Seesaw bass
Low, higher, low, higher on every beat: a steady seesaw. One of the root and fifth patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need C (little finger, 5) and G (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count 1, 2, 3, 4. Play C on 1, then G on 2, then C on 3, then G on 4.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: G and D. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Seesaw bass on piano?
Low, higher, low, higher on every beat: a steady seesaw. Root and fifth alternating: country, folk and march bass. Musicians call it root-fifth 1-5-1-5.
Is Seesaw bass hard to play?
It is a beginner pattern. Play it with your left hand alone at 60% speed until it feels steady, then add the other hand.
Which songs use Seesaw bass?
Jolene by Dolly Parton, Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi and Somewhere Only We Know by Keane use Seesaw bass. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.