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