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Falling Bass Lines
Some of the most moving progressions hide their secret in the bass. It simply falls, one step at a time.
In this lesson you'll
- Hear Pachelbel's staircase.
- Slide one note with the line cliché.
- Write a falling bass of your own.
Music in this lesson
- Basket CaseGreen Day · 1994
- MemoriesMaroon 5 · 2019
- SomethingThe Beatles · 1969
- Stairway to HeavenLed Zeppelin · 1971
- My Funny ValentineRodgers & Hart · 1937
Remember
With inversions, the bass can walk down the scale, like Pachelbel's Canon.
A line cliché slides one note by half steps, while the chord stays put.
To write your own, walk the bass down, and pick a chord that contains each note.