Shout Bass Lines on the I Chord

Shout Music is when the congregation really gets fired up. Learning how to shout requires fluency with a variety of shout bass lines…

Here are some “bread & butter” shout bass lines on the I chord in the key of C…

Gospel Shout Bass Line Variation 1

The above may look complicated on the surface, but the pattern is quite simple. Think, hear, and feel the two “target notes”: C (Do) on beat 1 & G (So) on beat 3. The other notes are simply three note chromatic pickups that either ascend or descend into each target note.

Technique Tip: The proper way to walk is to drop the weight of your arm-hand into each note. Try to sound like a bass player thumping out juicy, round, big, fat notes.

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Download Shout Drums Practice Track MP3s

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Gospel Shout Bass Line Variation 2

Think, hear, and feel the “target notes”, C & G and “feed” them chromatically from above or below…

Rhythmic Conception and Interpretation: Feel each chorus as coherent 2-bar and 4-bar ideas, not as isolated notes or four-note segments that end at the bar lines.

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Gospel Shout Bass Line Variation 3

This variation takes part of the ascending line and displaces it one octave lower…

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Gospel Shout Bass Line Variation 4

The entire ascending line displaced one octave lower…

Can you think of some other ways to connect the target notes?

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Frank Improv for your consideration…

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learn more… Gospel School: Shout Bass Lines on the I-IV Chord Progression