67.92Apply it to “Mack the Knife”

This tune is perfect for bass-driven variation.

Chorus 1: two-beat roots/fifths.

Chorus 2: walking bass.

Chorus 3: chromatic approach lines into structural roots.

Later chorus: pedal underneath one phrase for surprise.

Final: rising bass into modulation.

The harmony can remain largely recognizable while the bass itself creates escalation.