Bass Exercises: Rhythmic Notation

Rhythmic Notation Exercises

Bass Exercise #1: Whole Notes and Rests

The following examples use the open A-string. A whole note lasts for 4 beats. Make sure you hold notes out for their full value. Make sure you completely silence the strings when you encounter a rest.

Bass Exercise #2: Half Notes and Rests

Half notes and rests last for two beats. Mute the strings completely for the rests. At first, counting the beat out loud will help you keep your place. Do it out loud not just in your head! Trust me.

Bass Exercise #3: Quarter Notes and Rests

Quarter notes and rests last for 1 beat each. Mute the strings on the rests and count out loud. Eventually the count will become unconscious. In the beginning, count.

Bass Exercise #4: Eighth Notes and Rests

Two 8th notes fit evenly in the space of a quarter note. With the rests the eighth notes sound like shortened quarter notes. The attack lands in the same place, but the duration is different.

Bass Exercise #5: Sixteenth Notes and Rests

Four 16ths fit within a quarter note. This is how counting 16ths is commonly taught. We will cover better ways to count them later. You might pass out counting these at faster tempos.

Bass Exercise #6: Mixing Basic Rhythms 1

As you start to read real music, you will find most songs contain a mix of rhythms. Use any sheet music you can find, ignore the notes, and practice playing or clapping the rhythms bar by bar.

Bass Exercise #7: Mixing Basic Rhythms 2

This time I added a few eighth notes in. The more often you practice reading rhythms, the more rhythmically conscious you will become.