Walking Bass Line (ii - V - I)

Want more awesome content? Check my online piano school: www.pianopig.com
This is the first lesson of the Piano Shorties series. We learn a really cool walking bass line that you can use under a 2-5-1. I go over it in the key of Bb major.
You can do so much with this bass line including accompanying other people by adding in a few comping chords over the top, or even accompany yourself by taking a solo whilst keeping that walking bass line going in your left hand. You could also mix and match by comping a few chords and playing a few nice jazz licks here and there.
This is a great introduction for anyone looking to get into jazz and is really fun to play too!
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[@chrispanca1590]

Wow, the feeling at 3:04 is just magical

[@timjohnson2186]

cheers

[@alexsosa266]

That intro progression....Pharoahe Monch - Queens.

[@creativesource3514]

Brilliant......I just played it and it sounds awesome. You are a genius teacher Mr Pig. Now i have to play it in all 12 keys!

[@ItadakiTontaro]

Everytime I hear your intro I feel like I turned on the jazziest version of OoT.

[@Twinkle_Head1]

I love this! Thank you

[@edamdiazvilla4068]

Thank you soooooo much.This is trully a blessing

[@ProfeARios]

Thank you so much for this great lesson!

[@Piano_Pig]

It's my pleasure!

[@maryerickson4442]

I love your voice and you can make anyone wanting to play jazz feel very comfortable about learning!! You are cute!!

[@attiliohollige]

wonderful as usual

[@leonardoernst4390]

Thank you for this excellent exercise ! Great content, congrats !

[@josephvasquez487]

Thanks bro, your an awesome teacher.

[@elementrypenguin3116]

That Bbmaj7 is exhilarating in that chord sequence. Beautiful! Are you adding a 9th to each chord?

[@andrewwright6893]

Brilliant lesson cheers

[@bobpommenville1990]

Well explained! Patiently 👍

[@manvicuk]

Useful. Thank you, Vic

[@carlospiso]

Sensational... Your tutorials, still the best available 🎶🏆

[@globalconcern4995]

Wow! Thank you.

[@alboumcinen5623]

Very nice video! Really looking forward to learn more of walking bass! This is so nice thank you!

[@Piano_Pig]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Walking bass lines are so fun to play :)

[@alboumcinen5623]

PianoPig Yeah Im already having lots of fun!

[@jonfudeman5360]

Great video, very helpful, well done, very clear, right length.

[@keithfeiring844]

What walking baseline pattern should be used. In your other videos you clearly go through and state the patterns: 1,2,3,1/2 step 4, etc. This make it very clear. Appreciate it.

[@xxdfoster]

one of the best vids I've seen in a while

[@matperino]

J'adore ! MERCI ♥

[@davidricardosianipar5615]

Thank you for the video...i hope you share other video tutorials...

[@jacklong1656]

Man I love this

[@tiffdeng1205]

very helpful thank u！

[@edrock26]

Great tutorial!

[@crusaderrjm]

Piano Pig is the best teacher of jazz!

[@Piano_Pig]

Much appreciated bro!

[@SuxessHub]

Great!

[@chachaman4980]

3 oinks for this lesson ! Thx

[@maximilianojimenez5254]

Man i love your channel, Greetings from Mexico

[@Piano_Pig]

Thanks dude! I appreciate that :)

[@mofebright218]

Wonderful😊

[@previewmusicPh]

thankyou mate!

[@jacksonamaral329]

Cool. I'll master it.

[@valeriamendoza7433]

Really great video! Thank you so much!

[@Piano_Pig]

No worries!

[@honeypie6338]

Great lesson! I've always wanted to play like this

[@edilsonboyna6576]

Thanks!

[@harryromenjest187]

wow..this Is so challenging

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Thanks for the link.. I will be using it hopefully this week. I plan to put my most viewed in a play list called cleverly .. most viewed... I am also working on a most needed for beginners. I've posted some really good videos for beginners. Unfortunately people want fancy video editing.. I am different give me usable,, slow, reproducible methods. I like your videos, especially the ones with sheet music.. slowing it down. that's the way to go... saying the notes.. telling what's going on... that's important. I know it takes time to put an informative useful video together. it's appreciated.

[@krswhy]

Very inspiring! Thank you for sharing. - Kris -

[@mircolagatta2906]

Top ! 😎

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

This great love those eighth accents..

[@nehyq1599]

Thanks a lot for great video lessons

[@Piano_Pig]

No worries!

