3 Ways To Make Your Fingerpicking Sound Better With Bass Notes
by Simon Candy
One of the easiest ways to make your fingerpicking sound more interesting is to pay attention to something that often gets overlooked.
The bass.
Most guitarists concentrate on what their picking fingers are doing on the higher strings. They learn patterns, practise getting their fingers working together and focus on keeping everything flowing.
And while that's important, there's a lot you can do with the lower notes of a chord to make even a simple fingerpicking pattern sound more sophisticated.
By creating movement in the bass, you can give your playing a sense of direction, connect chords more smoothly and make a basic progression sound like a complete piece of music.
You don't need complicated bass lines to do this either.
In this lesson, you learn 3 ways to use bass notes to bring more movement to your fingerpicking:
- Alternating between different bass notes within a chord
- Connecting one chord to another with a short bass line
- Creating a continuous walking bass line through a progression
Each approach gives the bass a slightly different musical job.
And once you understand how they work, you'll have several ways to make the same chord progression sound completely different.
Watch the video below to learn more:
A Simple Chord Progression To Get Started
We'll use the same four-chord progression throughout the lesson, in the key of C:
Play each chord for one bar in 4/4 time.
You could simply fingerpick these chords using a basic pattern, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
But by changing what happens in the bass, you can add movement without having to change the chords or make your picking pattern more complicated.
Let's start with the simplest approach.
1. Alternating Bass Fingerpicking
Alternating bass is one of the most useful techniques you can learn for fingerstyle guitar.
It's also a key part of what's commonly known as Travis picking.
The basic idea is simple.
Your thumb moves back and forth between different bass notes while your fingers play notes higher up in the chord.
The thumb keeps a steady beat, giving the music a strong rhythmic foundation.
Start With A Simple Alternating Bass
Take a C chord.
Instead of playing the same bass note repeatedly, alternate between the fifth and fourth strings:
C Chord 5 4 5 4 Here
We call this a 5–4–5–4 bass pattern.
Once that feels comfortable, add a few notes from the higher strings using your fingers.
C Chord 5 4 5 4 with Pattern Here
You now have a fingerpicking pattern with a moving bass underneath it.
Apply the same idea to the remaining chords:
For the G and F chords, we're using the sixth string because that's where the root note sits in the chord shapes we're playing.
Add More Movement To The Bass
Once you're comfortable alternating between two strings, try expanding the movement.
For the C chord, use a 5–4–6–4 bass like so:
C Chord 5 4 6 4 Here
On the third beat, play the third fret of the sixth string, giving you a G note in the bass.
We can apply this variation throughout our progression, treating the additional chords in a similar way:
This gives the bass more variety while your picking fingers continue doing essentially the same thing.
That's one of the great things about alternating bass fingerpicking.
You can create quite different sounds simply by changing where your thumb goes.
2. Connecting Chords With Moving Bass Notes
Our second approach is a little different.
Rather than alternating between bass notes throughout the bar, we're going to use a short bass line to connect one chord to the next.
This is a great way to make chord changes sound smoother and more intentional.
Instead of jumping directly from one chord to the next, for example, you can play a few notes that lead your ear towards the next chord in the progression.
Here is an example of this approach applied to our progression:
This creates a sense of movement and anticipation.
The listener can hear the music heading somewhere rather than simply switching from one chord to another.
The bass notes don't have to be complicated.
Often, one or two well-chosen notes are enough.
Here is another way we could go about this with our progression:
The key is to think about where you're going.
Rather than adding random bass notes, you're creating a small musical line that connects one chord to the next.
3. Walking Bass
Our third approach takes bass movement a little further.
Walking bass lines are commonly associated with jazz, but you'll also hear them in blues, folk and other styles of acoustic guitar playing.
The idea is to keep the bass moving continuously through the chord progression.
Unlike the previous approach, where we added a short bass connection towards the end of a bar, a walking bass generally moves on every beat.
This creates a steady, flowing sound underneath the chords.
There are basically 3 ways to approach a walking bass line:
- Scale movement: Notes move mostly by small steps, creating a smooth bass line.
- Arpeggio movement: Notes come from the chord itself, often creating larger jumps.
- Chromatic movement: Notes approach a target from a fret above or below.
Combining these ideas gives you plenty of options for creating walking bass lines.
For example, here is one option with our progression:
Notice I have also added chord hits to fill out the harmony of the progression too.
Here is another way you could go about it:
Be sure to watch the video above for a detailed breakdown of this approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is alternating bass fingerpicking?
Alternating bass fingerpicking is a technique where your thumb moves between two or more bass notes while your fingers play higher notes from a chord. It creates a steady rhythmic foundation and is commonly used in Travis picking.
How do I add bass notes to fingerpicking patterns?
Start by identifying the root note of each chord. Then experiment with alternating between bass strings or adding one or two notes that connect to the next chord. Keep your picking pattern simple while you develop the bass movement.
What is the difference between Travis picking and walking bass?
Travis picking typically uses a repeating alternating bass pattern played by the thumb. Walking bass uses a continuously moving bass line, often with a different note on each beat, to connect chords throughout a progression.
Do walking bass lines have to follow the scale?
No. Walking bass lines can combine scale notes, chord tones and chromatic notes. What matters most is how the notes connect and lead towards the next chord.
Can beginners learn walking bass fingerpicking?
Yes. Start with a simple four-chord progression and play one bass note per beat. Once you can move smoothly between chords, add a few higher chord notes. You don't need advanced theory or complicated fingerpicking patterns to begin.
Other Lessons You Might Like
Explore these related lessons to continue building your guitar skills:
Walking Bass Guitar: 6 Levels
Take your walking bass playing further with six progressively more developed examples. You'll discover how to build bass lines that bring more movement and interest to your chord progressions.
5 Essential Travis Picking Patterns
Explore 5 useful Travis picking patterns that combine alternating bass with notes on the higher strings. A great next step if you want to develop more independence between your thumb and fingers.
How To Connect Chords With Bass Notes
Learn more ways to connect your chords using simple bass movements. These ideas help make chord progressions flow naturally rather than sounding like a series of separate chords.
Learn Travis Picking Step By Step
Build a stronger foundation for Travis picking with a practical three-step approach. Ideal if keeping your thumb steady while your fingers play independently still feels challenging.
The Fingerpicking Every Guitarist Needs
Develop your fingerpicking playing with a structured approach to patterns, coordination and musical application. A useful resource for making your fingerpicking sound more confident and natural.
Discover 5 Easy Fingerpicking Hacks For Beginners
Learn 5 simple ways to make your fingerpicking sound richer and more musical, with practical ideas you can start using straight away.