Level 1 · The basics · 10 min
Play the three bass strings with your thumb
By the end, you can find open E, A and D with your thumb.
Before this lesson
Lesson steps
1 Locate the bass strings
Touch strings 6, 5 and 4 in turn with your thumb.
2 min
Check for · You can locate the three thickest strings in order.
More detail
Bass notes are low sounds. In standard tuning, string 6 is E, string 5 is A and string 4 is D.
2 One bass string
Play four low E notes with your thumb, one per click.
2 min · Quarter note = 48, 1 note per click
Check for · Each click brings one clear sound from string 6.
More detail
Let the other fingers stay curved near the treble strings. The second bar repeats the first.
3 Move between basses
Play E-A-D-A on strings 6-5-4-5.
3 min · Quarter note = 48, 1 note per click
Check for · The first three notes rise. The fourth drops back to string 5.
More detail
Each zero in the tab is an open string. Watch which line changes to find the next string.
4 Three rounds
Play three groups of E-A-D-A with the metronome.
3 min · Quarter note = 48, 1 note per click
Revisit the tablature · Step 3
Check for · The next group starts on the very next click with no extra pause.
More detail
Keep the thumb on the neck side of the index finger. After three clean rounds, try raising the tempo by two beats per minute.
You can move on when…
You pass when you play E-A-D-A three times with the click without touching a treble string.
If a movement feels difficult
I skip string 5.
Feel for the middle bass string before playing.
My thumb bumps into my index finger.
Move the thumb a little closer to the neck than the index finger.