[@mlggodzilla1567]

Synchopations like these haunts my nightmares....they feel like the last boss of a game where you are stuck at lvl 1

[@bismarkaduakwah7309]

Thanks you boss

[@matrox]

I thought the Bass line sucked, until you added the accompaniment.

[@NatandasTeclas]

magic

[@vitorsteuck123]

Lindo. Obrigado, amigo. Abracos do Brasil.

[@OneRequiem123]

thanks man!

[@Piano_Pig]

My pleasure :)

[@saradelosreyes9440]

Thanks

[@Hj4a]

What I missed was learning how to construct a walking bass line, rather than copying one, though I suppose this is a start. Thanks for the video!

[@markbrier8717]

Thank you for your video. I've noticed the great jazz organists rarely move their hand much at all, not even an octave. Also they have this flick (usually the 5th) that no one seem to explain on youtube yet. Good idea for a video???

[@sebastiantorrisi80]

Thank you so much, I will do It every day, and you should know that I play keyboard jazz and blues with a master, my dream Is to become a master of jazz! And I will play with a band in a pub in Milano, in Italy!

[@tobyrobloxmore8250]

TY PP THIS IS WHAT I NEEDZ RIGHTZ NOWZ TY

[@Piano_Pig]

Well that's good to know! :)

[@rorysly906]

Lovely solo and comp

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

measure two goes to B. which is a tritone..( is it for that reason) then a Bb triad up and down, then climbs chromatically in measure 4.. measure five looks like a C min triad.. I haven't watched yet.

[@thomasgale96]

most helpful channel on youtube

[@Piano_Pig]

Thanks man! Happy to hear it 😀

[@josefranciscorojasluna3757]

i like

[@trimutv]

Niiiiiiice 😊😊😊

[@zamianelliott5220]

Thank you for this. Do you have 2 5 1 in all 12 keys exersise?

[@Sean-jp5rm]

I've been working through this but realizing my hand independence is crap. Any tips/advice for being able to do the left hand on autopilot like that while playing chords in your right hand?

[@Piano_Pig]

Practice it separately until it feels comfortable, slow it right down, and check out my video on basic hand independence exercises: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqW9g5iAn6yMgqM

[@masterkuukai6731]

Hi! I took a copy of your walking bass sample in this vid though I didn't follow the notated one. I followed the one you played :D

[@Piano_Pig]

The notation is only there for people who like to have it, I personally think copying other people is the way to go! :)

[@user-gn1bf6yu1t]

Nicely presented. Thank you. I do not have kbrd chops. If you had MIDI files that cover your playing in this video (and other similar videos), they would be helpful and useful as backing tracks to jam with for fun (no commercial use,) I'd purchase them. Just a thought (and a wish.)

[@TheLoneWanderUK]

Great lesson! Any tips for the hand independence? I can only get so far before they stop working

[@beatsbygoldie2383]

Practice. Baseline comes first.

[@lundsweden]

I'm pigging out on Piano Pig.

[@Piano_Pig]

🐷🐷🐷

[@duskboy02]

Great lesson.. Could you reveal what those first five chords of the intro are? Those are delicious. Thanks

[@Piano_Pig]

I made a video explaining how to play them actually! Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmmtanawiL2li6c

[@duskboy02]

Fantastic, thank you!

[@ErsaRamadhan]

Ahh ITS jazz time

[@MixTop416]

Cm7 0:54 F7 0:58 Bb MAJ7 1:03

[@Yeyeyeyeyeyei]

3:15

[@matthewlussier1016]

How do you know which chords to play to accompany the bass line

[@ricplay7890]

I love replacing that second Bb major 7 with the vi (G minor 7), creating a ii - V - I - vi progression. That said, my hand independence is basically non-existent. I realise thats the equivalent of skipping "leg day" for years 😭😭

[@edamdiazvilla4068]

I really would love it if you could find the time to give more lessons on the soloing as u did today.Thnk you Sir

[@uwuplayz9915]

Hi can i request something? Can you make that walking bass in dm7 g7 and c7? Please!

[@junior365go]

can you also show a tutorial lesson on how to make R&B Chords and melody's? in fact, if you can, can you please demonstrate.

