Help with simple blues progression.

[DK Gray]

I am new to TB and this is the first thread I have ever posted anywhere. I have learned a great deal about bass related stuff in the last few months. For that I say thanks!

Now my question.

In blues what determines when an R-3-5... progression should be played, compared to an R-b3-4-5 progression?

[MalcolmAmos]

If it is a major chord use the 3.
If it is a minor chord use the b3.
This may come in handy. http://www.smithfowler.org/music/Chord_Formulas.htm The major chords will all have a 3 and the minor chords will all have a b3.

Most blues is major and you will see a lot of dominant sevenths used, A7, D7, E7 etc so you may want to throw in some b7's into the mix ......... R-3-5-b7.

There is always the blues scale. Run the blues scale with the chord changes or just run the tonic blues scale over the entire progression.

Blues scale is R-b3-4-b5-5-b7. The governing factor is how much of the cord tone or scale can you use before the music moves on. Running the scale in scale order, over and over sounds like you are running the scale, over and over ---- have some pauses in there. Groove it.

See what you can do with this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUK5pE5x_6A
Start with just roots and groove them to the music. Then add the five in R-5-R-5 and when you can keep up add the 3's and the b7. See what sounds best to you.

Look what is waiting for you on the right hand side of the screen.

Have fun.

[MalcolmAmos]

Little something to keep in mind.

What note is going to work in my bass line?

• Roots, fifths and eights are generic. Every chord will have a root, a five and the 8 is just a root - up an octave. Be aware a diminished chord will have a flatted 5. Bm7b5 is R-b3-b5-b7
• So R-R-R-R always works.
• R-5-R-5 will add a little.
• R-5-8-5 any combination of those notes will be generic to most any chord.
• The 3 is generic to major chords. I like R-3-5-3.
• The b3 is generic to minor chords. Some leave the b3 out and put the b7 in it's place. R-b7-5-whatever last note you think best. R-b7-5-8 works for me as would R-b3-b7-8.
• The 7 is generic to maj7 chords.
• The b7 is generic to dominant sevenths (A7) and minor sevenths (Am7).
• The 6 is neutral slip it in where ever it sounds OK. I like it with major chords. R-3-5-6.
• The 2 and 4 make good passing notes. Don't linger on them or stop on them.

Have fun fleshing out your bass lines. Remember roots, fives and the correct 3 will play a lot of bass.

[DK Gray]

Thank you Malcolm. This helps alot.

[Russell L]

There's more:

For typical I IV V major blues try 1-3-5-6. The other guys are playing the b7 in their chords. Another typical line is 1-3-5-6-b7-6-5-3 (the b7 can also be 8). If it's minor blues, try 1-b3-5-b7. Leave the 6 out of minor.

Another that fits major or minor: 1-1-8-8-b7-b7-5-5.

One that fits major, but has a blue note: 1-1-b3-3-5-5-6-5 (the last 5 can be 8). Like "Boot Scoot Boogie."