In Lesson 4 you were introduced to bass note rhythm patterns in ^ time. To play a bass note rhythm pattern in * time, pick the bass note of the chord on the first beat and strum the first three or four strings of the chord on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th beats.
Play the following bass note rhythm pattern holding a G chord shape.
Bass Note Rhythm Pattern 1
The best bass note to pick is the lowest note of the chord that has the same letter name of the chord. This is called the root note.
Practice this rhythm technique on each chord separately at first. Remember to hold the full chord shape even though you are not playing all the strings.
Play the following turnaround progression using bass note rhythm pattern 1. Play the root note of the first beat of each bar.
Bass Note Rhythm Pattern 1
Play the following chord progression using a variation of bass note rhythm pattern 1 which contains eighth note strums on the second beat.
Bass Note Rhythm Pattern Variation 1
Bass Note Rhythm Pattern Variation 2
Another variation is to play the bass note on the first and third beats and strum on the second and fourth beats. Play the following bass note strum rhythm pattern, also holding a G chord shape. Play the root note of the chord on the first and third beats of the bar.
Now apply this variation to the following chord progression which contains two chords in each bar.