How to Play Walking 12 Bar Blues on a Bass

You've heard this progression in countless rockabilly, blues, country, and even jazz songs. Here's how to play it:

G--------------------------------------]

D------0-2-3-2-0-------0-2-3-2-0----2--]

A----2----------2---2-----------2-3----]

E--3--------------3--------------------]

G--0-2-3-2-0----------------------]

D------------2-----0-2-3-2-0-2----]
A----------------2-------------2--]
E--------------3------------------]

G--------4-----0-2---------------------]

D----4-7-----2-----5-3-2-----3-4-5-----]

A--5-------3-------------5-------------]

E--------------------------3-----------]

This is a walking bassline in the key of G. You can transpose this progression to make it fit any key. To add a
swing to groove (as you might need in subgenres of blues like the Texas Shuffle), you can try this:

G------------------------------]

D--------5---0-2-3-2-0---------]

A----------2-----------2-------]

E---2h-3-----------------3-----]

It is slightly more complicated, as it involves a hammeron and an octave. Use the same progression as shown in the above tablature to use this pattern, and try playing it with a swing feel to it. You can contruct your own walking basslines by using chromatic progressions to "walk" the tonic notes based on the I-IV-V chords of a key.