by Let’s talk about blues bass lines. If you’re playing any kind of 12 bar blues, you’ll need to know how to get through the form in a way that is functional (aka. playing the ‘right’ notes) but also sound authentic.
The last thing you want is to sound like you don’t know what you’re doing during a blues.
You see, the blues is one of those things in music that is almost universally understood. You can get musicians from all different kinds of genres – jazz, rock, funk, country, pop – and they might not all know the same songs, but you can bet they’d all be able to get through a blues together.
Why is this?
It’s because the blues is at the root of so many Western styles of music – it’s almost inescapable.
That’s why it’s important that you know at least a few authentic blues bass lines.
Sure – you could try to fake it, but why bother when playing legitimate blues bass lines is so easy!?
In this lesson, you’ll learn 6 authentic plug-and-play blues bass formulas – the kind that will work for you in nearly any blues situation.
Check out the lesson here:
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Free: Get The Tabs, Notation, And Practice Tracks From This Lesson
Get the free 13-page PDF guide with all the authentic bass line formulas. It includes:
- Each formula in both tab and notation
- Practice tracks so you can practice these lines today
- Real-world examples so you can see how to use them
Notice how simple the first few blues bass lines were before they got progressively more and more complicated. But you don’t need to get complicated in order to sound authentic. In fact, if you go and listen to a lot of the recordings, a lot of the bass lines are simple!
Of course, if the music calls for it, you can use the ‘busier’ lines or even mix and match the lines depending on how intense you want the music to get. If you want less intensity, use a simpler bass line. Want to ramp it up? Use one of the formulas that I talk about at the end of the lesson.
If you’d like the tabs, notations and practice tracks from this lesson, be sure to fill out the form above. I’ve even put links to the specific recordings that use each of the lines in the download for you.
Of course, if you have any questions about the lesson, just let me know by dropping them in the comments. I’d be more than happy to help out however I can.
Good luck with the lesson and happy playing!
Cheers,
Thank you Luke, The most helpful thing yet for me.
Luke, thz for the info, very much appreciated, R. Clemons
Thank you Luke for your lessons and videos. I’m a beginner bassist and started learning songs via tabs. I want to be more than just a bassist that can follow tabs and the trouble will trying to remember it all, lol. What do you recommend I focus on? I want to one day play live music, but don’t want the headache of trying to remember every tab for every song 🙁 Please help me get on the right track and stay on that path to become a confident bassist.
Hey Robert – great question. If you’re struggling to remember the tabs, I’d focus on trying to learn the songs in a different way. Learning by tab is great because it can get you up and running quickly, but learning (or relearning) a song by ear is going to really ingrain the song in your memory so much better.
I know whenever I read a chart and don’t think about the sound, it takes a long time for it to sink in, but if I do the same thing but try to internalize the sound of the song, it barely takes any time at all.
9ic dropped
I have the passion
But still a learner
Plz help me out
Thank you Luke. This is just what I needed to get back into playing my bass.
Thank you bro. Luke for just being willing to help us beginners trying to learn to play the bass guitar,my gratitude is utmost,thanks,Eston,bass enthusiest 👍🙏
Luke,I have just one question,what does the numbers stand for on your lessons,Eston
Are you talking about on the tabs Eston? If that’s the case, they just refer to the numbers of the frets for that note. A 5 on the E-string means play the 5th fret – an A.
Thanks Luke.
i came here after watching Bootsy with the mothership, Houston ’76. I was kind of hanging in tyhere,,getting my groove, yeh, baby
Hi Luke,
Great fundermental stuff but one thing I have not seen other tutorials do is show the slow blues with every even note a passing note when playing double notes.
When you start learning the blues you hear double notes but don’t realise the second note is a short passing note linking it to the next note like a shuffle along. Maybe I have not described very well so please contact if do don’t feel like it’s clear. Maybe you have included it in another tutorial. This will help beginners to intermediate players.
Cheers
Hey Andre – I’m not 100% sure what you mean. Do you know any songs or bass lines that do what you’re talking about that you could share? I’d love to know what you’re talking about.
Loved this lesson – it’s this kind of thing that helps me connect the theory I know to the songs I play – really good.
Suggestion for follow-on lesson:
Take a few songs with really simple bass line (like U2’s Without or Without You at https://www.bigbasstabs.com/u2_bass_tabs/with_or_without_you_ver_2.html) and explain what those 4 notes are, and why they were chosen, in terms of which chords / which scales, etc.
For example, I can hear that the notes (E’s 10 5 7 3) sound good, whereas changing a single note doesn’t sound right … but why?
Other songs you could include might be:
https://www.bigbasstabs.com/cure_bass_tabs/all_cats_are_grey.html
https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/avril-lavigne-rocknroll-bass-tab-s403378t2
I look forward to it.
Glad you liked the lesson Floyd. I’ve got a few ideas floating around for bass line analysis videos, and I’ll definitely do some in the future. Thanks for the comment!
Hi Luke,
Another fantastic instruction. You make easy to understand.
I love this lesson. Thank you for giving me new strategies for playing blues. I look forward to using your guides to learn the variations.
