Log In My Account Join Upgrade Premium VIP Beta Tester Free Trial
Menu Search Join VIP Beta Tester Premium
 

Home ❯ Topics ❯ Walk-Ups & Walk-Downs ❯

Cowboy chords and walking bass lines

Lesson #219 • Feb 22, 2019

Video Overview

Instructional PDF 2 pages

Follow along with the print-friendly PDF! It includes all of my notes for this lesson, allowing you to follow along at your own pace. You're free to download, print, and share the PDF across your devices.

Thanks for being a Premium member of Song Notes! Your support makes these lessons possible.

Download PDF

Follow along with the print-friendly PDF!

It includes all of my notes for this lesson, allowing you to follow along at your own pace. You're free to download, print, and share the PDF across your devices.

To download the PDF, upgrade to premium or log in.

Editor’s notes

While practicing Colter Wall’s song “Thinkin’ on a Woman” I found myself taking a detour into this little rhythm figure, which features some cowboy chord walk ups & walk downs between A, E, and D. Combined with some alternating bass notes and some slap strumming, you have yourself one fun little exercise. I’ll teach you how to play it in two ways: one easier, and one a bit more difficult. Either way, quite the fun warm up exercise to mess around with. And for homework, I do very much recommend listening to Colter Wall – he’s a young country artist from Saskatchewan who can write, and sing, one heck of a song.

Easier exercise riff

What makes this one “easy” is that your walkups happen on the quarter notes only. Also, there’s no up-strumming involved. If you get a handle on this one, I suggest trying out the “intermediate” version, which is based on the same chords & melody, but adds a bit more doubled up strumming in a few places (for both the first note of each walkup/walkdown, as well as within the main strums of each chord).

E –––––––––|––––––0–––––––0–––––––0–––––––––––|–––––0–––––––0–––––––0–––––––––––|–
B –––––––––|––––––2–––––––2–––––––2–––––––––––|–––––0–––––––0–––––––0–––––––––––|–
G –––––––––|––––––2–––––––2–––––––2–––––––––––|–––––1–––––––1–––––––1–––––––––––|–
D –––––––––|––––––2–––––––2–––––––2–––––––––––|–––––2–––––––2–––––––2–––––––––––|–
A –––––––––|––0–––0–––––––0–––0–––0–––––––––––|–2–––2–––––––2–––2–––2–––3–––2–––|–
E –0–––2–––|––––––––––0–––––––––––––––0–––2–––|–––––0–––0–––0–––––––0–––––––––––|–
              A                                 E                                
   3 + 4 +    1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  

          –|––––––0–––––––0–––––––0–––––––––––|–––––2–––––––2–––––––2–––––––––––|–
          –|––––––2–––––––2–––––––2–––––––––––|–––––3–––––––3–––––––3–––––––––––|–
          –|––––––2–––––––2–––––––2–––––––––––|–––––2–––––––2–––––––2–––––––––––|–
          –|––––––2–––––––2–––––––2–––––––––––|–0–––0–––––––0–––0–––0–––––––––––|–
          –|––0–––0–––––––0–––0–––0–––2–––4–––|–––––––––0–––––––––––––––3–––2–––|–
          –|––––––––––0–––––––––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–
              A                                 D
              1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

          –|––––––0–––––––0–––––––0–––––––––––|–––––0–––––––0–––––––0–––––––––––|-
          –|––––––2–––––––2–––––––2–––––––––––|–––––0–––––––0–––––––0–––––––––––|-
          –|––––––2–––––––2–––––––2–––––––––––|–––––1–––––––1–––––––1–––––––––––|-
          –|––––––2–––2–––2–––––––2–––––––––––|–––––2–––––––2–––––––2–––––––––––|-
          –|––0–––0–––––––0–––0–––0–––––––––––|–––––2–––2–––2–––––––2–––––––––––|-
          –|––––––––––––––––––––––––––3–––2–––|–0–––0–––––––0–––0–––0–––2–––4–––|-
              A                                 E                                
              1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  

