In this lesson we’ll look at a number of song examples where a passing note (and sometimes filled out to be a chord) has been used to create a bass line in a chord progression. Are there other songs that come to mind that are like this too? Let us know in the comments below.
Once you’ve mastered the basic strumming patterns, plucking the bass note and adding a strum pattern is the next step, which is what you’ll be learning in this lesson.
After you’ve mastered this lesson, add another note to the root note, and start alternating between I and V!
Example #1
For the “C” chord, you start off by picking the 5th string, 3rd fret which is your “C” root note, then follow with the whole chord.
For the “Em” chord, you start off by picking the 5th string, 2nd fret which is your “B” note (5th note in the Em scale), then follow with the whole chord.
For the “Am” chord, you start off by picking the open 5th string, which is the “A” root note, then follow with the whole chord.
For the “G” chord, you start off by picking the 6th string, 3rd fret which is your “G” root note, the follow with the whole chord.
Example #2
For the “C” chord, you start off by picking the 5th string, 3rd fret which is your “C” root note, then follow with the whole chord. Then pick the 6th string, 3rd fret which is your “G” note (5th note in the C scale), then follow with the whole chord.
For the “Em” chord, you start off by picking the 5th string, 2nd fret which is your “B” note (5th note in the Em scale), then follow with the whole chord. Then pick the open 6th string, which is your “E” root note, then follow with the whole chord.
For the “Am” chord, you start off by picking the open 5th string, which is the “A” root note, then follow with the whole chord. Then pick the open 6th string, which is your “E” note (5th note in the Am scale), then follow with the whole chord.
For the “G” chord, you start off by picking the 6th string, 3rd fret which is your “G” root note, the follow with the whole chord.Then pick the 5th string, 2nd fret, which is your “B” note (3rd note in the G scale), then follow with the whole chord.
