Originally published June 3, 2013, lightly edited for clarity.
When we look at the “note” job of a bass line as outlining the chord sound one note at a time, it becomes obvious that an understanding of triads and chords is very important. Not only do we need to know what they are, where they are, and why they are, we also need to know their sound. In our journey of learning where the notes of the triad and chord are on the bass fingerboard and the many hours of practice we put into mastering our choices geographically, it is essential that we put in the time needed to know what these things sound like. Remember to listen, listen, and listen again. The following video offers some ways to look at chords and triads. Harmony is one of the fundamentals I teach. For personalized guidance on triads and chord tones, online bass lessons via Zoom are available.