          –|––––––0–––––––––––––––2–––––––––––|–––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––––––||
          –|––––––2–––––––––––––––3–––––––––––|–––––2–––––––––––0–––––––––––––––||
          –|––––––2–––––––––––––––2–––––––––––|–––––2–––––––––––1–––––––––––––––||
          –|––––––2–––––––––––0–––0–––––––––––|–––––2–––––––––––2–––––––––––––––||
          –|––0–––0–––2–––4–––––––––––3–––2–––|–0–––0–––––––––––2–––––––––––––––||
          –|––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–––––––––3–––2–––0–––––––––––––––||
              A               D                 A               E
              1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Same exercise, a bit harder

What makes this variation tougher is a few things. First, you’re doubling up the first note of each walkup/walkdown. Second, you’re adding an up-strum after each full chord strum. I also like to use a bit of palm mute while strumming, in addition to playing the A-major chord with my barred index finger (mute the high E string while doing this). I very much need to get warmed up before I can settle into this one, but I do enjoy it once the blood is fully flowing through my hands. Enjoy!

E –––––––––|–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–––––0–0–––––0–0–––––0–0–––––––––|–
B –––––––––|–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––––––|–––––0–0–––––0–0–––––0–0–––––––––|–
G –––––––––|–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––––––|–––––1–1–––––1–1–––––1–1–––––––––|–
D –––––––––|–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––––––|–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––––––|–
A –––––––––|–0–––––––––––––––0–––––––––––––––|–2–––––––––––––––2–––––––3–3–2–––|–
E –0–0–2–––|–––––––––0–––––––––––––––0–0–2–––|–––––––––0–––––––––––––––––––––––|–
             A                                 E                                 
   3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   

          –|–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––––––|–
          –|–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––––––|–––––3–3–––––3–3–––––3–3–––––––––|–
          –|–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––––––|–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––––––|–
          –|–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––––––|–0–––––––––––––––0–––––––––––––––|–
          –|–0–––––––––––––––0–––––––2–2–4–––|–––––––––0–––––––––––––––3–3–2–––|–
          –|–––––––––0–––––––––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–
             A                                 D
             1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

          –|–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–––––0–0–––––0–0–––––0–0–––––––––|–
          –|–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––––––|–––––0–0–––––0–0–––––0–0–––––––––|–
          –|–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––––––|–––––1–1–––––1–1–––––1–1–––––––––|–
          –|–––––2–2–2–––2–2–––––2–2–––––––––|–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––2–2–––––––––|–
          –|–0–––––––––––––––0–––––––––––––––|–––––––––2–––––––––––––––––––––––|–
          –|–––––––––––––––––––––––––3–3–2–––|–0–––––––––––––––0–––––––2–2–4–––|–
             A                                 E                                 
             1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   

          –|–––––––––––––––––––––2–––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––0–––––––––––––––||
          –|–––––2–––––––––––––––3–––––––––––|–––––2–––––––––––0–––––––––––––––||
          –|–––––2–––––––––––––––2–––––––––––|–––––2–––––––––––1–––––––––––––––||
          –|–––––2–––––––––––0–––––––––––––––|–––––2–––––––––––2–––––––––––––––||
          –|–0–––––––2–2–4–––––––––––3–3–2–––|–0–––––––––––––––2–––––––––––––––||
          –|–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–––––––––3–3–2–––0–––––––––––––––||
             A               D                 A               E
             1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Playing A-major with a single finger

Check out this video I made on this helpful technique, that can be used with this warmup exercise:

Unlock My Secret Stash!

Gain instant access to my library of 244 print-friendly cheat sheets! Also includes my extended video lessons, jam tracks, courses, and more.

Join Song Notes Premium

Have questions? Watch video tour »

Browse Related Lessons

Click any tag below to view other lessons I've made in that category:

Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!

Most of the lessons on my website are 100% free. If you have the means, please show your support with a tip jar contribution. I put many hours into every lesson — but it only takes you a minute to make a donation. You have my thanks!

Donate

Looking for More Song Lessons?

