Mandolin · Level 5 · Intermediate
Slash chords and a walking bass in A major on Mandolin
Don’t just read about Slash chords and a walking bass in A major. Play it.
Create a free TempoJam account in 30 seconds. Then try the tuner, metronome and Jam Room free for 14 days and record your first take tonight.
A slash chord keeps the same chord on top but puts a different note in the bass. Here the bass climbs step by step from I to IV.
A
Notes: A · C♯ · E
A/C♯
Notes: A · C♯ · E
D
Notes: D · F♯ · A
E
Notes: E · G♯ · B
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: A, A/C♯, D and E. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Mandolin frets are close together, so reach with the fingertips and press each pair of strings evenly.
- Set the tempo to 60 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Bring out the bass note of each chord a little more than the rest.
- Strum down on every beat, then try the bluegrass “chop”: a short, muted strum on beats two and four.
- Raise the tempo to 80 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for a bass line rising one step at a time.
Listen for
Aim for a bass line rising one step at a time. A common mistake is playing the root in the bass on the slash chord.
Why it works
I/3 is the first inversion of I, with the third in the bass, creating a smooth line toward IV.
A major has 3 sharps; its relative minor key is F♯ minor.
Questions
What are the chords in I–I/3–IV–V in A major?
In A major the progression is A | A/C♯ | D | E.
What is the key signature of A major?
A major has 3 sharps. Its relative minor is F♯ minor.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 5 lesson (intermediate). If it feels too hard, start with “Sixth chords”.
Your hands learn faster than your eyes.
Reading a chord chart is step one. Play it to a metronome, record it, and hear yourself get better, all in one app.
Start practising free