EXERCISE ONE (Audio Clip)

The purpose of a bass player is to play the bass! Meaning that usually we want the bass to play the root of the chords. Let's look at a few examples of rock bass lines:

EXERCISE TWO (Audio Clip)

Another basic but effective idea of a bass line is to use the root and the fifth of a chord:

EXERCISE THREE (Audio Clip)

Then you could add the 7th of the chord:

EXERCISE FOUR (Audio Clip)

Now, let's add the third:

EXERCISE FIVE (Audio Clip)

Let's use more notes from the Mixolydian Mode:

EXERCISE SIX (Audio Clip)

Making a bass line on a Cm7 chord
Using the notes of the chord and the Dorian Mode

EXERCISE EIGHT (Audio Clip)

In examples 1, 2 and 3 of the C7, we didn't use any third. You will be able to use the same bass line for the Cm7. If you play an Eb on the remaining lines, you can use them also for the Cm7. Here are a few more examples:

EXERCISE NINE (Audio Clip)

EXERCISE TEN (Audio Clip)

EXERCISE ELEVEN (Audio Clip)