Recently Added
Most Popular
Beginner-Friendly
Browse by Artist
Browse by Song Title
Browse by Song Year

Featured Courses

Strumming & Rhythm

While your left hand is busy learning chords, your right hand has its own job: creating a sense of rhythm with strumming! This can be tricky at first, but there's so much fun-to-be-had once you get over the hump. Here's a guide to get you started.

17 lessons

View

Fingerstyle & Travis Picking

Dive into the basics of fingerstyle guitar, with plenty of examples of riffs, exercises, and songs that put this technique to use. This includes a healthy serving of Travis Picking lessons, which feature an alternating bass note played with your right thumb.

31 lessons

View

Blues Starter Kit

A guide to must-know elements of beginner blues guitar! I'll walk you through the essential topics, showing you fun things to play along the way.

18 lessons

View

Reading Music for Guitarists

Learn to read tabs, chord charts, fretboard diagrams, strumming patterns, and more! This course explains how to understand all of these must-know notation styles.

6 lessons

View

Learning Lead Guitar

A collection of videos teaching you licks, riffs, solos, and other lead guitar techniques! Includes info on scales, CAGED shapes, and other helpful lead guitar concepts.

24 lessons

View

Beginner Chord Guide

A guide to the must-know chords you'll need when getting started with guitar! The quickest way to learn major chords, minor chords, the chords in each key, and more.

22 lessons

View

Practical Music Theory

A general overview of must-know theory concepts. The goal here is practical, easy-to-understand explanations — all of which provide clarity to your everyday guitar playing.

12 lessons

View

Using a Capo

Capos are incredibly helpful if you want to play along with your favorite artist, change a song's key, adjust things to your vocal range, and so on. In this series of videos I explain all this & more!

8 lessons

View

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Interactive fretboard map! See the patterns behind every scale in any key.

View

Capo Captain

An easy way to calculate key & chord combinations, for any capo location!

View

Key Master

See and hear the notes, chords, scales used in each of the most common keys.

View

Blank Tabs

Free PDF templates to download, print, and write out your own guitar tabs!

View

Coming soon is Jambox – which shows all the video jam tracks I've made. It's note quite ready for the spotlight, but check it out if you like!

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!

Recent Lessons

  • November 15, 2024

    "Scarlet Begonias" by Grateful Dead

    Let's dive into the 1974 classic from the Dead, with an acoustic-friendly arrangement using Key of G chords! I also show how you can include the catchy riffs wherever they occur, which is great way to channel the full spirit of this song.

  • November 12, 2024

    Does CAGED Help When Learning Songs?

    A quick audience Q&A video, where I talk about how CAGED helps (or does not help) when learning songs. Featuring the main riff from Scarlet Begonias by the Grateful Dead, which I'll be teaching soon!

  • November 8, 2024

    Rhythm Deep Dive: "Guitar Town" by Steve Earle

    Watch the process of me transcribing the rhtyhm of an incredibly tricky song! All shown in real time, in writing. Featuring "Guitar Town" by Steve Earle.

  • Nov 1, 2024

    Website Tour – November 2024

    A look at the state of the Song Notes website, as of November 2024. I've been working on more than just new lessons... check out the latest updates here!

  • Oct 24, 2024

    "Fast Car" - Strumming & Rhythm Guide!

    I've gotten a ton of emails asking how to strum Fast Car — here's a lesson showing 3 possible approaches! You can strum the whole song using what I teach, or combine this with the fingerstyle riff from lesson #494.

  • October 18, 2024

    CAGED - It's More Than Just Chords!

    Learn how each CAGED shape contains not only a chord, but also an arpeggio, pentatonic, and full diatonic scale! This is a must-know realization that'll level up any practice you do with these shapes.

  • October 3, 2024

    Kris Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee"

    In honor of Kris Kristofferson's passing, here's a brand new play-along cover of his 1971 classic Me and Bobby McGee – with some updated strumming tips included.

  • September 27, 2024

    Paul Simon Fingerstyle with "59th Street Bridge Song"

    Let's dive into Simon & Garfunkfel's 1966 hit, where I'll walk you through several ways to tackle Paul Simon's Travis-style fingerpicking.

Browse All Recent Lessons →

← back to homepage