Bass Exercises: Subdividing The Beat

Subdividing The Beat Exercises

Bass Exercise #1: Subdividing in Two

When you divide the beat in two, you get eighth notes. Most rock and pop music has an underlying 8th note pulse. Example is on an open A string.

Bass Exercise #2: Subdividing in Four

When you divide the beat into 4 equally spaced notes, you get 16th notes. Funk typically has an underlying 16th note pulse. Faster rock and metal will have this, too.

Bass Exercise #3: Subdividing in Three

Dividing the beat in three gives you 8th note triplets. Blues and jazz often have an underlying 8th note triplet pulse as do a number of rock songs.