Playing the right chord is only part of the story. The bass note you choose can change how that chord feels — and where it seems to want to go next.
In part two of “The Bass is Boss”, I use a simple progression in E major to explore chord inversions and flowing bass lines. Putting G sharp beneath an E chord creates a natural movement towards A. Later, moving from C sharp minor to E with B in the bass gives us a different feeling from landing squarely on a root-position E chord.
These are small changes, but they can make a big difference to your piano arrangements and songwriting. The harmony can feel settled, lifted or ready to move on, all because of what’s happening at the bottom of the chord.
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