Awesome Elizabeth. Let me know how you go the next time you get the opportunity to play some blues. I’d love to hear how you used the lines in the real world!
Hi Luke.
Thank you very much for your help.
The way you teach it makes so clear.
Great Work.
No worries César. I’m glad things are all clear for you now – that’s pretty much always my goal for the videos. Thanks for checking it out.
Gosh this is a really cool lesson. So much useful info in this- I have been playing for about three years and have played blues lines before, but never fully understood what was going on, so I was absolutely dependent on the sheet music. This frees me up- sooo cool, thank you!
Got to get on and practice now 🙂
That’s great to hear Geo – Let me know how you go the next time you’re playing some blues with other people!
Hola Luke, te sigo en tus videos y los haces tan bien que no se una palabra de inglés e igual los eniendo. Gracias. Te sigo desde Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Hey Luke great lesson explained and easy to understand
thanks Luke, I always enjoy your lessons
No worries Jim. Thanks so much for checking it out – I really appreciate it.
Thanks for the help Luke…your are a great teacher…keep up the good job.
Thanks man, I’m going to have fun with these.
This lesson was amazing… I really understood how the number system works, and it relaxed me to see how easy and fun it is learning the blues from your lesson can be. I play guitar but I am self taught and by ear, never learned tab or music. Thank you Luke 🙂 .
Thanks Luke I just LOVE the blues music! I’ve been practicing Bass for maybe a couple years now but I’m nowhere near playing for or in a band, BUT that’s not really my goal… I’m retired & wanted to do something to keep my brain “exercised” and I’ve always loved the bass guitar so I figured I’d give it a shot so as I start understanding and learning more.. I sort of gravitated to the Blues genre but I’ve always liked the blues. Anyway keep up the great work and thank you!
Hey Luke I thank you for the help. I’m gonna have do lots of practicing.
Always enjoy the videos you make, I’ve been able to use and learn a great deal, thank you Luke !
Thank you Luke, I really like this and your other videos. Your teaching style is easy to follow and doesn’t scare away newcomers by starting out so hard that you can’t keep up. We have an old radio station in our town that local musicians get together at once or twice a week for open jam sessions. I have watched your video’s a few times before going so I could bring something new to our sessions which is always helpful. Thanks again!
i love your teaching stye………………………..its one in a million
Thanks so much Nana! Really appreciate it.
Thanks for the brilliant lessons. I’ve just picked up the bass and this has shown me some great stuff to do. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and practicing loads.
Awesome Andrew! Good luck and keep practicing heaps!
Luke,
Thanks for the brilliant “basics” So useful.
Take care
Your lessons are clear, concise and well-thought out. Thank you! I have downloaded and printed the PDF but I don’t see how to access your backing track. I am using an iPad, is that a problem?
Hey Bette – Really happy you’re enjoying the lessons! The backing track should work on your iPad – the link to it is in the email that you would have received when you signed up for the Blues Bass Lines. It’s just a link, so a simple click and you’ll be able to play it.
Merci beaucoup Luke
Nice one Luke! This is just what I’ve been looking for!
I play guitar and bass… I recently discovered an excellent resource for guitar (a guy called Matt Warnock, some blues but mostly jazz) but the bass part was missing… I feel like the way you teach really complements the other resources I have and soon I’ll be solid on bass as well as guitar!
Thanks to YouTube for suggesting your video! I’m a new subscriber!
Luke, this is EXACTLY what I have been looking for. It’s invaluable information, and presented in such an understandable manner. I really appreciate what you do!!
Awesome to hear Troy! Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks for the lesson, info and backing tracks. Trying to pickup the bass again after my first flop. I think with more effort and your type lessons I can get it going in the right direction.
Hi Luke,
I haven’t played bass for 40 years, used to be in a group way back.
But a group of us ” oldies ” are thinking of starting again.
I find your videoes absolutely perfect for relearning the bass.
Keep up the good work, mate
Can’t seem to access the pdf. Video was really helpful for myself as a beginner. Think the pdf would be too, but the site appears to be down.
If the confirmation email hasn’t come through after a few minutes Steve, check your spam or junk folders – sometimes it gets sent there, even though you specifically requested the PDF. The site definitely isn’t down though, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to leave a comment on the site. If you have any problems, just let me know.
Best blues instructional I’ve come across. Thank you!
Thanks, Luke. Looking to create my own backing tracks for blues lead guitar practice – this is just what I needed!
Thanks, Luke…..really helpful!
Hi Luke
I’ve played bas for about 40 years but only from dots and using the first 5 frets. Having retired, and found your fantastic website I want to play more blues.
I have downloaded the lesson but don’t know how to download the backing track or where to find them in my computer
Also is there a limit on the number of downloads as I need a lot of them. Thank you in anticipation
Dave
Thanks you so much. This was really easy to understand and follow.
Easiest to follow that I’ve found so far. Great lessons and great explanations.
Thank you. The Bass line are good and easy to work with.
Thanks for your great lessons. I really like the way you explain everything.
By any chance do you have a course that lays out each step for us newbies. (I’m a
73 yr. old beginner, if you don’t count the garage band when I was 19). So far, I’ve just been watching random YT videos. Cheers.