———             ——— 
———    BLUES    ———
———             ——— 

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. :[


—————————————————————————————
—— Variation on a Theme #1 ——
—————————————————————————————

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 ...

———————————————————————————————————————————————————
—— 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

How to Read Bass Tabs

Bass tablature (tabs) is an easy way to learn songs without needing to read traditional sheet music. Here’s a quick guide to understanding the symbols and techniques commonly found in tabs:

1. The Basics

Strings and Frets:
Each line in a tab represents a string on your bass:
- The top line is the highest-pitched string (G on a 4-string bass).
- The bottom line is the lowest-pitched string (E on a 4-string bass).
Numbers on the lines indicate which fret to press. For example:
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|---3---------------|
E|-------------------|
            
```
This means you play the 3rd fret on the A string.

2. Common Techniques

Hammer-On (h):
Play the first note by picking it, then press down on a higher fret with another finger without picking again.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------5h7---------|
            
```
Pull-Off (p):
Pluck a note and then "pull off" your finger to let a lower fret ring.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------7p5---------|
            
```
Slide (/ or \):
Move your finger up (/) or down (\) the fretboard while maintaining pressure.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------5/7---------|
            
```

3. Advanced Techniques

Bend (b): Push the string up or down to raise the pitch. Example: G|-------7b9---------|
Vibrato (~): Shake the string slightly after playing a note to create a vibrating sound. Example: G|-------7~----------|
Muted Notes (x): Rest your finger lightly on the string without pressing a fret and pluck for a percussive "click" sound.

4. Rhythm and Timing

Tabs don’t always indicate timing, so listen to the song while reading the tab. Wider spaces between numbers mean longer pauses, while closer numbers indicate quicker notes.

5. Slap and Pop

Slap (s): Strike the string with the side of your thumb for a percussive sound.
Pop (p): Pull the string away from the fretboard and let it snap back.

Practice Makes Perfect

Tabs are a great tool to learn songs, but mastering the techniques takes practice. Listen carefully to the original track and play along to lock in the rhythm. Don’t rush — smooth, accurate playing is more important than speed. Happy jamming! 🎸