Chord Progressions
Bass Line Progressions (Part 2)Extending the I - V/3 - vi Progression
In ‘Simple Bass Line Progressions’ we looked at the progression
I – V/3 – vi . In the key of D, that would be D – A/C# – Bm. We can extend this progression in different ways:
- I – V/3 – vi – vi/b7 – IV – V
- I – V/3 – vi – vi/b7 – ii – ii/b7 – V
Let’s look at these in more detail. Again, the roman numerals represent the chord (lower case for minors) and the natural number represents the note in relation to the chord being played. Thus V/3 represents the fifth chord in a key, with its 3rd note in the bass; vi/b7 represents the sixth chord (which is minor) in the key with its flatted seven note (a whole step lower than the root note) in the bass. Let’s chart these in different keys – click the boxes below:
Progression 1
I V/3 vi vi/b7 IV V
D A/C# Bm Bm/A G A G D/F# Em Em/D C D C G/B Am Am/G F G A E/G# F#m F#m/E D E E B/D# C#m C#m/B A B F C/E Dm Dm/C Bb C
Listen to this progression in C:
Chord Charts - Progression 1
*Please note, the chord chart for Em/D really represents an Em7 chord. There isn’t an easy way to get the D in the bass line and have it sound well, so I substitute this chord. The chord chart for C#m/B is technically a C#m7/B.
Progression 2
I V/3 vi vi/b7 ii ii/b7 V
D A/C# Bm Bm/A Em Em/D A G D/F# Em Em/D Am Am/G D C G/B Am Am/G Dm Dm/C G A E/G# F#m F#m/E Bm Bm/A E E B/D# C#m C#m/B F#m F#m/E B F C/E Dm Dm/C Gm Gm/F C
Listen to this progression in G:
Chord Charts - Progression 2
Click for PDF
For three printable bass line progression charts, click the button below.
Very helpful. clears up a lot for me.
Cheers. will be back.
Thanks John for visiting! Glad this information is helpful. David
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thanks for the progressions, I just downloaded them to practice at my own time.
thanks for this info, Since im starting playing base guitar.thanks
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There’s my typo! I meant to say, On the first chord chart, you have written vi/b3. I thought that should be vi/b7. Am I missing something here, or is that a typo?
You are 100% correct. I just caught that typo a couple weeks ago while teaching these progressions to some of my students. Also, I play the E/G# and the B/D# a little different than noted, i.e. 476×00 and x69800 (respectively). That actually makes the B/D# a Bsus/D#, but it works.
on the first chord chart, you have written vi/3. I thought that should be vi/7. Am I missing something here, or is that a typo?
Yes, you are absolutely right. First chart should be vi/b7. Thanks