes
· Jazz standards worth memorizing
· Set list for an upcoming gig
· Demo songs for my next lesson
Keeping everything organized like this means I never have to wonder what to practice next.
Changing Rhythm Patterns
You can switch between swing, Latin, bossa nova, funk, rock, 3/4 time, and more — a huge range of rhythmic feels. That means you can match your practice to whatever style the tune you’re working on, or your current band, actually calls for.
How to Install It
Here’s a quick rundown of how to get set up:
1. Get the app from the App Store — it’s around $5, and genuinely worth it for years of use.
2. Open the app and tap “Import Playlist from Forum.”
3. Tap “JAZZ.”
4. Tap “JAZZ 1400 STANDARDS.”
5. Tap the blue link next to “Click on Link to import.”
6. Tap “Import Playlist.”
7. Confirm “JAZZ 1400” now appears on your main screen.
8. Open it up — you’ll find well-known standards like “Autumn Leaves” right there in the list. Tap any song title to bring up its chord chart, then hit the play button to start the backing track.
iReal Pro is a genuinely incredible training tool for the price — make it part of your daily practice routine.
An app like this is great for solo practice — but knowing whether your bass line is actually landing well against the chords in real time is exactly where a teacher’s ear matters.
Want Personalized Feedback on Your Playing?
This is exactly the kind of thing that’s hard to fix alone — and where having a teacher makes all the difference.
At Line on Bass, I offer an online lesson service where you send me a video of your playing, and I give you specific, detailed feedback — every single day if you want.
Students from around the world are using this to fix exactly these kinds of issues and steadily improve their jazz bass skills.