Get Started with Swinging Piano Rock Bass Lines!
In this lesson we’ll continue covering patterns for swinging rock piano! These are bass line patterns for your left hand. They really help push the song along and give it energy. These are meant to be played fairly quickly. They can also be fairly redundant because most of the attention is going to be on your right hand. Your left hand just plays a supporting role to drive the music, while your right hand gets the spotlight.
I came up with these notes because they’re notes from the chord. If the chord was C, we could play each of the notes in the C chord, one at a time: C E G. If we do all three at the same time too low on the piano it sounds muddy and has no energy.
Even though some of these are simpler, when I’m trying play and sing at the same time, I’ll use these simple patterns the most! There is just TOO MUCH to focus on in piano to do it all well!
Click on any of the examples to make them bigger!
Example 1: The first bass line you should start with. It outlines the same notes that are in a C chord: C, E, G.
Example 2: has a new note at the end: “A” (C, E, G, A). Fingering: Place your left hand pinky on the C and the thumb on the A
Example 3: is a little different than ex. 2. The notes are C, E, G and A, G. The last two are 8th notes, going twice as fast!
you make it so easy! thanks Chris!
thanks appreciate that you make the keyboard and fingers large and
more visible than other courses
You’ve wrote a very excellent article.
If it’s ok with you, I would like to request permission to use your article as it fits to my obstruction. I will be happy to negotiate to pay you or hire you for this.
With Regards from
Republic Polytechnic
Thanks Chris. I’m enjoying your lessons. Just at the right level for me. Started teaching myself piano a little over a year ago, thinking that fifty is the perfect age to pick up a new instrument. Figure that I’ll be rocking the retirement community.
P.S. I’m a former Seattleite and miss it.