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How Make Walking Bas2s

The document provides a 4-step method for writing walking bass lines: 1) Write out a chord progression, 2) On the downbeat of each bar write the root chord, 3) On the last beat of each bar write the fifth, a half step below, or a half step above the following note, 4) Fill in the remaining notes. Common bass line patterns are provided for progressions moving up a fourth or fifth. Practicing writing out lines and transcribing them from recordings can help internalize different ways to connect chords and express harmony.

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Jginer Rius
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105 views

How Make Walking Bas2s

The document provides a 4-step method for writing walking bass lines: 1) Write out a chord progression, 2) On the downbeat of each bar write the root chord, 3) On the last beat of each bar write the fifth, a half step below, or a half step above the following note, 4) Fill in the remaining notes. Common bass line patterns are provided for progressions moving up a fourth or fifth. Practicing writing out lines and transcribing them from recordings can help internalize different ways to connect chords and express harmony.

Uploaded by

Jginer Rius
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to Write a Walking Bass Line - Learn Jazz Standards about:reader?url=https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/blog/learning-ja...

learnjazzstandards.com

How to Write a Walking Bass Line


- Learn Jazz Standards
By Wallace Stelzer

3-4 minuts

In my previous post, How to Keep Your Bass Lines


Interesting, we defined what a bass line is and what its
functions are, and looked at a few ways in which we can
creatively negotiate chord changes. Now it’s time to learn
how to create a complete bass line from scratch!

The 4 Step Method

Our basic method for bass line construction is pretty


straightforward. We’ll keep our rhythms simple for now:
one note per beat. On the downbeat, we’re going to play
the root; and on the last beat of each bar, we’re going to
play a chromatic approach tone leading into the next root,
or it’s corresponding fifth. How you connect the first and
last note of each bar is up to you, but we’ll look at a few
common lines for guidance!

Step 1: Write out a chord progression (and be sure to


leave room for the notes)

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How to Write a Walking Bass Line - Learn Jazz Standards about:reader?url=https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/blog/learning-ja...

Step 2: On the downbeat of every bar, write in the


corresponding root (if there is more than one chord per
bar, write in the root on the first beat the chord is
introduced)

Step 3: On the last beat of each bar, choose one of


three options:

the fifth scale degree of the following note

a half step below the following note

or a half step above the following note

When there is more than one chord in a bar, you only have room to fill in the root

and the linking tone, so you don’t have to worry about adding anything else!

Step 4: Fill in the blanks! Be melodic, be creative, and be


deliberate

All right, now we can start walking! Just be sure you don’t

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How to Write a Walking Bass Line - Learn Jazz Standards about:reader?url=https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/blog/learning-ja...

overlook the first step. It’s important to actually write your


bass lines down, because it helps you visualize the line
and the harmony. Composing on paper can also challenge
your perspective and expose bad habits, so don’t neglect
that pad of staff paper sitting on your music stand…

Common Lines

Now that we know how to create bass lines, let’s look at


some popular bread and butter bass lines (you’ll want to
memorize these in all keys).

Chords that move up a fourth are quite prevalent in jazz,


and here are some great ways to connect them.

Here are several strong lines that connect two chords a


fifth apart from one another.

What other chord progressions do you come across


often? Try writing out several lines that clearly define the
progression and start using them as you play! And don’t

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How to Write a Walking Bass Line - Learn Jazz Standards about:reader?url=https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/blog/learning-ja...

forget to transcribe bass lines; you’ll learn all sorts of


clever ways to connect chords, express harmony, and
groove!

Wallace Stelzerhttp://wallacestelzer.com/

Wallace Stelzer is a professional jazz bass player and


content creator from Houston, Texas. As an active
member of the New York City jazz scene, Wallace has
participated in jazz festivals, spoken and performed live
on radio, and played at many prestigious jazz clubs and
concert halls around the country. He has been fortunate
enough to study and perform with many world-class
musicians throughout his career, including John Patitucci,
Lynn Seaton, Mike Holober, Scott Reeves, Andre
Hayward, Carol Morgan, and Don Hahn, to name a few.
Wallace obtained his Bachelors of Fine Arts in jazz
performance from the City College of New York in 2014.
Wallace Stelzer Music denotes his personal online brand,
which is centered about his YouTube channel. To learn
more, please visit www.jazzvengers.com,
www.wallacestelzer.com, or simply watch some of his
videos online!

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