Blues Licks

Blues licks for all instruments.

Jazz Blues Bass Line Over Bb Blues (part two)

By: Bryan
jazz blues walking bass line in bb part two

In part one of blues bass lines I had you playing a Bb blues progression using a basic chord-tone approach based predominantly on the root-third-fifth-seventh. However, we can use scale tones to move more seamlessly between chords and employ the upper register for a more interesting sound. Listen to the live audio mp3 before moving on.

Pay attention to the first 3 measures: the bass line continues to ascend while always managing to hit the root note on the downbeat of each chord change. Notice the use of the open strings when available, this can free up your fretting hand and allow it to move into a more comfortable position. The bass line begins to ascend once again on the Dm7 chord and peaks at the F7 before coming back down and finally wrapping up with the turnaround.

(Note: I mistakenly played a minor third instead of a major third on the G7 in measure 8, see if you can hear the difference!)

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