Making these changes will make your bass playing sound infinitely better!
By Jon Liebman
February 27, 2025
Regardless of how long you’ve been playing bass, at some point you’re likely to have come across a time when you needed to play a 1-5 pattern.
After all, it’s everywhere, from rock and pop to bluegrass, polkas… the list goes on forever. And it’s a huge part of being a bass player.
The problem is, too many bass players shrug it off, thinking, “Oh, it’s only 1-5, 1-5. That’s no big deal.”
And the people with that mindset are sabotaging their bass playing big time.
When you’re playing bass, no matter what the scenario is, don’t you want to give it your best?
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- How precisely are you placing those notes?
- Are you putting each note in just the right place, at exactly the right time? And with the right amount of energy?
- And how consistently are you doing those things?
Those are the kinds of goals you should be striving for in your bass playing.
The reason the 1-5 pattern is so common is because it’s essential to the sound. It provides the pulse, it outlines the harmony (even though it’s only two notes), and it creates a feel that can only be achieved by playing, well… 1-5.
There’s something else vitally important to know, and I talk about it in the video. As you watch it, you’ll see some examples of the right (and wrong) way to play the 1-5 pattern, and some things you can do that will make your bass playing sound infinitely better.
Check out the video and let me know your takeaways. I’d like to know your thoughts, as well as any relevant experiences you’d like to share.
Let’s play bass!
Jon
Jon.
That was a great video. Hearing you explain and emphasize the importance of the root/fifth and adding the attack release portion will instill a lot of people the get out and play with others, that otherwise might not feel confident or ready.
Thanks, Bill. I’m glad you got something out of it!
When learning any new song, if you just lay back and listen to it with headphones, you start to really hear all of these little things that youre showing in your videos. A lot of the time, when I listen to a song that I didnt really care for when I was younger, I now hear all of the little nuances in them because now Im lookinhg for them. Makes me look at the song with a new perspective.
Thanks, Joe. Isn’t it great how you can hear a song a thousand times and still notice new things? 🙂
I totally agree this a very important topic. I’d have to say that I feel slightly disappointed because I was hoping for some ‘how to’s’ – it’s good of course to state that timing, tone, and release are important, but it would be great if you could teach HOW to improve those things too.
Thanks, Steve. Excellent point, Stay tuned… 🙂
Steve, you get better the same way you get to Carnegie Hall! Practice, Practice, Practice! lol
The best way to know if youre playing correctly is to record yourself playing.Do you remember the first time that you heard your own voice on a recording? It was “Ewwwww! I dont sound like THAT! Do I???”
Guess what happens when you hear yourself on a practice recording? (not going to tell you!)
Thanks for the update, Dianne. Keep mixing it up! Have a good time at Gerald’s boot camp. I was there a few years ago. A great hang. 🙂