Bass and Chords (Both Hands)

Left hand plays the root, right hand plays the chord: how songs are accompanied.

Level:
5 of 6
Hands:
Both hands
Key:
C major
Notes:
20
Range:
A2 to A4
One run:
about 8 seconds at 80 bpm

The notes, in order

5 moments, 20 notes in total, some struck together.

  1. C3 + C4 + E4 + G4
  2. F3 + C4 + F4 + A4
  3. G3 + B3 + D4 + G4
  4. A2 + C4 + E4 + A4
  5. C3 + C4 + E4 + G4

How to practise it

  1. Left hand takes a single low note, right hand takes the triad
  2. Both hands land on the beat together
  3. Once it is easy, sing the melody of a song over the top

The scale behind it

This one is built on the C Major scale: C D E F G A B (no sharps or flats). Its right-hand fingering runs 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5, and the scale page has the full diagram if you want to hear the shape on its own first.

How to play it here

Play along on the keys with your mouse, your computer keyboard, a touch screen, or a MIDI keyboard you have plugged in. Every key can show its own name, and the metronome will hold the tempo while you work through the 20 notes.

What it trains

  • chords
  • hands together
  • accompaniment
  • progression

More arpeggios & chords

Broken and blocked chords: the same shapes your left hand will spend most of its life playing.

All piano exercises