Easy Walking Bass Lines

Easy Walking Bass Line Techniques

Constructingwalkingjazzbasslines.com

Example 1. Jazz Blues in F Here's an example of what you can do.

F7 Bb7 F7 C min7 F7

String Bass ? b 44 œ œ œ œ œœœœ œœœ œ œ bœ œ œ
Bs.
Bs. Bb7 F7 A min7 D7
?b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œœœ œ œ œ œ #œ
5 G min7 C7 G min7 C7
F 7 D min7

?b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

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Constructing Walking Bass Lines Two Feel Root Fifth Octave

Developing a two feel bass line.
A lot can be said with just the notes of the root, fifth and octave. Firstly it
outlines the root movement very well and this is the building block for
outlining the harmony and building more complex lines. The two feel is often used
on the melody or beginning of the solo sections.

F7 Bb7 F7 C min7 F7

Bs. ? b Bœb7 Œ œ Œ œŒœŒ œŒœŒ œŒœŒ

13 F7 A min7 D7

Bs. ? b œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ
17 G min7 C7 F 7 D min7 G min7 C 7

Bs. ? b œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ

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2 Easy Walking Bass Line Techniques - Constructingwalkingjazzbasslines.com

F7 Bb7 F7 C min7 F7

Bs. ? b œ Œ œ Œ œŒœŒ œŒœŒ œŒœŒ
25 Bb7 F7 A min7 D7
œ
Bs. ? b œ Œ Œ œŒœŒ œŒœŒ œŒœŒ

29 G min7 C7 F7

Bs. ? b œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ w ∑

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Constructing Lines Two Feel Using Triads

One of the most effective ways to embellish the two feel is to play a quarter note
on beat 4, this gives the bass line a push and the feeling of playing into the next
chord change. The triad is made up of the root, 3rd and 5th notes of the scale.

F7 Bb7 F7 C min7 F7

Bs. ? b œ Œ œ Œ œŒœŒ œŒœŒ œŒœœ

37 Bb7 F7 A min7 D7

Bs. ? b œ Œ œ Œ œŒœœ œŒ œ Œ œ Œ œ #œ

41 C7 F7

G min7

Bs. ? b œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ œ w ∑

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Easy Walking Bass Line Techniques - Constructingwalkingjazzbasslines.com 3

The next example shows the use of the eight note subdivision to create additional
motion in the two feel line. The use of the eighth note in jazz walking bass lines is
very effective and used by Masters of Jazz Bass.

F7 Bb7 F7 C min7 F7

Bs. ? b œ Œ œ ‰ œj œ Œ œ œ œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ œ

49 Bb7 F7 A min7 D7
œ ‰ œj œ œ œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ ‰ Jœ
Bs. ? b œ ‰ œj œ Œ

53 G min7 C7 F7

Bs. ? b œ Œ œ ‰ Jœ œ Œ œ œ œ Œ Ó ∑

57

Constructing Walking Bass Lines 4 Feel Using Triads

The 4 feel walking bass line is the most common type of bass line using 4 quarter
notes per bar. This type of line feels good, is fun to play and makes the audience tap
their foot.

F7 Bb7 F7 C min7 F7

Bs. ? b œ œ œ œ œœœœ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ

61 Bb7 œœœœ F7 A min7 D7

Bs. ? b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ

65

G min7 C7 F 7 D min7 G min7 C 7

Bs. ? b œ œ œ œ œœœœ œœœœ œœœœ

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4 Easy Walking Bass Line Techniques - Constructingwalkingjazzbasslines.com

Repeated Notes

Repeated notes are very effective when the harmonic rhythm
increases, eg. two chords per bar. Repeated notes were used extensively in the
bebop era as the chord structures developed into two or four chords per bar.

F7 Bb7 F7 C min7 F7

Bs. ? b Bœb7 œ œ œ œœœœ œœœœ œœœœ

73 F7 A min7 D7

Bs. ? b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
77 G min7 C7 F 7 D min7 G min7 C 7

Bs. ? b œ œ œ œ œœœœ œœœœ œœœœ

81

Now Write a 2 Feel Bass Line in the Key of F

F7 Bb7 F7 C min7 F7

Bs. ? b ∑ ∑∑∑

85 Bb7 F7 A min7 D7

Bs. ? b ∑ ∑ ∑∑

89 G min7 C7 F 7 D min7 Gmin7 C 7

Bs. ? b ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑

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Easy Walking Bass Line Techniques - Constructingwalkingjazzbasslines.com 5

Now Write a 4 Feel Bass Line in the Key of F

F7 Bb7 F7 C min7 F7

Bs. ? b ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑

97 Bb7 F7 A min7 D7

Bs. ? b ∑ ∑∑∑

101 C7 F7 D min7 G min7 C7

G min7 ∑ ∑ ∑∑

Bs. ? b

105

If you are struggling to get started with writing or playing walking bass lines, using
these simple walking bass techniques will help you to build walking bass lines of
your own.
Once you build confidence its amazing what you can do.

If you would like to learn more about walking bass lines visit our online bass course
page Https://courses.constructingwalkingjazzbasslines.com
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