Chord Tones: The Secret to Better Solos and a Simple Exercise

When it comes to soloing, most bass players rely on scales and patterns.

While those can definitely lead to some epic riffs, there's another element that can elevate your improvisation skills—chord tones.

Understanding chord tones will give you a framework for playing by ear and improvising memorable grooves—instead of using trial and error. Plus, by focusing on chord tones, you'll develop a deeper understanding of harmony.

So today, I’ll break down what chord tones are and how you can use them. Then I'll walk you through an exercise that focuses solely on chord tones, so you can create solos that resonate with your audience.

Originally published on October 11th, 2011, this article was updated and republished on November 6th, 2023.

Chord tones are the notes that make up a chord—-three (or more) notes played at the same time.

So, for example, the C Major chord is made from the notes C, E, and G. Each of those notes is a chord tone.

If you wanted to play the chord tones from a D Major chord, you would play D, F#, and A.

When you play these notes during a solo, you're directly referencing the harmony of the song. This creates a strong connection between your solo and the underlying chord progression, making your solos sound more melodic and intentional.

Since chord tones make up the chord being played, all you have to do is play them while the rest of the band is playing that chord.

Just like walking bass lines, chord tones help define the chord. They sound good as long as the right chord is being played in the song.

For example, if the band is using the chord progression, A minor, F Major, C Major, G Major.

You would play:

- A, C, and E for A minor

- F, A, and C for F Major

- C, E, and G for C Major

- G, B, and D for G Major

Notice how some notes are used in more than one chord—I bolded them for you to spot more easily.

This means that you can play those chord tones more often and they will sound fantastic. It’s also why if you have no idea what to play or you’re a little bit new to the whole thing, sticking to chord tones is a safe bet.

Some chord tones are stronger than others, so below I’ll go over when to play them in a rhythmical context.

Just like with bass scales, the starting point of a chord is called the root. So for example, the root note of a C Major chord is C. This chord tone is what gives the chord its unique sound.

Root notes are the most common note on the first beat of a bar. Or when there’s a chord change. Since the root note gives the chord its unique sound, it helps to bring attention to the transition.

However, you can generally play root notes on any beat without causing any glaring issues.

This chord tone is what makes it sound major or minor. Happy or sad. In a C Major chord, the third is the E.

They’re less common on the first beat of the chord change—since the root note usually takes that spot.

But like all chord tones, you can play the third anywhere rhythmically. It has a special harmonic effect if you use it on beat one, and can add some variety to the chord. So feel free to experiment and get creative with when to play it!

Next to the root, the strongest chord tone is the fifth. It creates harmonic tension and wants to be resolved—usually back to the root note. In the C Major chord, the G note is the fifth.

Try to be intentional about when you play them.

It’s common to play a fifth on the third beat of the bar. Playing the root note on beat one, and the fifth on beat three gives your solo a well-balanced feeling.

However, since this is YOUR solo, and the goal is to improvise… feel free to get creative. All chord tones sound good as long as the chord is being played, so it’s really difficult to go wrong.

Knowing which notes to play is half the battle. Knowing where they are on your guitar is the other half. Being able to visualize chord tones on the bass fretboard is how you’ll take your soloing to the next level.

Here’s how to do it:

Before you start soloing, it’s important to get familiar with the chord progression you're playing over. In other words, the chord tones you can play.

In the video, for example, I’m soloing over the famous Jazz standard, Autumn Leaves.

Play only the chord tones from the song while staying in one position on the fretboard.

For example, place your index finger on fret 12. Then place the rest of your fingers on the subsequent frets. You’re now in position 12.

You can move down to fret 11 with your index and up to fret 16 with your pinky. So you’re playing within six frets in total.

While you're limited in terms of note choices and frets, you have complete freedom rhythmically. So play with different rhythms to make your solos more dynamic.

Remember how some chords use similar notes?

As the chords change, try to connect the chord tones smoothly by playing notes that make up similar chords. This will make your solos sound more fluid and connected.

Once you're comfortable with the exercise, you can expand your range in two ways:

1. Start adding non-chord tones for added color. (But always keep the chord tones as your foundation)

2. Change positions on the neck. This will expand your internal map of the fretboard and help you navigate notes more easily.

If you want to build your technique, discover session musician secrets, and start improvising like the pros, then join us at the SBL Academy.

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