# Walk-ups and walk-downs

*Module 9 · Lesson 5: Building bass lines · BazzLow*

> Connect two chords with a short scale run.

Before this lesson: [9.4 Passing and approach notes](https://bazzlow.com/en/building-bass-lines/passing-and-approach-notes/)

Sometimes two chords are far enough apart that a jump sounds abrupt. A short run of notes between them can make the change smooth, and add a little energy.

## Walk-ups and walk-downs

A **walk-up** (ascending) or **walk-down** (descending) is a run of scale notes, sometimes chromatic, that leads from one chord’s root to the next one’s. It usually fills the last beats of the bar before the change. It is a kind of **fill**. The run uses the scale of the key, plus chromatic steps where useful. Its length decides when it must start: two notes start on beat 3, three notes on beat 2.

## Examples in C, in 4/4

> **Diagram:** C to F (I→IV), a walk-up: C on beats 1–2, then D E on beats 3–4, arriving on F. Positions: C fret 3 on the A string, D fret 5, E fret 2 on the D string, F fret 3 on the D string.

> **Diagram:** C to G (I→V), a walk-down: C, then B A, arriving on G. Positions: C fret 3, B fret 2, A open on the A string, G fret 3 on the E string.

> **Diagram:** C to Am (I→vi), a walk-down: C, then B on beat 4, arriving on A.

> **Diagram:** C to Dm (I→ii), chromatic: C, then C♯ on beat 4, arriving on D.

Walk-ups and walk-downs add movement without changing the harmony. Use them at section changes, not on every chord.

## Try it

Play C F C G (one bar each) with roots only. Then add a walk-up into F and a walk-down into G.

## New terms

- walk-up
- walk-down
- fill

Page: https://bazzlow.com/en/building-bass-lines/walkups-and-walkdowns/