Guitar songs to play with walking bass lines/melodies

Cafe Society
1

I recently learned to two songs with good walking baselines or melodies.

Bass line: Needle and the Damage Done

Melody: Like Hurricane

They both happen to be Neil Young songs, but that is likely more of a coincidence than intent… I am open to different musicians and genres, and am hoping the doper guitar players can recommend songs to learn/play on the guitar with similar walking baselines or melodies embedded in the strumming pattern.

2

Dead Milkmen - “Bitchin’ Camaro”

3

“Norwegian Wood” is a nice example of melody embedded in a strumming pattern.

4

Try the Beatles’ “Dear Prudence.”

5

Saw this over the weekend, but didn’t get to posting to it…

Hmm - a few thoughts:

  • Minor nit that doesn’t really matter: I don’t know that I would call what you are looking for “walking bass” - that is a jazz / boogie-woogie term where yes, there is an independent bassline, but it is a specific kind of groove. I think the “official” term is “moving bass notes” or “playing chords with moving bass notes.”

  • I could offer a few songs - in the D / C / G chord family, stuff like More Than Feeling by Boston, Leather and Lace by Henley and Nicks, Fire and Rain, etc. But the real answer is: any song can be played as chords with moving bass notes. Some are arranged that way in the version that is well-known; others can be arranged that way.

  • I Googled “youtube moving bass notes” and found this clip. I suggest that you search on youtube - either on those type of phrases or search on songs you like that are typically played that way - from there, look at the clips youtube shares on the right-hand side; there are typically similar clips, so you can look for ideas there.

6

Thanks for the reply… I wasn’t sure what the correct wording was for the type of song I was looking for, but the two examples I posted made the most sense and song recommendations like “Norwegian Wood” is exactly what I was looking for.

I know there are a ton of theoretical lessons out there, but sometimes it is fun to learn a song that challenges you or introduces you to new riffs or techniques.

7

To be clear: I HATE theoretical lessons. I was only suggesting that you surf youtube for songs you like with that type of moving bass. Or look up songs you know and see what other lessons for other songs Youtube suggests you check out…