How To Read Chord Charts For Bass
Reading Chord Charts Unlocks Learning Songs On Bass
Most bassists start by learning from tabs, which is a great way to learn songs fast. However, there are situations where tabs aren’t available or for whatever reason a chord chart is the method of learning for a specific song. This can pose a serious challenge for many skilled bassists, because the method for communicating what to play is less direct and requires a different set of knowledge. The goal of this lesson is to teach you what note you should play when you see a chord symbol. So the next time you are faced with a chord chart you know what notes to use to build a bass line over those chords.
In the Groove Lab, we study how chords work, and what notes are in them, so we are prepared to learn a song if no other information is provided. To learn more about different ways to learn songs read the How To Learn Songs On Bass lesson.
Defining Chords
It’s likely that even if you don’t know a text book definition of what a chord is, you still have a working understanding of what they are.
Chords are groups of three or more notes that sound good when played together.
They are defined by their root note, and the intervallic distance between each note of the chord.
Chords that have only three notes are defined as triads, and for this lesson that will be our main focus.
Constructing Triads
There are three distinct types of triads that are used in music and represent a majority of what is heard in Western Harmony.
They are major, minor, and diminished.
The pattern for all major chords is, a root, followed by the interval of a major third, or four ½ steps, followed by the interval of a minor third, or three ½ steps.
The pattern for all minor chords is, a root, followed by the interval of a minor third, or three ½ steps, followed by the interval of a major third, or four ½ steps.
The pattern for all diminished chords is, a root followed by the interval of a minor third, or three ½ steps, repeated by another minor third, or three ½ steps.
For further support on playing major and minor thirds on your bass purchase the Interval Micro Worksheet.
Reading Chord Symbols
Chord symbols are short hand for the notes within them, the idea is they quickly communicate what notes to play. The challenge for bassists is, knowing which notes belong in each chord beyond the root note.
Any chord that says major in the name after the letter of the root is built using a major triad, there may be other notes in the chord, but you can always simplify it to the core three notes.
Similarly, any chord that says minor in the name after the letter of the root is built upon a minor triad.
Confusion often sets in with a chord symbol like this, C7 or F13. Those don’t directly say major or minor in their symbol, the way to interpret those is they are built on a major triad. They include other notes, that are important, but can be overlooked for simplicity when first reading or learning a chart.
Another place for confusion is the symbols for diminished chords. Sometimes they are written as DIM, which is short for diminished, other times they are written as a minor flat 5.
Understanding What To Play
When reading chord symbols if you can identify the root and two additional notes in the triad you now know enough to play notes that almost always sound good during that chord.
If that feels a little discouraging because those notes are always “right” but not always “appropriate” that is totally understandable.
The encouraging part is having at least three notes you can use that have a very high probability of sounding great. And in many songs will always sound great.
Remember that context is an important factor, and that in music there are few rules that are always correct, or incorrect. That ambiguity is where the expression is, two players can read the same chart and come up with wildly different ideas to play. Which one is right and which one is wrong is up for the listener to decide.
Experimentation With Notes In A Chord
A useful suggestion for finding the “best” notes for a given chord is to write out the notes of the triads in a systematic way.
For example, Cmaj, C - E - G. This visual guide will help you track the choices you make in a given song.
When coupled with the Groove Lab Rhythm Map, you can write down each note choice you make. Then review later for Voice Leading concerns.
Want More Lessons Like This
This is one piece of the Groove Lab curriculum, that covers Hip Hop groove and Jazz Harmony, designed to teach you how to make better musical decisions. Sign up for the free newsletter and get free weekly lessons and other practice resources.