Walking bass lines are a fundamental aspect of jazz and blues music, often performed by upright bass players. These lines provide a rhythmic and melodic foundation, guiding the harmonic progression of a piece while maintaining a steady groove. Upright bass, also known as double bass or contrabass, is particularly renowned for its rich and resonant tones, making it an ideal instrument for crafting intricate walking bass patterns.

Whether in a small ensemble or a big band setting, the upright bass player's role in generating walking bass lines is crucial for establishing the rhythmic pulse and harmonic structure of the music, ensuring a cohesive and dynamic performance.

In this online bass lesson, Grammy Award-winning bassist and ArtistWorks jazz instructor, John Patitucci, introduces us to the concept of altered chords, explains what they are and what makes a chord “altered,” and outlines how to navigate them when crafting a walking bass line or improvising.

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Altered chords play a pivotal role in the harmonic language of jazz music, adding depth and complexity to chord progressions. These chords are characterized by the inclusion of one or more altered tones, such as sharpened or flattened fifths, ninths, elevenths, or thirteenths. By introducing these tensions, altered chords create tension and dissonance, which can be resolved in a variety of ways, adding intrigue and color to the music.

In jazz improvisation, musicians often utilize altered chords to inject harmonic interest and create a sense of tension and release within their solos. Whether subtly weaving them into a chord progression or boldly highlighting their dissonant qualities, altered chords are a hallmark of the sophisticated and expressive language of jazz music.

“One of the most difficult things about crafting a walking bass line over altered chords is deciding how to address the harmonic alteration while still keeping the line foundational and grounded for the rest of the ensemble,” explains John. “In this lesson, we’ll be focusing on techniques to accomplish this successfully. It can be done, and will ultimately become second nature.”

To learn more about altered chords and how to navigate them when crafting a walking bass line and improvising, dive into this online bass lesson from John Patitucci:

Walking Bass Lines Over Altered Chords with John Patitucci:

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