Between 4 and 5 sits one chromatic step — fill it with a dim7 and the bass line does the storytelling. Swap the last chord for 1/5 and you've got the gospel version.
hear it in western swing · gospel service music
Lead-in — how players set it upThe 4 chord arrives normally; the dim7 sneaks in behind it.From 1⁷ — dominant of 4 first, then the chromatic step.Or from 2-⁷: predominant hands off to the walking bass.Follow — where it usually goes5 can cadence, or pass through 5sus first.Delay the landing with a sus before 5 resolves.Or treat 5 as a half cadence — park and repeat the walk.
Walk the bass line in your melody too: 4's root, ♯4, 5 — three chromatic steps sung on top.Target tones (in C)F — lean on A (3)F#°7 — lean on A (b3) · Eb (bb7)G — lean on B (3)Half-step wiresF → F# · F# → G · C ↘ B