Hi @bvvarma , what Justin is going for here is a transition that involves a run of 3 bass notes, the last of which is the root note of the 2nd chord. For example, for G to C, you’d have something like G – strum – A – B – C – strum … (I suppose this is 4 bass notes, including the first G).
So, to achieve this you need 2 intervening notes between the root notes of the two chords. You describe something like C - strum - B - A - A - strum (I guess), which may sound fine, but it doesn’t give the same feel as the 3-note descending run. Hence Justin plays B - Bb - A as the run for the C → Am transition.
Thank you so much @jjw, that was a helpful explanation. Had a follow on question if you dont mind. In that example of C to A, i assume “theoretically” we could also play C-Bb-B-A instead of C-B-Bb-A. Is that correct? The former does sound better and is easier with the chord transition, was wondering if there’s some tips or thumb rules to consider when deciding the order.
The run of bass notes would typically go in ascending or descending order. C-B-Bb-A is monotonically descending (i.e. each note goes down from the previous one). C-Bb-B-A is not, since C to Bb is a full tone down, then Bb to B jumps back up a semitone, then B → A is back down a full tone.
Having said that, neither one is “correct” and you should play what you like and what you think sounds good.
Thanks for the lesson! Working the C to G… almost went crazy… trying to get fingers on the next chord after the fill… took a breather… tried again, and again… then BAM! It hit and heard the nice sound!
Just started to explore this in detail again. I think there is another way using passing chords rather than single notes, but don’t think Justin has covered this as far as I can see. Am I right about that?
Michael
This lesson was so awesome. Having a blast just exploring different ideas of changes with chords. I love that acoustic folk sound and this gives me ideas on how I can keep improving that
Hey Hey, My My by Neil Young is a fantastic song that relies heavily on linking chords with the scale. It’s also great for practicing minimal movement and sounds good on acoustic.
Chord progressions:
Am → G → Fmaj7 with open A bass
C → Em7 → Am
Rhythm and scale linking left as an exercise, although I’m pretty sure Justin has a video lesson on this song.
and I started (i Think) with Hallelujah and in the video from Justin he starts that song that way that short and simpel … then Country roads , and uh well it’s early here and I’m usually sharp and clear and I thought I’d name 5 or 6 but I’m empty…
Hey @c20f1989, this technique fits really well with country and (at times) folk songs. I’m not sure how often Justin includes these bass runs (this is the terminology I learned when starting out) in his song tutorials, but you can insert them yourself whenever you think it sounds good.
It works especially well when the underlying strum pattern is a boom-chicka, boom-chicka pattern, like D DU D DU. Looking at Justin’s song page here are a few I think you could apply the bass runs to (I’m sure there are more):
Virtually any Johnny Cash song
This Land is Your Land
Jambalaya
Bad Moon Rising
You could use it for songs like Me and Bobby McGee or City of New Orleans, many Hank Williams songs, Mama Tried, On The Road Again, Blowin’ in the Wind. Any sort of medium tempo simple country-style song would be a good candidate.
Generally speaking for bass walks, do you use the notes of the scale corresponding to the key the chords are in (i.e. C major scale for a C/F/G progression) or do you use the notes of the scale corresponding to the chord you’re moving to (i.e. G major scale when going F to G, F major when going C to F)?
When first learning using the Scale of the Key is the easiest. But you can Chromatic scale notes or the scale of the chord you’re going to.
You’ll get to a point where you just use your ears and follow the “If it sounds Good it is Good” formula
