It’s not just for jazz

Jon Liebman
November 6, 2025

Walking bass. So much fun — and of course, a huge part of playing jazz.

But have you ever realized just how much walking bass shows up outside of jazz, too?

You hear it in blues, rock, pop, and even country — and once you start listening for it, you’ll spot it everywhere.

In this week’s Essence of Groove video, I’ll show you some quick examples of walking bass lines in a bunch of different styles. You’ll see how, even though the feel may change, the basic idea stays the same.

Once you get that concept, you’ll be able to play a walking bass line in just about any style — not just jazz.

Try it out and see how it works for you.

If you’d like to go deeper, I’ve got a ton of walking bass lessons inside the Bottom Line Club — not only a complete jazz course, but also blues, rock, and country lessons that show how walking lines work across styles.

Let me know how you make out.

Let’s play bass!
—Jon