How to Play Bass Arpeggios
An arpeggio is the notes of a chord played one after the other, typically with the notes left ringing. A lot of people don't think of the bass guitar as an instrument for chord playing, but bass players can play chords and arpeggios just like a guitarist, though typically there are fewer notes played because playing too many low notes one after the other can sound messy. Playing arpeggios on bass is not difficult once you have an understanding of how to make chords
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Instructions
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Learn a couple of major triad positions on your bass. C, D, G and A are good beginning chords. You can make these chords in many positions on your bass, so it's a good idea to have a beginning bass chord book on hand. You can purchase one in a music store or you can find a bass chord dictionary online free.
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Play the notes of each of these chords one after the other, beginning with the lowest note, the third, the fifth and the highest note, which is the same note as the first note you played, only one octave higher. There is a major triad pattern you can use to play any major triad arpeggio simply by moving the position on the bass.
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Study your chord dictionary and learn a chord or two a week. Every new chord you learn will allow you to play another arpeggio. There are hundreds of chords in various positions on the bass, so studying chords can seem like a lifetime project, but committing to one or two a week will quickly build your repertoire.
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Play arpeggios backward and forward. Vary your rhythms. Try playing notes one after the other as well. When you feel confident with chords in various positions, try moving from low to high arpeggios. This is an effective way to add color to your bass playing the rhythmic foundation.
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