bass line player copy harp harmonica blues

We can now mix bluesy and light notes together... making for a lot of options as a soloist. Check out the bass line to Little Walter's "Blue Midnight" below (note that the IV7 Chord is missing one note... the IV7 equivalent of the I7 3'... so hold the 2+ to make the timing work out)...

I7 = 2 (hold), 3' 3 5 5+ 4 = R (hold), Flat-3rd, 3rd, Flat-7th, 6th, 5th
IV7 = 1+ (hold), 2+ (hold) 3' 3" 2
V7 = 1 (hold), 2" 2' 4+ 3 3" continue reading...

Yesterday we looked at a bass line that used the Flat-7th as its primary color note, giving it a bluesy feel by omitting the Major 3rd and Major 6th of the previous bass line examples. If we use the Flat-3rd as well we really move towards a dark feel, making it debatable whether we're in minor at that point.

Here's a great example: 2 2 2 3' 4+ (think "Green Onions" by Booker T and the MG's for rhythm here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-7QSMyz5rg, they're in F by the way, B-flat harp)

You could also play a bass line like this in a shuffle rhythm...

2 2 3' 3' 2 2 2" 2"

When the Major 3rd (3 draw B) of the I7 Chord is omitted and the Flat-7th (5 draw F) is used in place of the Major 6th (5+ E) you get a very bluesy sounding bass line. Here are some examples (again, play in the shuffle rhythm).

Ascending Box
2 2 4 4 5 5 6+ 6+
R R 5th 5th Flat-7th Flat-7th R R

Descending Box
2 2 6+ 6+ 5 5 4 4
R R R R Flat-7th Flat-7th 5th 5th

Of course it's important to learn the IV7 and V7 equivalents to any bass line. Here's the Descending Box...

IV7 = 1+ 1+ 4+ 4+ 3' 3' 2 2

V7 = 1 1 4 4 4+ 4+ 3" 3"

Getting to know how a bass player arpeggiates chords is helpful in hearing chords as they happen while you play (especially for non-12 Bar Blues) and in general understanding how chords work and are used in music. Below are some simple shuffle bass lines.

1) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 = R R R R R R R R

2) 2 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 = R R 3rd 3rd R R 3rd 3rd

3) 2 2 3 3 4 4 3 3 = R R 3rd 3rd 5th 5th 3rd 3rd

4) 2 2 3 3 4 4 5+ 5+ = R R 3rd 3rd 5th 5th 6th 6th (6th = Light Feel)

5) 2 2 3 3 4 4 5+ 5+ 6+ 6+ 5+ 5+ 4 4 3 3 = R R 3rd 3rd 5th 5th 6th 6th R R... and back down continue reading...

Whether you're presenting a new song to your band or getting ready to jam and "make it happen" at your local nightclub, it's a wise idea to learn the bass line to your song. Include playing a piece of it in your speech... "G"... "Shuffle"... look to the bass player and play "2 2 6+ 6+ 5 5 4 4" a couple of times... "From the V" and count them in. Below are some examples of bass lines from famous harmonica songs.

"Roller Coaster" Little Walter
1 2 1 2

"Easy" Big Walter Horton
2 2 3 3 4 4 5+ 5+ 5 5 5+ 5+ 4 4 3 3

"Blue Midnight" Little Walter
2 3' 3 5 5+ 4 2 continue reading...