LESSON PLAN: Ballad Rhythm With A & D
Objective
Students will be able to play bass using the open A and D strings using one of the most common rhythms played on bass.
Resources
Bass songs using the notes A and D. The Music Will (formerly known as Little Kids Rock) song database can be searched by chords and chord progressions for material to use.
Procedures
- Demonstrate playing the open A string with this rhythm. Draw attention to the way you are plucking the string with your index and middle fingers. Demonstrate the same thing on the D string, showing how when you switch to the new string the old one has to be muted (either with the fretting hand or the plucking hand).
- As you play the bass line, draw attention to the way long notes are allowed to ring as long as possible before being interrupted by changing notes or rhythms. In general, bass notes “sustain” through their entire value, providing music with a strong foundation. Demonstrate the difference between cutting the note off too quickly and letting it ring.
- Have your drummer or students from your class using “Classroom as Drumset” (see lesson plan) manufacture this beat:
Draw attention to the way the bass rhythm lines up to the kick drum rhythm. Encourage bass students to focus on this powerful aspect of playing bass to “lock in” with the drummer.
National Core Arts Standards (Music)
Anchor Standard 4: Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation. Example: General Music MU:Pr4.2.2 b. When analyzing selected music, read and perform rhythmic and melodic patterns using iconic or standard notation. Common Core Correlation: CCSS.Math.Content.3.NF.A.1 Understand a fraction 1/b as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is partitioned into b equal parts; understand a fraction a/b as the quantity formed by a parts of size 1/b. (fractions as subdivision of beat)