Basic 12 Bar Blues In A – The Walking Bass bass tabs
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——— BLUES ———
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Basic 12 Bar Blues in A — the Walking Bass
by: Chunky C
This just so happens to be done in the key of A but you can play this in any
key you like by following the same pattern for the chosen key. The tempos
listed are only sugestions. You should pactice these with a metronome. In
all actuality, you should always pactice with a metronome so that your
timing will always be spot on. Remember, the bass is part of the rhythm
section!
4/4
tempo~ 160 bpm
(A) (D) (E)
G |—————————|—————————| G |—————2—4—|—5—4—2———| G |—————4—6—|—7—6—4———|
D |—————2—4—|—5—4—2———| D |———4—————|———————4—| D |———6—————|———————6—|
A |———4—————|———————4—| A |—5———————|—————————| A |—7———————|—————————|
E |—5———————|—————————| E |—————————|—————————| E |—————————|—————————|
1 2 3 4 ...
Play the pattern thus:
A x2
D x2
A x2
E x1
D x1
A x1
Wash, rinse & repeat.
There are many variations to the 12 bar blues. This just so happens to be the
one that was taught to me by my piano teacher oh so many many years ago. :[
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—— Variation on a Theme #1 ——
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Play each note twice. The first note on the beat and the second note on the
'eh'(1/16th note). The timing should be something like 1 & e 2 & e 3 ...
A tempo of about 120 bpm is a good place to start with this variation.
4/4
tempo~ 120 bpm
(A)
G |——————————————————|—————————————————|
D |—————————2——24——4—|—5——54——42——2————|
A |—————4——4—————————|—————————————4——4|
E |—5——5—————————————|—————————————————|
1 &e2 &e3 &e4 e 1
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
—— Variation on a Theme #2 with an alternate fingering ——
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
(A)
G |—————————|—————————|
D |———————4—|—7—4—————|
A |———4—7———|—————5—4—|
E |—5———————|—————————|
1 2 3 4 ...
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—— Variation on a Theme yet again ... sort of :] ——
———————————————————————————————————————————————————
Eperiment with Staccato, slurs, slides, etc. to liven it up a bit.
Happy walking everyone and keep the low end Rock'in!
Chunk
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced musician, the Basic 12 Bar Blues In A is a staple in the world of music. This timeless piece is played in the key of A major and follows a standard 12-bar blues progression that remains the same throughout the entire song.
What is a 12-Bar Blues Progression?
Before we dive into the bass tabs for the Basic 12 Bar Blues In A, let’s discuss what a 12-bar blues progression is. Essentially, this progression is a chord sequence that lasts for 12 bars or measures. In the context of a blues song, this progression is played repeatedly and serves as the backbone of the song.
The Basic 12 Bar Blues In A follows a simple I-IV-V progression. This means that the chords used in the song are A (the I chord), D (the IV chord), and E (the V chord). In other words, the first 4 bars of the progression are played using the A chord, the next 2 bars are played using the D chord, the next 2 bars are played using the A chord again, followed by 1 bar using the D chord, 1 bar using the A chord, and finally 2 bars using the E chord.
The Walking Bass for the Basic 12 Bar Blues In A
The walking bass is a common bass line technique used in blues music. It involves playing a note on every beat of the measure, while walking up and down the scale in between the primary notes. In the Basic 12 Bar Blues In A, the walking bass line is played using quarter notes and follows the chords of the progression.
Let’s take a look at the bass tabs for the Basic 12 Bar Blues In A:
Verse:
A |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| E |--0---0---0---0-|----0---0---0---|0---0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
As you can see, the first 4 bars of the progression are played using the A chord, and the bass line follows suit by playing the A note on every beat of the measure.
D |----------------|----------------|A---------------|A---------------| A |----0---0---0---|----------------|----------------|----------------| E |--0---0---0---0-|----0---0---0---|0---0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
The next 2 bars use the D chord, so the bass line shifts to playing the D note on every beat of the measure. But notice that in the 3rd and 4th bar, the bass line goes back to playing the A note, following the chord progression.
D |----------------|A---------------|D---------------|A---------------| A |----0---0---0---|2---2---2---2---|0---0---0---0---|2---2---2---2---| E |--0---0---0---0-|----0---0---0---|--------------0-|----0---0---0---|
In the next 4 bars, the A chord is used again, followed by the D chord for one bar. As you can see, the bass line follows the chords accordingly by playing the A note for the first 3 bars, and then switching to the D note for the 4th bar. The progression ends with 2 bars of the E chord, which is played by the bass line using the E note on each beat of the measure.
Why Learn the Basic 12 Bar Blues In A?
The Basic 12 Bar Blues In A is a great song to learn for musicians and bassists of all levels. It’s a foundational piece that is commonly used in many other blues songs, making it a great exercise for building your blues repertoire.
In addition to being a great exercise, the song is also a fun piece to play. The walking bass line gives the song a groovy feel that is sure to get your audience tapping their feet.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to improve your bass skills or add to your blues repertoire, the Basic 12 Bar Blues In A is a great song to learn. With a simple chord progression and a fun walking bass line, this song is sure to keep you entertained for hours on end. So, grab your bass and start practicing!