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Tool # 3: The “Staircase” Technique

Most guitarists use only the “stitch” technique, but don’t use this one, and you need this
one to really get the right sound.

This “scale wise” motion really gives it that “walking” sound and will sound good 99% of
the time. Don’t think about what “scale” it is, because it’s not based on a scale even
though it looks like one.

It’s more as if we “connected” the dots between the roots and voila - a step wise line
seemed to work out perfectly!

In the E blues which follows, we’ll have a few II V I progressions, so this concept is
important as a lead=up to the blues bass line.

Think about the shape and direction of the lines!

connecting notes - not a scale! connecting notes - not a scale! Root

Root Root

This ASCENDING line walks up step by step, yet it hits all the chord changes!

This will offer GREAT counterpoint to whatever is going on in the melody / solo.

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connecting notes - not a scale! connecting notes - not a scale!

Root Root Root

This DESCENDING line walks down step by step, yet it hits all the chord changes!

This will offer GREAT counterpoint to whatever is going on in the melody / solo.

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Walking Bass Line on E Blues (2 Choruses)

Be sure to practice along with the MP3 backing track! Get a nice FAT tone on the guitar for this!

Blues Chorus #1 Green text = Left Hand Fingers

0 1 2 3 2 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3

4 -4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 4 2 3 2 3 2

1 -1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 2 1 -4 3 2 3 2

Blues Chorus #2
1 1 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 0 3 1 0 1 2 3

0 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 4 2 2 1 4 3 1

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4 -1 2 3 4 1 -3 2 1 4 3 2 1 0 3 1

You may then repeat from Chorus #1 since it starts on Low E.

Get this so you can sing it, play it and even try improvising with these sounds.
When you are ready try it in other keys.

Enjoy the journey! - Adam

http://studywithadam.com Fingerstyle Guitar Lessons with Adam Rafferty