Guitar Lab: 100 Walking Blues Bass Line Formulas, Vol. 4
Even More Ways to Master Walking Blues: Quarter-Note Groove, Guide-Tone Craft, and Ear Training
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About this course
Guitar Lab: 100 Walking Blues Bassline Formulas, Vol. 4 pushes your walking-bass playing even further, diving deep into one-bar and two-bar phrases that open up new rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic possibilities. This volume focuses on developing lines that do more than just walk—they outline chords, preview harmonic movement, and add expressive detail inspired by horn phrasing and comping ideas.
Brad Carlton breaks down how fingerings, rhythmic variation, and theoretical awareness work together to create bass lines that sound intentional and musical. You’ll learn how to articulate chord extensions, shape forward motion, and make your lines feel connected across the bar line instead of locked into predictable patterns.
By the end of this course, you’ll have a stronger command of walking-bass construction, a deeper understanding of harmony, and a collection of formulas you can adapt instantly on the bandstand. So grab your guitar, dig into the groove, and let’s play some cool blues bass lines.
Brad Carlton breaks down how fingerings, rhythmic variation, and theoretical awareness work together to create bass lines that sound intentional and musical. You’ll learn how to articulate chord extensions, shape forward motion, and make your lines feel connected across the bar line instead of locked into predictable patterns.
By the end of this course, you’ll have a stronger command of walking-bass construction, a deeper understanding of harmony, and a collection of formulas you can adapt instantly on the bandstand. So grab your guitar, dig into the groove, and let’s play some cool blues bass lines.
Release date: 01/01/2026 • 1h 32m runtime
Sample lessons
8 b7 6 5
Lesson & Demonstration
What's included
18 lessons • 1 charts
100 Walking Blues Bass Line Formulas Vol. 4
I’m Brad Carlton, and this is Volume 4 of 100 Walking Blues Bassline Formulas. In this volume, we’re going to develop all kinds of interesting ideas using one-bar and two-bar patterns—exploring rhythmic variations, fingerings, comping concepts, and even throwing in some horn-style parts. We’ll also dig into the theory behind it all, so you understand how, as a bass player, you can preview the chord, articulate extensions, and create strong, musical movement.
There’s a lot of great material here, so grab your guitar and let’s play some cool bass lines.
There’s a lot of great material here, so grab your guitar and let’s play some cool bass lines.
8 b7 6 5
We’ll start with a classic descending sound that creates smooth resolution into the next chord while keeping the line grounded and musical.
8 7 b7 6
This formula introduces chromatic movement on the way down, adding tension and release that works great in traditional walking contexts.
8 7 b7 5
Here we tighten the phrase and jump directly to the fifth, giving the line a slightly more angular, driving feel.
8 7 b7 3
This variation brings the third into focus, helping you clearly define the harmony while maintaining forward motion.
8 7 b7 1
We’ll resolve straight back to the root, reinforcing the chord while using chromatic motion to keep things interesting.
8 3 6 8 b3 3 5
This longer idea mixes chord tones and blues color notes to create a more melodic, horn-inspired bass line.
+ 11 more lessons
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