The Art of Walking Bass Lines

Juampy Juarez teaches walking bass lines on the guitar — one of the most valuable comping tools there is, especially in duos. With one foot in tradition and one in modern jazz, he shows how to accompany singers, piano players, horn players and other guitarists with real vocabulary and dexterity, working from a simple C blues.

What's covered

• Playing in two — half-note bass lines on roots and fifths that leave space behind a soloist, and counting with the metronome on 2 and 4
• Moving from "in two" to full walking lines as a solo builds intensity
• Chromatic passing notes and "mini walkings" to tie chords together
• Right-hand technique: thumb plus fingers (with or without pick), string muting and vibrato for a more bass-like sound
• Thinking horizontally like a bass player — staying on the low strings and keeping the line melodic
• Walking through the C blues changes (C7, F7, A7, Dm7, G7) with roots, thirds and fifths
• Listening first: why there's no formula — comping is a conversation with the soloist

You'll come away thinking polyphonically — hearing bass and chords (and maybe melody) at the same time — and keeping tempo like a madman. Written materials in standard notation and TAB are included.