Driving rock eighths

Steady eighth notes on the root of E, C, G and D — the engine under a rock song. Simple, but it has to be rock solid.

← All bass lines & exercisesRockBeginner
90 BPM
Start at 90 · goal 160 BPM
Press play — or hit the space bar.
Position on the neck
0 frets
Frets 0–5 · key: E natural minorSee the scale →
1234EADG123412341234123400000000333333333333333355555555

Where to play it

012345678910111213141516171819EGACDDG
Playing now Notes in this lick

How to practise it

  1. Pick or pluck every note with the same strength; the drummer's hi-hat is your partner.
  2. Change chords right on beat 1 — no gap, no rushing.
  3. Try it with a pick and with fingers: a pick gives more attack, fingers a rounder sound.
  4. Start at 90 BPM. Only speed up when you can play it cleanly three times in a row — the goal is 160 BPM.