Walking Bass Lines

Marc-Andre Seguin
For Jazz Guitarists (Video)
- JazzGuitarLessons.net -
Improve Your Jazz Guitar
Playing with a Real Teacher
Chord Shapes Chord Progression

     
B¨6 G9 C‹7 F7 B¨6 G9 C‹7 F9

  

 
 

        
 




6 10 8 8 6 6 10 10 8 8 8 8
7 10 8 8 7 7 10 10 8 8 8 8
5 9 8 7 5 5 9 9 8 8 7 7
10 8 10 10 8 8
6 8 6 6 8 8
You can use different chord extensions / alterations.
Keeping it simple... because we're focusing on bass lines, right?! (-:

Ex1 - Just Bass Notes


B¨ G C F B¨ G C F B¨ G C F etc.

       
               



10 10 8 8 10 10 8 8 10 10 8 8
6 6 8 8 6 6 8 8 6 6 8 8

Ex2 - Bass and Chord Simultaneous

   
B¨6 G9 C‹7 F9 B¨6 G9 C‹7 F9
    
        
etc.

   
         


6
7
5
10
10
9
8
8
8
8
8
7
6
7
5
10
10
9
8
8
8
8
8
7

10 10 8 8 10 10 8 8
6 6 8 8 6 6 8 8

JazzGuitarLessons.net - Improve Your Jazz Guitar Playing with a Real Teacher

 Ex3 - Bass and Chords Separated (w/ "swing" feel)


2
 3
B¨6 G9 C‹7 F9 B¨6 G9 C‹7 F9
3  3 3  3  etc.
     3

3
   
                   
3

       

3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3



6
7
5
10
10
9
8
8
8
8
8
7
6
7
5
10
10
9
8
8
8
8
8
7

10 10 8 8 10 10 8 8
6 6 8 8 6 6 8 8

Ex4 - Approaches from below "Walking Bass"

  3
B¨6 G9 C‹7 F9 B¨6 G9 C‹7 F9
3  3 3  3
etc.
     3
 
3
  
           
3

     


       
      

3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3



6
7
5
10
10
9
8
8
8
8
8
7
6
7
5
10
10
9
8
8
8
8
8
7

9 10 7 8 9 10 7 8
5 6 7 8 5 6 7 8 5

Ex5 - Approaches from above "Walking Bass"


B¨6 G9 C‹7 F9 B¨6 G9 C‹7 F9
   3 
   3
3   3 
  
3
 etc. 3 3

                     
3

    

3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3



6
7
5
10
10
9
8
8
8
8
8
7
6
7
5
10
10
9
8
8
8
8
8
7

11 10 9 8 11 10 9 8
7 6 9 8 7 6 9 8 7
 Ex6 - Approaches from below-above-below-above etc.


B¨6 G9 C‹7 F9 B¨6 G9 C‹7 F9 3

   3 
 
3

3
 3   3 
  
3 etc. 3

 
  
3
   
      
          
            

3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 etc.


6
7
5
10
10
9
8
8
8
8
8
7
6
7
5
10
10
9
8
8
8
8
8
7

11 10 9 8 11 10 9 8
5 6 7 8 5 6 7 8 5

Ex7 - Approaches from above-below-above-below etc.

  3
B¨6 G9 C‹7 F9 B¨6 G9 C‹7 F9
3  3 3  3  etc.
    
3 3
     
                    
3

    

3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3



6
7
5
10
10
9
8
8
8
8
8
7
6
7
5
10
10
9
8
8
8
8
8
7

9 10 7 8 9 10 7 8
7 6 9 8 7 6 9 8 7
Please note: Other "approach notes" are possible. Diatonic note from above is very frequent. Also, if
the chords last more than 2 beats each, it's possible to have "scale movement" in between each chord...
See the blues (below) for examples of this.

Ex8 - Mixed Approaches


B¨6 G9 C‹7 F9 B¨6 G9 C‹7 F9
3   3 
  3
  3  
3
3 
  
3


  
3 etc.

                  
 

     
3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 etc.


6
7
5
10
10
9
8
8
8
8
8
7
6
7
5
10
10
9
8
8
8
8
8
7

9 10 7 8 11 10 9 8
7 6 9 8 5 6 7 8
4 Bb Blues Comping - w/ walking bass


B¨13 E¨9 B¨13 F‹9 B¨7(b9)
 3 
 
3 
 3 
   
3 3

      
          
 
B¨13 E¨9 B¨13 F‹9 B¨7(b9)
3
 3
 3
 3
 3



8 6 8 8 6
7 6 7 8 4
6 5 6 6 6
5 8 7 6 5 6 7 8 6 5
6 3 4 5 6 7

E¨7 B¨13 B¨/D G7(#9)

 3     
3


3
      
3 3
        
          

E¨7 B¨13 B¨/D G7(#9)

3
 3
 3
 3
 3



6 8 11 11
6 6 7 10 10
5 5 6 8 9
8 6 4 3 8 11 10
6 4 3 7 6 10 10 7 9

  3 

C‹7 F9 B¨7 G7(#9) C‹7 F9 B¨13

 
3 
  3
    
3

 
3

                      
 3
  
3

 
C‹7 F9 B¨7 G7(#9) C‹7 F9 B¨13
3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3
 3


10 11
8 8 9 11 11 8 8 8
8 8 10 10 12 8 7 7
8 7 7 8 9 9 10 7 6 6
7 8 9 10 11 10 9 8
8 10 11 5 6