Skipped Black Keys for Bass Line
Skipped Black Keys For Bass Line by Rockmaster System
How to use the Skipped Black Keys Method For Bass Line and Left-hand Chord Changing
Skipped Black Keys for Bass Line
With the Skipped Black Keys Method, the number of fingers that you move on the right hand to get to the next chord (triad) is also the number of black keys that you skip on the left hand to get to the bass note.
(You may also count the white keys for the skip.)
Please remember that the next chord is always a 3rd, 5th or 7th away from the chord that you are holding.
3rd Away
Move 1 finger to get to the chord that is a 3rd away.
Skip 1 black key to to get to the bass note (except Db and Gb UP).
| Move 1 finger UP from Chord | Fingers | Black | ||
| D, E, A, B, Eb, Ab, Bb, C, F, G | +1F ⇒ | -1B ⇐ | ||
| Move 1 finger DOWN from Chord | Fingers | Black | ||
| D, E, A, B, Eb, Ab, Bb, Db, Gb | -1F | +1B | ||
| Move 1 finger DOWN from Chord | Fingers | Black | ||
| C, F, G | +1F ⇒ | +2B | ||
| Move 1 finger UP from Chord | Fingers | Black | ||
| Db, Gb | +1F | -0B |
5th Away
Move 2 finger to get to the chord that is a 5th away.
Skip 2 black key to to get to the bass note.
You will sometimes need to play the bass note an octave away in the opposite direction in order to keep the bass note within the bass range area of the keyboard.
For the octave you can also use the formula to determine how many white keys to skip.
W = 7 – (2 + n)
n is the number of chords with white key root in the change.
| Chords | Fingers | Black | White | Octave | Octave | |||
| C ⇒ F | +2F ↑ | +2B ↑ | +2W | or | -3B | -3W | ||
| G ⇐ C | -2F ↓ | -2B ↓ | -2W | or | +3B | +3W | ||
| D ⇒ G | +2F ↑ | +2B | +2W | or | -3B | -3W | ||
| A ⇐ D | -2F ↓ | -2B | -2W | or | +3B | +3W | ||
| E ⇒ A | +2F ↑ | +2B | +2W | or | -3B | -3W | ||
| B ⇐ E | -2F ↓ | -2B | -2W | or | +3B | +3W | ||
| G ⇒ C | +2F ↑ | +2B | +2W | or | -3B | -3W | ||
| D ⇐ G | -2F ↓ | -2B | -2W | or | +3B | +3W | ||
| A ⇒ D | +2F ↑ | +2B | +2W | or | -3B | -3W | ||
| E ⇐ A | -2F ↓ | -2B | -2W | or | +3B | +3W | ||
| B ⇒ E | +2F ↑ | +2B | +2W | or | -3B | -3W | ||
| F# ⇐ B | -2F ↓ | -2B | -2W | or | +2B | +4W | * | |
| F# ⇒ B | +2F ↑ | -2B | -4W | or | +2B | +2W | * | |
| C# ⇐ F# | -2F ↓ | +2B | +4W | or | -1B | -3W | ||
- Mixed = Chord with black key root and white key root
You will sometimes need to play the bass note an octave away in the opposite direction in order to keep the bass note within the bass range area of the keyboard.
For the octave you can also use the formula to determine how many black keys to skip.
B = 5 – (2 + n)
n is the number of chords with black key root in the change.
| Chords | Fingers | Black | White | Octave | Octave | |||
| Db ⇒ Gb | +2F ↑ | -2B ↓ | -4W | or | +1B | +3W | ||
| Ab ⇐ Db | -2F ↓ | +2B ↑ | +4W | or | -1B | -3W | ||
| Eb ⇒ Ab | +2F ↑ | -2B | -4W | or | +1B | +3W | ||
| Bb ⇐ Eb | -2F ↓ | +2B | +4W | or | -1B | -3W | ||
| Gb ⇒ Cb(B) | +2F ↑ | -2B | -4W | or | +2B | +2W | * | |
| Db ⇐ Gb | -2F ↓ | +2B | +4W | or | -1B | -3W | ||
| Ab ⇒ Db | +2F ↑ | -2B | -4W | or | +1B | +3W | ||
| Eb ⇐ Ab | -2F ↓ | +2B | +4W | or | -1B | -3W | ||
| Bb ⇒ Eb | +2F ↑ | -2B | -4W | or | +1B | +3W | ||
| F ⇐ Bb | -2F ↓ | +2B | +4W | or | -2B | -2W | * | |
| F ⇒ Bb | +2F ↑ | +2B | +2W | or | -2B | -4W | * | |
| C ⇐ F | -2F ↓ | -2B | -2W | or | +3B | +3W | ||
- Mixed = Chord with black key root and white key root in the change.
7th Away
Chords a 7th away are adjacent chords.
Move finger to the next note for the bass.
Skipped Black Keys for Bass Line
