Walking Bass Lines

Walking bass lines are a crucial second part to playing blues rhythm guitar.  Walking literally means that the bass notes “walk” up and down the notes in the chord to the beat of the shuffle.  This technique is meant to double the bass guitar line and create a big, driving, shuffle rhythm.  

This movable walkup is typically done with roots starting on the 6th, 5th, and 4th string, but feel free to experiment. 

While you can walk any bass line you like, there are three main blues variations:

1. Standard:  Root, Major 3rd, 5th, Major 6th, Root
2. Dominant Variation:  Root, Major 3rd, 5th, Major 6th and b7
3. Minor Variation:  Root, Minor 3rd, 5th, Major 6th and b7

Download the PDF for the diagrams.

AGAIN - just like hen practicing the movable shuffle shapes,  you should try and memorize the I  IV  V movements with these three root placements, and get the position slide comfortable. 

Quick recall re-cap:

• 6th String Root
  • • IV chord root is same fret on 5th string
    • V chord root is two frets above on 5th string (move IV chord shape up two frets)
• 5th String Root
  • • IV chord root is same fret on 4th string
    • V chord root is two frets above on 4th string (move IV chord shape up two frets)

OR

• 5th String Root
  • • IV chord root is two frets below root fret but on 6th string
    • V chord root is same fret as root but on 6th string
• 4th String root
  • • IV chord root is two frets below root fret but on 5th string
    • V chord root is same fret as root but on 5th string