Original practice exercise by Basnote
Walking Jazz Bass Line
An original 138 BPM bass exercise in F major: read the TAB, check the chords bar by bar, and download it as MIDI.
- Key
- F major
- Tempo
- 138 BPM
- Feel
- On the beat
- Style
- Jazz
- Length
- 4 bars, 4/4
An original exercise written for Basnote’s Riff Lab: a stylised practice pattern in the spirit of the genre, not a transcription of any recording.
About this bass line
What it trains. A quarter-note walking line through the ii–V–I–vi turnaround in F major, at 138 BPM: Gm7 – C7 – Fmaj7 – Dm7. Each bar names its chord on beat one, moves through chord tones, and uses beat four to approach the next root from a half step below.
How to practise it. Play it slowly enough to hear each chord change before you arrive, then raise the tempo toward the written pace. Keep every quarter note even in length and weight, and check each approach note against the next root.
A common mistake. Rushing beat four. The approach note should arrive on time, not early, or the next chord loses its landing.
Bass TAB (standard 4-string, E A D G)
Walking swing · As written
Key F · 138 BPM · Tuning EADG
h hammer-on · / slide · > accent · (x) ghost note
Gm7
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
G |--------------------------------7-------------------------------|
D |>5--------------8-----------------------------------------------|
A |----------------------------------------------------------------|
E |------------------------------------------------7---------------|
C7
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
G |----------------------------------------------------------------|
D |--------------------------------8---------------/2--------------|
A |----------------10----------------------------------------------|
E |>8--------------------------------------------------------------|
Fmaj7
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
G |----------------2---------------5-------------------------------|
D |>3--------------------------------------------------------------|
A |------------------------------------------------4---------------|
E |----------------------------------------------------------------|
Dm7
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
G |----------------------------------------------------------------|
D |----------------7---------------10--------------/4--------------|
A |>5--------------------------------------------------------------|
E |----------------------------------------------------------------|One bar per block, one column per sixteenth note, counted 1 e & a. Frets show one playable fingering that Basnote picks for a compact hand position; the same pitches can be played elsewhere on the neck. The line sits in Riff Lab’s register, which for some keys is an octave higher than a bassist would usually play it; drop it an octave if it feels high. On a narrow screen the TAB scrolls sideways.
Chords and bass notes, bar by bar
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Bass notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gm7 | ii7 |
|
| 2 | C7 | V7 |
|
| 3 | Fmaj7 | Imaj7 |
|
| 4 | Dm7 | vi7 |
|
Each note shows its name, where it falls in the bar (1 e & a counting) and its role in the chord.
Download the MIDI
Each file is a Standard MIDI file (format 1) with these tracks: bass, guitar comping, piano and drums. The six variations rework the bass line and its backing; key and tempo stay the same.
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As writtenDownload basnote-walking-jazz-swing-as-written-f-138bpm.mid
The reference riff exactly as designed for the style.
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FoundationDownload basnote-walking-jazz-swing-foundation-f-138bpm.mid
Off-beats removed and roots on the strong beats: the learnable skeleton.
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PocketDownload basnote-walking-jazz-swing-pocket-f-138bpm.mid
Ghost notes and a pickup into every chord change, aiming at the groove sweet spot.
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DrivenDownload basnote-walking-jazz-swing-driven-f-138bpm.mid
Doubled subdivision for a busier, past-the-peak version to practise against.
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Half-timeDownload basnote-walking-jazz-swing-half-time-f-138bpm.mid
Stretched to a half-time feel with long low notes holding the pulse.
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Octave liftDownload basnote-walking-jazz-swing-octave-lift-f-138bpm.mid
The back half jumps an octave, turning the riff into a melodic line.