How To Play Eighth Notes

How To Play Eighth Notes – Lessons For Bass Guitar Series…

In this lesson on How To Play Eighth Notes, we are going to learn to play in an easy and practical way the musical figure known as the eighth note. The eighth notes are two taps on one beat. That is, the first eighth note is played on the downbeat, while the second eighth note is played on the downbeat.

How can I physically apply this concept? Easy. Through applause. For example. I’m going to clap four beats.

1, 2, 3, 4.

I’m assigning a number to each clap and I’m going to give that to the first eighth note of each pair, while the second eighth note I’m going to count as “and” when separating the hands.

For example:

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

Here’s a recommendation. It is very important to always alternate the index finger and the middle finger when we are playing eighth notes.

For example:
1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and
i   m    i  m    i   m    i  m

This allows better performance and articulation of the notes and the rhythmic figures.

Now let’s go to the examples!

Example 1

In this first exercise, I’m playing the eighth note with the E note (Em)on the open 4th string.

Example 2

In the following example, I’ll be alternating a measure of eighth notes on the notes of E (Em)and A (Am).

Example 3

Now I’m going to play the eighth note in an E minor chord progression. (Em – D – C – Em) but in octaves. There are many ways (techniques) on how to play octaves on the bass and for this time, I’ll be alternating my thumb to play the root and my middle finger to play the octave,

Example 4

In this example, I’m going to play an eighth note pattern (bass riff) based on the A minor pentatonic scale.

Example 5

Next, I’m going to play an example of eighth notes in a G Major chord progression (G – Em – C – D).

Example 6

In this last example, I’m going to apply the eighth note in a twelve-bar blues in the key of A Major.

The use of the rhythmic figure of the eighth note is essential for the bass player in the rhythm section in all musical genres.

As we have studied in this lesson, the eighth notes will be played with the chord root, chord tones, and scales.

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