Constant Bass Line
A popular fingerpicking technique that features in Blues guitar is the constant bass line style. This technique involves the right hand thumb playing the root bass note of the chord repeatedly for the duration of the song. The easiest key to apply this style is the key of A because the root bass note of each chord in the key of A (A, D and E) can be played as an open string.
Now try applying the previous constant bass lines to a 12 Bar Blues progression in the key of A.
The constant bass line is used in conjunction with notes from the following A scales .
A Minor Pentatonic Scale (open position)
A Blues Scale (open position)
The next examples combine the constant bass line while ascending and descending the A scales shown. The following licks are played with alternating "m" and "i" fingers. Feel free to vary this rule if you feel more comfortable breaking the alternating pattern on certain licks. Suggested fingerings throughout the book should only be used as a guide.
The next example combines a basic lick with the constant bass line. Note that the suggested right hand fingering does not alternate the "i" and "m" fingers. The following fingering is based upon strictly allocating the "i" and "m" fingers to either the 1st and 2nd strings or the 2nd and 3rd strings. These two right hand positions are shown in Lesson One.
Now a 12 Bar Blues using basic licks from the A minor pentatonic scale.
The next examples involve playing notes on the off beat, in between the bass notes.
