I did a bad thing last night...

[Killer Canary]

I find the low D and C handy as the root for walking bass in those keys.

 

[Plutonium244]

I find the low D and C handy as the root for walking bass in those keys.

Of course it's purely individual, but I don't like to use the C as the root of a walk/I-IV-V... just doesn't sound right as a starting place, that low. D is not so bad. When I can I'll use a standard (E-string) root as the basis, and drop into the lower register as a IV or V etc. Also kind of nice to start a I-IV-V in C on the higher C (A string) and use the low C later in the song as a way to create movement and change. I personally prefer to use the lower notes as bombs to be dropped at the right point in the battle, usually. They should fit organically and not scream "I am playing these low notes on my five now." That, by no means, means that this is the "right" way, just my way, of thinking about it and using it.