Jon Liebman
November 2, 2026

A simple pattern that deserves serious attention

The 1–5 is one of the most common patterns in bass playing. You hear it in just about every style of music.

But because it uses only two notes, it can be easy to underestimate how much attention it deserves.

In this week’s video, I demonstrate three ways to play a 1–5.

The shapes are straightforward. The real challenge is playing them cleanly, keeping steady time, using the right amount of energy, and doing it consistently.

Sometimes the root and fifth are all a song needs from the bass player.

Learn all three approaches, and you’ll have more options as you move around the fingerboard. Try them and let me know how you make out.