Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello to the 4 (and 5) stringers on the forum. I'm a guitarist who sometimes plays bass. While I can avoid the sounding like 'a guitarist trying to play bass', I am sorely lacking in bass basics. So...

In a song of mine called 'Your Topography' I have been faking a bass walk over the verse chords (on guitar) during the break.
The chords are: Em - B7 - Am - G - Em - B7 - Am - G

My walk sounds accurate from the E to B7 then I get a bit lost.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Can you give us the specific notes you're playing, up to the point where you get stuck? Please note octaves when helpful.

Feel of the song would certainly help too. Also, how long between chord changes. Are you playing quarter notes or 8th notes in between chords?

Let's assume 4 notes per chord (actually, playing this in 2 would seem more natural to me):

Em - B7 - Am - G - Em - B7 - Am - G

Starting on the middle E (second fret D string):

Ascending on Em: E, G, B, (back down to the orig) E
B7: (up a step from the note E for) F#, B, F#, F (3rd fret D string)
Am: (descend from 2nd fret D string): E, D, C, A
G: (back up a bit to) D (open D then down arpeggio), B, G, F#
Em: E (low E), G, B, D (then half step up to)
B7: D#, (ascend) F#, B (4th fret G string), Bb
Am: A (2nd fret G string; descend) E, low A, Bb
G: B (descend), G (low G), (up octave) G, F#
Em: E (same as first pitch)

Alternate last two chords:

B (descend), A, G, F#
Em: E (octave below first pitch)


A note on walking bass: While it can be done on any chord progression, it generally works better on chord changes that have some somewhat more conventional tonal movements. In your tune, the B7 to Am presents a somewhat awkward change. Your tune is in G major, and to have a V of VI followed by a II; it's just unconventional, and that's OK, but it presents a bit of a challenge for walking bass. But your changes are fine! I'd be happy to offer more if you have questions.

Good luck w/ basslines; they're much more difficult than guitar, you know!

"Walk It Out"...

Thanks everyone.

I'll get around to tabbing my work so far. This song NEEDS a cool walk in this break section.