how to write a walking bass line
a walking bass line is a bass part that plays one note on every beat, usually quarter notes in 4/4, landing on the root of each chord on beat 1 and filling the other beats with chord tones, scale steps and approach notes that lead into the next chord. it is the standard bass part in swing and jazz, and you can write one from nothing but the chord symbols on a lead sheet or score.
- beat 1 is the root of the chord.
- beats 2 and 3 are other chord tones or notes of the scale.
- beat 4 is an approach note: one step or half step away from the next root.
how do you write a walking bass line?
start from the chord symbols, one bar at a time. put each chord's root on beat 1, look ahead to the next root, and fill the beats in between with chord tones or scale steps. on beat 4, play a note one step or half step from the next root, so the line walks into it.
- write the roots. put the root of each chord on beat 1 of its bar. if a chord lasts two beats, its root goes on its first beat.
- look ahead. for each bar, find the root of the next chord. that is your target.
- fill beats 2 and 3. use the third, fifth or seventh of the current chord, or walk up or down the scale toward the target.
- approach on beat 4. pick a note a half step or a whole step above or below the target, so the line steps into the next bar.
the approach note is what makes a line walk, not just jump between roots. it does not have to belong to the chord, because it lasts one beat and resolves straight away.
approach notes into a C root
| kind of approach | note on beat 4 | how it sounds |
|---|---|---|
| chromatic from below | B | a strong pull upward into the root |
| chromatic from above | D♭ | slides down into the root; the most "jazz" sound |
| scale step | D or B | smooth and plain, good for a calm groove |
| dominant (fifth above) | G | a jump that makes the arrival feel like a cadence |
example: a ii–V–I in C
the most common progression in jazz is ii–V–I, which in C major is Dm7, G7, Cmaj7. here is a walking line over one bar of each.
- Dm7: D, E, F, F♯. root, a scale step, the third, then F♯ as a chromatic approach into G.
- G7: G, F, E, D. root, then down the scale; D is a step above the next root.
- Cmaj7: C, held for the whole bar to end the phrase.
example: a I–vi–ii–V turnaround
here the same shape repeats in every bar: root, third, fifth, then a chromatic approach into the next root. it is a good first line to write, because every note is easy to check.
| chord | beat 1 | beat 2 | beat 3 | beat 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | E | G | A♭ (half step below A) |
| Am | A | C | E | E♭ (half step above D) |
| Dm | D | F | A | A♭ (half step above G) |
| G7 | G | B | D | D♭ (half step above C) |
once that works, vary the direction. a line that only ever climbs from the root sounds mechanical, so walk down from the root in some bars, and mix scale steps with chord tones.
writing the part down
- clef and octave. write bass parts in bass clef. double bass and bass guitar sound an octave lower than written, which keeps the part on the staff instead of under it.
- chord symbols. put the chord symbols above the bass staff too, so the player can see what you were thinking and change notes if they want to.
- "walk" instead of notes. many charts simply write chord symbols with slashes and the word "walk", and leave the notes to the player. write them out when the player is learning, or when the line matters to the arrangement.
writing a walking bass in notei
notei is a music notation editor that runs in the browser. you can enter the bass line from the computer keyboard or a MIDI keyboard, put chord symbols above the staff, and play it back with sampled instruments to hear it against the chords. the assistant, on every plan, answers questions about the line you have open, such as whether a note on beat 4 leads well into the next chord. on notei+ and full score it can also arrange or extend a line as editable notes.
common questions about walking bass
what notes do you use in a walking bass line?
the root of each chord on beat 1, other chord tones or scale notes on beats 2 and 3, and an approach note on beat 4 that sits a half step or whole step from the next root. over a whole tune, those three kinds of note produce a line that outlines every chord change.
does a walking bass always use quarter notes?
mostly. quarter notes on every beat are what "walking" means. players add the odd eighth-note pickup or a skip for variety, and in a ballad or a two-feel section the bass plays half notes instead, then starts walking when the band picks up.
can a walking bass line use notes outside the chord?
yes, on weak beats. a chromatic approach note on beat 4 is often outside the chord and the key, and it works because it resolves by a half step straight away. keep beat 1 on the root, or another chord tone, so the harmony stays clear.
how do I write a walking bass for a 12-bar blues?
use the same method over the blues chords: in F, that is F7, B♭7 and C7. put each root on beat 1, walk through the chord's notes, and step into the next root on beat 4. the chord progression guide lists the 12-bar form bar by bar.
sources
- Wikipedia: walking bass
- Open Music Theory: ii–V–I
- Open Music Theory: blues harmony
- Open Music Theory: chord symbols
this page is part of the how to write sheet music guide series. notei publishes it, and notei is our product. related: how to make a lead sheet, how to voice chords, writing for band and choir and what the notei editor does.
written and checked by the notei team. how these guides are written and corrected.