How to walk up to the next note

[drewphishesp]

so say im playing a simple 1 4 5 progression in C. And just playing root 5tha for each cord c f g. To spice my lines up id love to be able to walk to the f g or walk up to f after a g? Would i either just throw in a g flat then head to f and then the c for a 5? Im probably doing a horrible job describing

 

[dreamadream99]

I could use a little more info. Is this country or jazz? Or something else? Are you in a major key? Or are these dominant 7 chords (like blues)? Are you in 4/4 time? Are the drums in a 4 or 2 feel?

Until I can be more specific, I can say the following:

Traditional walking is done linearly (up or down, without hopping back and forth), and is done one of three ways: chromatically, like a scale, like an arpeggio, or a hybrid of those three.

Examples in 4/4 include C up to F chromatically (C-C#-D-E-F), C7 down to F like a scale (C-Bb-A-G-F), and G up to F like an arpeggio (G-B-D-E-F)

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Dirt simple. Target the next root and then miss it by one, two, or three frets. Then walk to it using one, two, or three frets and land on the next root dead on the chord change.

Country has been using a three note chromatic walk for a long time. Trick is to leave early, do the walk and land on the next root note for the chord change. Timing the leave early will take some practice, other than that it's dirt simple.

 

[Reedt2000]

Lots of ways to do this like play a c arpeggio and from the g walk down to f:

C E G Gb F

Walk from f up to g

F F# G

From g walk the c scale back to c

G A B C

You can walk chromatic lines, scaler lines, and more commonly a mix of both. You don't have to just walk between roots either. From C walk chromatic line to the 3rd of f (a)

C B Bb A
This just starts your f line from the a. Look at the notes of each chord and be creative. How much time you play each and the style your playing certainly come into play but you really aren't limited by anything.

C Maj: C E G C
F Maj: F A C F
G Maj: G B D G (or G7: G B D F)

 

[drewphishesp]

Cool thanks guys. I guess i was just lookin to learn some cool walking patterns. If anyone has some excerices to help practice this lmk! This has all been super helpful

 

[drewphishesp]

Hmm so i get getting down to the f from g. But then when I play f then c how do I get from that 5th of f on the g string to a c on the a string to start it all over again walk down the g to B Bb then jump over to the c on the a string

 

[Reedt2000]

Hmm so i get getting down to the f from g. But then when I play f then c how do I get from that 5th of f on the g string to a c on the a string to start it all over again walk down the g to B Bb then jump over to the c on the a string

You don't need to drop down to the lower C, the 5th of f is c. From f walk the 3rd to the 5th
F A A# B C
time it so you get to c on the first beat of the measure with the c chord. Then walk you c line down from there

C (5th fret g string) A G B C (using major pentatonic)

Again there are tons of ways around these three chords, just be creative

 

[drewphishesp]

Basically looking to jazz up this line a bit
Also its not a song or anything just an example of whT im talking about. Wont be trying to steal anyones ideas for anything just looking to practice

 

[InhumanResource]

Basically looking to jazz up this line a bit
Also its not a song or anything just an example of whT im talking about. Wont be trying to steal anyones ideas for anything just looking to practice

Steal away, dude.

You can approach the root of the next chord from a half step lower, no problem (unless it sounds bad against whatever else is happening at that moment in the song) or walk down as others suggest to land on the root on 1.

You don't always have to go this, however. Depending on what kind of music it is and whether your choice sounds good. That is always king.


Go listen to what John Paul Jones does on Zeppelin's "The Lemon Song" to get some ideas of what you can do with this. And then rob him blind

Just remember for walking and walking-ish playing: Melodic, stepwise lines sound good as long as you weave them through the chord changes right. Experiment.

Always outline the chord harmony, and avoid the 4th of whatever chord you are on.

 

[Stewie]

Youtube up Canned Heat. Larry Taylor was(and still is) one of the best walkers ever. Most of the tunes are 12 bar too. Just remember that if you hit a clam, hit it again harder and give the drummer a na.sty look

 

[JimmyM]

Listen to the blues a lot, and I highly recommend Ed Friedland's "Building Walking Bass Lines" book.

 

[ThePresident777]

so say im playing a simple 1 4 5 progression in C. And just playing root 5tha for each cord c f g. To spice my lines up id love to be able to walk to the f g or walk up to f after a g? Would i either just throw in a g flat then head to f and then the c for a 5? Im probably doing a horrible job describing

Think of the chords you are playing. Are they major, minor, diminished, etc.? Do you want to stay in key or can you spice it up?

 

[slugger]

I'd like to think that everyone know Scott by now, but here's a quick breakdown he does of a few simple approaches to walking lines. I think he touches on your question. Great teacher. GOOD LUCK!

 

[Ant Illington]

so say im playing a simple 1 4 5 progression in C. And just playing root 5tha for each cord c f g. To spice my lines up id love to be able to walk to the f g or walk up to f after a g? Would i either just throw in a g flat then head to f and then the c for a 5? Im probably doing a horrible job describing

Don't mess around; learn methodically.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[AngelCrusher]

This may be a little more advanced, but I highly suggest giving it a read because it answers your question and also gives great tips on how to really nail this technique.

Invalid Link Removed

Recommend that you pay close attention to the part on Enclosures as well. It may be something that you will really like.

 

[Nashrakh]

Listen to the blues a lot, and I highly recommend Ed Friedland's "Building Walking Bass Lines" book.

A big +1 on this recommendation.

I've been digging around for walking bass literature myself recently, and I found Ed's book to be the best of all. Highly structured, easy to understand, its concepts can be instantly applied and he uses a lot of example lines to illustrate them. A 10/10 from me.

 

[BassLover668]

Cool thanks guys. I guess i was just lookin to learn some cool walking patterns. If anyone has some excerices to help practice this lmk! This has all been super helpful

Buy the Hal Leonard book

 

[onosson]

Go listen to what John Paul Jones does on Zeppelin's "The Lemon Song" to get some ideas of what you can do with this. And then rob him blind

This is time-tested good advice. Tons to work with there, ideas that will serve you for years to come.

 

[tpaul]

Just walk right up, stick out your hand friendly-like, and say, "howdy, next note!"

 

[Deleted member 92857]

Just walk right up, stick out your hand friendly-like, and say, "howdy, next note!"

Walking up to the next note is easy. Getting it to go home with you and making it yours requires work and luck!