Alternating bass

[David S]

One thing I struggle with is alternating bass. Could Brian please construct a lesson around a fingerstyle blues that will allow us to practise alternating bass in a simple form – I feel mastering this will open the door to many treasures!

[GnLguy]

Hi David
The alternating bass can be a challenge at first and proper instruction is a must

I learned by using a book entitled The Art of Contemporary Travis Picking by Mark Hanson. It’s about $20 and I can’t recommend it enough – Mark breaks it down one step at a time with patterns that he expands.
He has a second volume that is a good follow up – Solo Style Travis Picking.

Mark’s website is accentonmusic.com

Keith
aka GnLguy

[JoLa]

Here are a few lessons where Brian teaches alternating thumb technique aka Travis picking or Chet Atkins style:

EP057
EP117
EP202
EP550
ML003
LEG031

🎸JoLa

[sunjamr]

As Jola says, the lessons are already there. So now consider this: There are two kinds of thumb bass lines, single-thumbing and double-thumbing. Single-thumbing – the most common type – plays bass on beats 1, 2, 3, 4. Double-thumbing plays 1, and, 2, and, 3, and, 4, and. Like this:

Try it sometime.

Sunjamr Steve

[Richard G]

Hi David,
I’ve just picked up your request from last week about Alternating Bass.
I have assumed that you mean an Alternating Thumb or Travis Picking as used in fingerstyle techniques.

Well, further to the excellent comments above, if you are starting this style, there are a number of good online lessons which vary in complexity. One of the easiest to start with is this one from Don Ross.

Moving on, you could try ‘The Legendary Picking Pattern’ from Paul Davids and ‘4 Steps to Fingerstyle’ from Tommy Emmanuel.

These are all starter lessons and need some patience to get the thumb and fingers working independently. However any real time you spend here, I can vouch, will reap many rewards in your future playing.

Richard

[David S]

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice. I am working on EP057, Chet Atkins Finger Style Blues, which seems to be a manageable introduction.

[Author]

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