17 Classic Bass Lines

An small collection of classic Blues Bass Lines, from piano boogie to electric rhumba-blues, from Lightnin' Hopkins to Ray Charles and more. On the transcriptions I used just one key (E) on paper, but of course would be a more than good exercice to play most or all examples on the particular different recordings' keys to begin with. Very recomended!

1. Jimmy Reed/Eddie Taylor "Baby What You Want Me to Do" (E)

2. J.B. Lenoir "Mojo Boogie" (E)

3. Bill Doggett "Honky Tonk" (F)

4. Lightnin' Hopkins "Long Gone" (F)

6. Willie Mabon "Shakin' The Boogie" (C)

7. Little Walter/Willie Dixon "My Babe" (F)

8. Professor Longhair "Go to the Mardi Grass" (Bb)

10. Albert King "Crosscut Saw" (Ab)

11. Freddy King "Hideaway" (E)

  

13. Albert King "Overall Junction" (E)

14. Magic Sam "Just A Little Bit" (Bb)

15. Walter Horton "It's No Easy" (E)

16. Johnny Winter "Sound The Bell" (G)

17. Ray Charles "What I'd Say'" (E)

Lightnin' Hopkins in the 'E position'

Two way different Lightnin' Hopkins' (1912-1982) tunes, both recorded in 1959 for Tradition Records (Youtube links below): "Long Gone", with his familiar walking basses' line in E, and his cover of the famous "See See Rider", where the Texan master replicates the vocal line with the melody on the two first strings. Actual key on the recordings is F, standard tuning with capo in I, on the 1st, "E" position.

Transcription by Jay Bee Rodríguez, first published on SOLO BLUES magazine (1986).

"Long Gone" and "See See Rider" (excerpt)

Youtube "Long Gone" by Lightnin' Hopkins (1959)

Youtube "See See Rider" by Lightnin' Hopkins (1959)

  

 

 

Mojo Boogie (acoustic)

J.B. Lenoir: Mojo Boogie (acoustic)

This is fine beginner's exercice for independence of strings, and also good for rhythm skills on the breaks. The great J.B. Lenoir (1929-1967) recorded this rare acoustic cover of his biggest hit in 1960, produced by his friend Paul Oliver, one of the main historians/writers on the Blues. Recorded key is E, standard tuning. 

Transcription by Jay Bee Rodríguez, first published on SOLO BLUES magazine (1987).

Youtube: "Mojo Boogie" (1960)
 

 

 

MOJO BOOGIE (J.B. Lenoir, 1960)

 

I been to New Orleans and I sure had a wonderful time
I been to New Orleans and I sure had a wonderful time
I was high, high as a Georgia pine.

My auntie carried me all down on Rampart Street
Seen everybody I wanted to meet
She said, JB, son, stop, look and listen to me
They got something knock you off of your feet
Hey got the mojo boogie
The Mojo boogie
Got that mojo boogie, begin to slide on down.

I thought she was talkin' about over in Algiers
I said, "Auntie, please tell me, what did you say?
They got the Louisiana boogie, and all them other kind of things
They even got the thing they call 'the mojo hand'
They got the mojo boogie
The Mojo boogie
They got the mojo boogie, begin to slide on down.

I got one jack, sure is crazy
My aunt forgot to teach me, just how to operate it
I went to a night club, I was squeezing it tight
I believe that's the 'cause of them people's start to fight
Me and this mojo boogie
I had the mojo boogie
Had that mojo boogie, begin to slide on down.