Bass and Chords

How to Practice

1. 1Use the pick to play bass notes on beats 1 and 3.
2. 2Use fingers (i, m, a) to pluck chord voicings on beats 2 and 4.
3. 3Create a walking bass line with the pick while comping chords above.
4. 4Practice simple II-V-I progression first (Dm7-G7-Cmaj7).
5. 5Focus on smooth voice leading between chord voicings.
6. 6Keep bass notes steady while adding chord punctuations.

Tips & Techniques

• •Think of your picking hand as two separate instruments - bass and piano.
• •The pick plays the role of a bass player - steady and grounded.
• •Fingers add harmonic color like piano comping in a jazz trio.
• •Listen to Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, or Ted Greene for examples.
• •Start with simple two-note voicings before attempting full chords.