This article is written by Toru Hoshino, a jazz bassist and instructor based in Japan who teaches online lessons to students worldwide. In this article, he answers a common question about bass lines: should the 3rd or 5th go above or below the root?
Here’s a question that comes up constantly: “When I use the 3rd or 5th, should I play it above or below the root?”
Take a C chord, for example. The 3rd — E — is available as the 2nd string, 2nd fret, or as the open 4th string. The 5th — G — is available as the 2nd string, 5th fret, or the 4th string, 3rd fret.
Theoretically, either choice is “correct.” But when you’re actually building a line, the deciding factor is playability.
Take this example: both versions pass through E on their way to landing on F, but when you actually play them, Example 1 feels noticeably more natural and easier to play.
Similarly, when moving from G to F, going from the open 4th string to the 4th string’s 3rd fret is the smoother fingering choice.
In other words, whether you go above or below with the 3rd or 5th really is case-by-case. Don’t just decide based on harmony or theory alone — factor in how easy it is to actually finger.
Working out the most playable fingering for your own lines on your own takes a lot of trial and error — a teacher can often spot the smoother option immediately.
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This is exactly the kind of thing that’s hard to fix alone — and where having a teacher makes all the difference.
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Students from around the world are using this to fix exactly these kinds of issues and steadily improve their jazz bass skills.