How to play Walking Bass lines with chords on guitar

Today , we are going to learn to play Walking-Bass-Line on guitar.

As you know, we usually play la pompe but some cases, we also use walking bass line when you play without contrabass.

To do so, you need to know Scales at least. If you are not familiar with them , then take a look at Scales and Arpeggios lesson first.

How to make Walking Bass Lines

If you do this first time, it’s not easy to do so. So let’s divide the job to do.

Make bass lines with single notes

Let’s say the chord progression is CーE7ーAmーDm.

When you make bass lines, you could do like this.

e.g 1）CGF#F – EF#GG# – ABCC# – D

or like this.

e.g 2）CDEC – BEF#G# – ABCC# – D

e.g below, I use the note in blue to connect the notes to next chord tones in red.

e.g 3) CGF#F – EF#GG# – ABCC# – D

Play the bass lines with chords

Now, let’s play the bass lines with chords. Have a look at bar 1 and 3. You can memorise the progression I use below as it’s written. Because this is how we play in gypsy jazz.

Jazz Walking-Bass on Autumn Leaves

Let’s practice walking bass on Autumn leaves by Edith Piaf. As you know this song , This is a very nice jazz progression song like 2-5 , and quite easy to make bass lines.

<First 8th bar , chord is G7, second time is Gm>

Let’s make Walking-Bass lines.

The verse chords are

Cm7 – F7 – BbM7 – EbM7

Am7b5 – D7 – Gm – G7

I’d make bass lines like this.

C D D# E ー F G G# A ー Bb C C# D ー Eb F F# G

A Bb C C# ー D C Bb A ー G A Bb A ー G A B B 

Chorus

Am7b5 – D7 – Gm – Gm

Cm7 – F7 – BbM7 – EbM7

Am7b5 – D7 – Gm/Gb7 – Fm/E7

EbM7 – D7 – Gm

Bass lines

A Bb C C# – D C Bb A – G A Bb A – G A B B

C D D# E – F G G# A – Bb C C# D – Eb F F# G

A Bb C C# – D C Bb A – G G F# F# – F F E E

Eb Bb C C# – D C Bb A – Gm

It takes time to get used to this, but you will be able to make walking bass lines without thinking much after a few months! We just need to keep practicing !!