[@Piano_Pig]

Good suggestion, I'll add it to my 'to-do' list :)

[@kaonashi4135]

Very cool! It's hard for a beginner :(

[@Aaron-yh1vf]

Great video!! Cm9 - F13 - Bbmaj9, Chords in the beginning incase anyone was interested ;p

[@xxpianoLPxx]

I don't get the chords, since i'm still a beginner. At the beginning the rootnote is played by the left hand, the "voicing" with the right hand. But with the CM7 he added a ninth, on the F7 he just replaced the fifth (C) with a D and also added a ninth. Would those chords then be a ninth chord? Is it just his kind of freedom to not write the 9 or did I miss something when it comes to chord nomenclature? If anyone knows, please help me :) I'm confused

[@catbugparty]

1:23 for the base line

[@obi-wankenobi4959]

What scale did you use to solo?

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

I really like your piano graphics.. I'd like to put your have you main channel link so I can let my subscribers know.

[@Piano_Pig]

Awesome :) Here is the link to the main channel: goo.gl/ArjF6M

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

got it .. thanks

[@mickberry164]

Very nice bass line. Thanks. I'm trying to determine how to construct a bass line. Can you mention how to come up with one? I'd like to be able to make my own, rather than just copy.

[@Piano_Pig]

You need to spend lots of time transcribing bass lines, then you'll start to get an idea of how they are constructed.

[@Kassiusday]

@@Piano_Pig so at least for beginners like it gives me info that is important to take time to learn properly walking bass line concept from there it will be more easy since ... to walk ..,thank you great stuff !!!

[@jordanscote]

Great tutorial! What scale are you using to solo at the end?

[@clevelandplonsey566]

Bb Major. Or maybe it’s 3 modes enharmonically equivalent to Bb Ionian. all of the 251 Cmin7 F7 Bbmaj7 chords are diatonic to Bb major; the 251 is in Bb major. Although over the 25 he might’ve been playing in some kind of F and over the 2 he could have been playing in C Dorian and F mixolydian over F7, the 5- it could be interpreted that way, but these modes have different characters even though they are all the same set of notes which happen to complete Bb major. You’re not really playing the changes rigorously if you think about executing the Bb Ionian character over all three chords

[@emirhanuzum1936]

@@clevelandplonsey566 Dude the fuck have you talked about, wish i could understand. cheers

[@user-gi3ro9rm9k]

I saw you playing 9th chords when you wrote 7. Is there any time where I should or shouldn't do that?

[@Piano_Pig]

Most chords in jazz are just written with a 7, but what this really means is any chord extension the player chooses to play.

[@Davmm96]

I would choose the extension depending on the melody notes.

[@jenniferv]

Wow that was jamming me up too! I'm not used to playing jazz or in Bb, so I was like...what?

[@clevelandplonsey566]

The 9 is fair game in comping... usually and doesn’t clash with what a soloist expects but a Cmaj7 could be thought of as a C Ionian chord or a C Lydian chord like in My Favorite Things in it’s usual Gmajor (determine the mode based on the melody) if it’s a Cmaj7 evincing C Ionian then you shouldn’t extend the Cmaj7 past Cmaj9 to Cmaj9( #11) because that would imply C Lydian. Cmaj11 does describe C Ionian but the F and the E in Cmaj11 creates a difficult tension and the soloist will probably be avoiding the F which is generally a good safe option. However Cmaj9 is okay in both situations unless it contradicts the style you want to invoke at that moment in time- possibly Cmaj9 is too colorful and heavy and not simple enough for a raw blue but really all of music is subjective so unless you’re trying to play conventionally and expectedly you can do whatever you want

[@user-gi3ro9rm9k]

@@clevelandplonsey566 Wow, I remember writing that comment two years ago... It's been so long and I've learned so much now haha

[@StephaneDesire2]

👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@jonathangarcia7376]

What is the tempo for this

[@edwardkeyz6112]

Hi, what Is the scale that you used for improvise In the minute 3:51?

[@Piano_Pig]

I was just using the Bb major scale. I played the chord tones of the chord I was playing (Bbmaj7). I started on the major 7th (A) then played the 9th (C), 7th, 5th (F), 3rd (D)

[@thomasward3309]

Autumn Leaves?

[@user-ze8zp8og2h]

What scale is this it?

[@timothyallen8117]

In the 2,5,1 progression in Bb,would you solo with the c blues scale, or the relative minor of Bb??

