How to Play Blues Bass (in 5 Levels)

Wanna get started with blues bass? These stupidly simple exercises will take you from basic fundamentals to off-the-cuff improv mastery.

If you're fixin' to get your dancin' fingers on that blues bass, you've come to the right place. This here video's gonna take you on a journey through five layers of true-blue, down-home bass lines.

We'll start at level 1, where we'll getcha to lay down the groundwork o’ dem fundamentals, and we'll climb all the way up to level 5, where you'll be strummin' and thumbin' your way through free-wheelin' improvisations…

*clears throat*

Oh sorry, Josh here, possessed by Willie Dixon. What I meant to say was…

Blues bass f**king rules. In this video, you’ll learn:

- The fundamentals of blues bass.
- The I-IV-V progression.
- How to use chromaticism to add spice.
- How blues inspired a trillion famous “rock” songs.
- How practicing blues bass can help you learn music theory.
- How to play real blues songs.
- How to break out of the “blues box”
- How Tommy Shannon’s playing set a rock solid foundation for Stevie Ray Vaughn
- How to impress old dads at the local blues jam.

#BluesBassLesson #BassBuzz

[BassBuzz]

Who’s your favorite blues bassist? 🎸 🕶

[Tragic_TV]

I thought you would like to know that I won best bassist at battle of the bands yesterday. Thanks for everything Josh!

[ElDami]

Just wanted to say that Beginner to Badass is an amazing course, and Josh is an incredible teacher. Thanks man

[Fortnite]

Your videos are unreal. I have learnt bass so quickly. You are a master teacher. Thank you

[scottstanley]

I have to say that your video quality has gone way up over the years. I dig that you provide genuinely free resources for practicing what your videos cover. Thanks for existing and helping to promote bass learning!

[ruthespiritu]

The “Shuffle” is actually a bass rhythm in Taiko (Japanese drums). Which makes sense. The person who popularised modern taiko playing is a Jazz musician :)

[ArleyMcBlain]

the perfect sounding use of a Squier bass makes your stuff so accessible. when i was getting started twenty years ago everyone was using high end gear always. great stuff.

[TPT]

The Blues is THE reason I picked up the bass. Fortunately, I know enough theory to understand what you were saying! This is a great condensed version of exactly what I want to learn...sent along a little $ because I do love all the BassBuzz free stuff and this video especially deserves support! THANKS!!!❤

[YWHsDaughter]

A beginner at 50+ and this is just what I needed to help me understand. Thank you!

[Gregor]

I like Donald Dunn, not a pure blues player but his lines are blues style bass lines. Solid, solid, solid.

[phelinephrenzy]

Haha! The drunk lady inching closer to the stage!! That's so real. 😂

[christimko]

Started playing around with the bass when I was 23… bought a couple beginner books, learned all by ear, which is good as long as you play every day… flash forward I’m 59 now and decided try and learn correctly! Thank you for the inspiration, this video is perfect, I will memorize it front and back!!!✌️❤️🤙

[phelinephrenzy]

Damn! I tried playing with a blues band about 35 years ago. I bored myself to death and went back to metal and rock. Had I known what you are teaching in this video, I may have tried with another band. I also found blues bass players had to stay in the shadows and let the egos of the lead guitarist and vocalist shine. Especially if you're a female bass player. I hated that!
Thank you for this video. It's inspirational and gives creative encouragement. Plus, now I have some patterns that can be added to my freestyle rock and metal. You really are a Bass God!! 🖤🤘🤘🤘🤘🖤

[suesaraswati]

Thanks again to Josh for the Beginner to Badass Course. I went from complete newbie to playing in the pub, in 3 months. You are a great teacher Josh, I can't wait for your next course.

[bozzerwolf]

Perfect! Exactly what I was looking for to exercise more, thank you Josh. I've started B2B in November and now I'm in Modul 12, My Sharona. 👌🤘

[allgems]

This is a solid way to learn a lot of the concepts of being a good blues Bass player.

[StevenClubb-uwzl]

Thanks so much for putting these out. Only been playing four months and your videos are such a great help.

[jonhillman]

josh is so good at breaking things down into understandable chunks. i wish he could have my high school and university math classes.

[tark]

After a month i took my guitar and opened youtube to search literally "blues bass" and before searching i just saw this in my homepage uploaded just now and i think it happened a couple of times before with this channel only. Are u a wizard sir?

[CotalCosta]

No kidding, tomorrow I'm going to pick my first bass cause I want to understand blues better (I'm a harmonica player). You're a blessing!