Alternating Bass (Guitar Lesson)

Chapter 1: (00:19) Lesson Introduction Steve gets things started by playing through a fingerstyle arrangement of the children's tune "Paw Paw Patch." Chapter 2: (12:31) Alternating Bass and Paw Paw Patch Steve uses the song "Paw Paw Patch" to demonstrate how an alternating bass line can be applied to a simple chord progression.

The Chord Progression

The chord progression consists of a simple C (I) to G7 (V7) vamp. A vamp is a short chord progression that repeats several times. However, additional melody notes are added to the basic structure of these chords throughout the tune.

Applying the Alternating Bass Pattern to C Major

The thumb always plays the bass line in an alternating bass pattern. The thumb carries out a specific job on each beat of the measure. An analysis of this thumb pattern is listed below.

Beat 1: Thumb plays the root note of the chord (C)

Beat 2: Thumb plays the third, or the chord is strummed

Beat 3: Thumb plays the fifth of the chord (G)

Beat 4: Thumb plays the third, or the chord is strummed

Practice this pattern along with the C major chord shape. You may find it useful to isolate the right-hand pattern with open strings. When the right hand pattern becomes second nature, add the left hand back in.

Applying the Alternating Bass Pattern to G7

Over this chord, Steve alternates between the root and fifth only. He does not usually include the third of the chord in the bass pattern when playing over G7. Follow the directions listed for C major when applying an alternating bass line to a G7 chord. The root and fifth of a G7 chord are G and D respectively.

Alternating Bass Exercise

Practice these bass lines within the context of a chord progression. Steve plays through this exercise at 02:10 in the lesson video.

Paw Paw Patch Pattern

A. Proper Right-Hand Fingering

Once you have mastered the simple alternating bass pattern played by the thumb, it's time to add accompaniment notes played by the remaining fingers. Remember the basic right hand rules of fingerstyle when adding these notes. The thumb plays all notes on the three bass strings. The first finger plays on the third string. All second string notes are played by the middle finger. The ring finger plucks all notes on the first string. You will learn when and why these rules can be broken in future lessons. For now though, do not deviate from these important right hand rules.

B. Adding Melody Notes

Melody notes can be added to the treble strings of each chord. Watch Steve at 08:30 in the lesson for a demonstration. At first, learn and practice the melody by itself. Once you have it memorized, add the alternating bass line back in.

Playing Through Paw Paw Patch

Once you have mastered these basic exercises, you are ready to take on "Paw Paw Patch."

Note: Notation and tablature to Steve's fingerstyle arrangement of "Paw Paw Patch" can be found

Pay careful attention to which string the melody is played on at all times. Remember that the melody of the song is sacred. It must clearly stand out from the bass line. For this reason, alternating bass lines are frequently palm muted. Playing with a thumb pick enables guitarists to palm mute bass notes within a fingerstyle arrangement. Chapter 3: (03:22) Final Thoughts Your thumb must be on auto-pilot in order for the other fingers to play a melody line at the same time. As you play through the song, sing through the melody in your head. This will help your fingers move to the right locations as they fret the melody line. Break the melody up into its individual phrases to learn the song in the most efficient manner possible.

After you have mastered the basic alternating bass line, begin to apply it to other songs that you have learned. For example, try to apply the bass concepts from this lesson to the chord progression in "Freight Train." Then, begin to incorporate the melody with the other fingers.

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