I SPY… LET'S SWING!

Hey there, bass players! Just when you thought you knew everything about eighth notes, surprise—we’re not done yet. We’ve smoothed and staccato’d, accented and emphasized. Now, there’s one thing left to do: Make ’em swing!

When playing a walking bass-line, it’s customary to play consistent quarter notes and add accents

Swung eighth notes take on a different character thanks to an underlying triplet feel. While the regular 4/4 straight feel can be subdivided into two eighth notes per beat, the 4/4 swung feel is divided into triplets, or three subdivisions per beat. Swung eighth notes involve playing the first and third of play a four-bar phrase following a I-IV-V-IV chord progression in the key of C. Pedal eighth notes on the root of each chord (C, F, G, F) and try to play them as consistently, or straight, as possible. Then, repeat the chord progression using swung eighth notes. Be deliberate about the feel, and embrace the space between the notes.