Learn Shuffle Blues Bass Ideas

[greghagger]

There's a very interesting documentary called 'Gunsmoke Blues' that was made by the film crew who were shooting the Western drama series, 'Gunsmoke' at that time. It features Muddy Walters, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner and George 'Harmonica' Smith. It's a real piece of classic Blues history.

 

There's a really great shuffle Blues version of 'Early One Morning' by Big Mama Thornton in the documentary. Calvin 'Fuzz' Jones is on bass for most of the gig but Big Mama has her own bass player, Bruce Sieverson in her band who plays this song. He's playing a really solid shuffle bass line that’s based on a very useful pattern that you gotta know if you want to play Blues.

 

In my latest YouTube video I break down this bass line and show you how to use shuffle 8th notes to enhance basic Blues bass riffs. This is a superb pattern to get 'under your fingers' and a useful one for Blues jam nights.

 

Enjoy!