[@Piano_Pig]

There are many things one may use to solo with over a II-V-I. The most obvious choice would actually be Bb major. This then goes into modes and creates the dorian, mixolydian and ionian over each chord respectively. However if you wanted an easier approach, (blues scale for example), you would want to be using the relative minor of Bb... which is the G minor blues scale. I will make a video about improvising on a II-V-I soon... keep an eye out for it ;) Hope this helped!

[@timothyallen8117]

PianoPig Yes that helped a lot. I will be looking forward to that next video. Thank you very much!

[@creativesource3514]

@@Piano_Pig Hi PianoPig, I wondered if you have made this tutorial yet? I know you made soloing over a minor 2-5-1 already.

[@TheLoneWanderUK]

Love your videos man you should be protected at all costs, what is the key of the blues scale played at 3:50?

[@TheLoneWanderUK]

I’m guessing A but then I’ve only been playing for 6 months

[@TheLoneWanderUK]

Just want to add I’ve learnt the Walking bass line and it makes me so happy to play, love to you Simon thankyou!!

[@user-ut4hj7kc1t]

You broke my mind with that D in F7 chord

[@m.e44]

Can anybody please tell me why he added a D note in the Cm7 and F7? The D note isnt in the Cm7 or F7.. can somebody please explain the theory behind adding the D in those first two chords.. thanks im a total noob in chord theory

[@Piano_Pig]

D is the 9th of Cm and it's the 13th of F7. So we're effectively turning these chords into a Cm9 and an F13.

[@bigsmoke7629]

4:05

[@kpec3]

I wonder how i progress from here? Should I transpose this to other keys and re learn it?

[@Piano_Pig]

That would be a good idea! Or try to create your own walking bass line over a 251

[@kpec3]

@@Piano_Pig I have been working on this for some days now. I can do it against the drum machine jazz beat at 200. The problem I keep having is that I will play the first half of the first part, but for some reason, forget which one I'm on, and then play the 2nd half of the second pattern. Or vice versa. At 200, there's not much time to make a decision.

[@attackspeed9]

Good stuff but for myself I can't read, so I need it slowed down please.

[@fabioalexjimenez5610]

Áspero

[@eliTUNE]

How do you know what notes to hit for the right hand?

[@marcoevans4349]

He's playing the chord tones notes of each passing chord in the solo. In this video he was playing a 251 in Bb major, so he was playing the notes in BbMaj, FMaj and Cmin (in addition to other nuances). Hope helps

[@cjheng27]

The notes in C minor 7 are C, E flat, G, and B flat. But i noted you had played the notes D and E in the first measure which are outside of that chord.

[@Piano_Pig]

Yes you are correct, but if walking bass lines were limited to chord tones only they would be very boring indeed! The D is actually the 9th of Cm so it could still be seen as a chord tone, and the E was just a chromatic passing note leading to F (the 1st of the next chord). Walking bass lines can play do anything and are certainly not restricted to chord tones, although the accented beats are are quite often chord tones. Hope this helps :)

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Yeah I play bass guitar sometimes. I do some walking base. I've noticed that real jazz players lay a lot of outside notes.. it's really hard to follow, but I would imagine the piano player falls right in step.. As they are country playing altered chords and scales. Which btw I just put up a very unique perfect piano whole tone scale that I made for myself and others. I am using it to try to obtain perfect pitch. I have all the white notes down. I used a free app called functional ear training. it's on play store.. I have had relative pitch from a child but had tried and tried to recognize notes.. failed.. untill I tried it.. I now can hit any white note with eyes blindfolded and know it.. I have never been able to do this. Also if any body wants to know I used an Android version of kinemaster to do that. Really enjoyed your playing here. I get your videos but I don't always comment. I am not to your level yet, but I enjoy what I do.

[@gnefre]

yeah, also on the F7 he play D (4th) and on B flat play C (9th) 😉 great stuff!

[@southpark4151]

4 years later. That's what I just noticed as well. Cm7 should indeed be just C-Eb-G-Bb. I can see PP's extra notes below, which is nice. And also - F7 should be F-A-C-Eb, while the video shows F-A-Eb-D-G, where the 'C' is missing.

[@blusulubu1828]

At 0:54, why is it called Cm7 ? I understand that you play C with your left hand, but you also play the 9th on the right hand, so isn't it a Cm9 ? And at 0:58, same thing, and why do you play a D instead of the fifth, which should be a C ?

[@alexandersanchez4809]

Is there a reason that you use the most convoluted keys? Why not stick to C major for us beginners?

[@SavCorp]

_Ya like jazz?_