To play a bass arpeggio, play the notes of a chord one at a time, usually the root, the 3rd, the 5th, and the octave, in a pattern, across the strings. A C major bass arpeggio is C, E, G, C, played with the index and middle fingers, alternating, and it makes the bass line flow, instead of just playing the root.
How do you play bass arpeggios?
To play a bass arpeggio, play the notes of a chord one at a time, usually the root, the 3rd, the 5th, and the octave, in a pattern, across the strings. A C major bass arpeggio is C, E, G, C, played with the index and middle fingers, alternating, and it makes the bass line flow, instead of just playing the root, because the arpeggio outlines the chord, and the bass line is the harmony, and the harmony is the chord, and the arpeggio is the chord, played one note at a time, and the bass line is full, with the notes of the chord, not just the root. Bass arpeggios are the bass player's vocabulary, because they let the bass outline the chord, and the song, without just playing the root, and the bass line is more interesting, and the harmony is clearer, and the music is fuller, because the bass plays the chord tones, and the chord tones are the harmony, and the harmony is the song. The arpeggio is played with the index and middle fingers, alternating, plucking the strings, and the fingers alternate, so the playing is fast, and even, and the notes are clear, and the bass line flows, instead of being choppy. The C major bass chord and the G major bass chord are the chords most players first arpeggiate, and the metronome keeps the beat steady.
How bass arpeggios work
A bass arpeggio works by playing the notes of a chord, one at a time, in order, across the strings, so the chord is heard as a sequence, and the bass line is the harmony, spread out, over time. The C major arpeggio is C, E, G, C: the root, C, on the A string, 3rd fret, the major 3rd, E, on the D string, 2nd fret, the perfect 5th, G, on the D string, 5th fret, or on the E string, 3rd fret, and the octave, C, on the G string, 5th fret, and the notes are played one at a time, with the index and middle fingers, alternating, and the arpeggio flows, up the strings, and the bass line is the chord, outlined, note by note. The arpeggio is the shape of the chord, on the fretboard, and the shape is the same, for every chord, moved to the root, because the bass is tuned in fourths, E, A, D, G, and the intervals are the same, and the shape moves, and the chord changes, and the bass line follows the chords, playing the arpeggio of each one, and the music is the chords, outlined, by the bass. The D major bass chord and the A major bass chord are the chords the arpeggios are built on, and the key of C major is the easiest key to arpeggiate, because it has no sharps or flats.
Worked example — playing a C major bass arpeggio. Put your left hand on the bass, with the index finger on the 3rd fret of the A string, which is C, C2, 65.41 Hz, and pluck it, with your right index finger, and the note is C, the root. Now play E, on the 2nd fret of the D string, which is E, E2, 82.41 Hz, and pluck it, with your right middle finger, and the note is E, the major 3rd. Now play G, on the 5th fret of the D string, which is G, G2, 98 Hz, and pluck it, with your right index finger, and the note is G, the perfect 5th. Now play C, an octave higher, on the 5th fret of the G string, which is C, C3, 130.81 Hz, and pluck it, with your right middle finger, and the note is C, the octave, and the arpeggio is C, E, G, C, played with alternating fingers, and the bass line flows, and the chord is C major, outlined, note by note. The I–V–vi–IV progression in C major is a good progression to arpeggiate.
How to practise bass arpeggios
Practise bass arpeggios slowly, with a metronome, until the notes are even, and the fingers alternate, and then increase the speed, one step at a time, and play the arpeggio of each chord, in the song.
- Play the C major arpeggio, C, E, G, C, slowly, with the index and middle fingers, alternating, and listen for the notes to be even, in time, and the arpeggio to flow.
- Play the G major arpeggio, G, B, D, G, and compare the shape with C major, noting how the shape moves, to the root, and the intervals are the same.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major on bass, playing the arpeggio of each chord, and listening for the harmony to change, smoothly.
- Practise with the metronome at 60 beats per minute, and increase the tempo by 5 beats per minute when the arpeggio is clean at the current tempo.
- Use the fretboard note finder to check the notes of any arpeggio, and name each note as you play it, so the notes are learned with the shape.
Common mistakes
- Playing the notes unevenly — An arpeggio should be even, in time, with each note the same length, and a player who plays the notes unevenly will make the bass line sound lumpy, and the music will not flow. Practise with a metronome, and play each note evenly, on the beat, and the arpeggio will be smooth.
- Using one finger, not alternating — A bass arpeggio played with one finger will be slow, and uneven, because the finger must pluck, and return, and pluck again, and the alternating fingers are faster, and more even, because they take turns, and the notes flow. Alternate the index and middle fingers, and the arpeggio will be fast and even.
- Forgetting the chord — An arpeggio is the notes of a chord, and a player who forgets the chord will play the wrong notes, and the harmony will be wrong. Know the chord, C, E, G, for C major, and play the notes of the chord, in order, and the arpeggio will be right.
Quick reference
This table shows the arpeggios for the four basic chords in C major, with the notes and the root position for each one, so you can see the arpeggios side by side and practise them one at a time. The arpeggio is the root, the 3rd, the 5th, and the octave, and the notes are the chord, played one at a time.
| Chord | Arpeggio notes | Root position |
|---|---|---|
| C major | C – E – G – C | A string, 3rd fret |
| D minor | D – F – A – D | D string, open |
| E minor | E – G – B – E | E string, open |
| G major | G – B – D – G | E string, 3rd fret |
| A minor | A – C – E – A | A string, open |
Use the table to practise the bass arpeggios: play each one, with the index and middle fingers, alternating, and listen for the notes to be even, in time, and the arpeggio to flow, and the chord to be outlined. When you can play all five arpeggios, you can play the key of C major, on bass, and the bass line will be full.
Frequently asked questions
How do I play bass arpeggios?
Play the notes of a chord one at a time, usually the root, the 3rd, the 5th, and the octave, in a pattern, across the strings. A C major bass arpeggio is C, E, G, C, played with the index and middle fingers, alternating.
What fingers do I use for bass arpeggios?
The index and middle fingers of the right hand, alternating, plucking the strings, so the playing is fast, and even, and the notes are clear, and the bass line flows, instead of being choppy.
Why play arpeggios on bass, instead of just the root?
Because the arpeggio outlines the chord, and the bass line is the harmony, and the harmony is the chord, and the arpeggio is the chord, played one note at a time, and the bass line is more interesting, and the harmony is clearer, and the music is fuller.
What is the difference between a bass arpeggio and a bass scale?
An arpeggio is the notes of a chord, the root, the 3rd, the 5th, and the octave, while a scale is the notes of a key, in order, and the arpeggio outlines the chord, and the scale outlines the key, and the two are used for different purposes.
Can I play arpeggios on any bass chord?
Yes. Every chord has an arpeggio, because every chord has notes, the root, the 3rd, the 5th, and the octave, and the arpeggio is the notes, played one at a time, and the shape is the same, moved to the root, for every chord.