Add grit, soul, and attitude to every rock and blues bass groove
Jon Liebman
October 2, 2025

Did you know you can make your bass lines sound a lot bluesier just by inserting the flat 3rd?

That’s exactly what happens when you play that note. Even if the song is in a major key, slipping in the flat 3rd instantly gives your playing more grit, more soul, and that unmistakable rock and blues vibe.

In this week’s Essence of Groove video, I’ll show you how it works. We’ll start with a simple root–5–flat7 groove, then add the flat 3rd so you can hear the difference right away. Then I’ll play a few examples for you — from a shuffle feel to rock, soul, and even a funky twist — so you’ll see how this one note shows up in all kinds of music you already know and love.

You’ll learn why the flat 3rd works even when the key is major, and how it fits right into the sound of rock and blues.

Watch the video, then leave a comment below with your takeaways.

Let’s play bass!
—Jon