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Root and Fifth Bass on Piano

The left hand takes turns between the root of the chord and its fifth, five notes up: C and G over a C chord. It is the bass of country, folk and marches, and the next step after playing root notes alone. Start with root, fifth, root, fifth on the beats, then try the other orders below.

Practice it

Start with Seesaw bass, the one most songs use.

Patterns

Chords: C, G

Seesaw bass

Low, higher, low, higher on every beat: a steady seesaw.
Chords: C, G

Lazy seesaw

A low note, a higher one, a gap, then the higher one again.
Chords: C, G

Island seesaw

Low, high, low in the three-three-two island rhythm.
Chords: C, G

Bossa seesaw

Low-low, high-high in a laid-back Brazilian sway.
Chords: C, G

Pop seesaw

Two low notes, long then short, then a step up on beat 3.
Chords: C, G

Tiptoe seesaw

A low note, then the higher note tiptoes on every “and”.
Chords: C, G

Waltz seesaw

One low note, then two higher ones: oom-pah-pah with single notes.
Chords: C, G

Patient seesaw

Three low notes wait their turn, then one step up on beat 4.

Bounce-back seesaw

Low, low, a hop up on beat 3, and straight back down.

Lullaby seesaw

A low note, then gentle higher notes between the beats of a waltz.

Galloping seesaw

Low-high-high, low-high-high with a push: busy and bright.

Songs that use root and fifth bass

Questions

What is a root and fifth bass?

A left hand that alternates the root of each chord with its fifth. Over C you play C and G, over G you play G and D.

Which fingers play root and fifth?

Usually your little finger (5) on the root and your thumb (1) on the fifth, so the hand stays still for as long as the chord lasts.

Which songs use root and fifth bass?

Jolene by Dolly Parton, Making Today A Perfect Day by Idina Menzel & Kristen Bell and Cast and I'm Still Standing by Elton John use root and fifth bass. The songs on this page all use it, the most played first.