Intro to Counterbasses

by Shelia Lee

On a 48 bass accordion and larger - the row of basses closest to

the bellows is called the Counterbass Row.

From the diagram - you will see that the "counterbass" is actually
the 3rd note in the Bass's Scale -

i.e. C Scale - CDE or G Scale - GAB or F Scales - FGA

The counterbass is written with a short line UNDER the note

to indicate that it is to be played on the counterbass row.

FINGERING - when playing Bass Chord pattern -

what ever finger you use for the BASS - use the same finger
for the counterbass

#1 Practice - C Major with Counterbass and Alternating Bass

& 44 ˙ ˙ ˙
..
˙ ˙ ˙
..
˙ ˙

? 44 œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
.. œ ..
CM

œ œ
œ- œ- œ- œ
(E)

&œ œ .. œ ..
œ œ œ œ œ

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
(Modified Boogie Bass)

?œ
C7

.. œ ..
CM

œ- œ œ- œ- œ œ-

© 2015 So Good Productions, 1958 Fort Knox Music and Trio Music Company
 2 Intro to Counterbasses

#2 Practice - G Major with Counterbass and Alternating Bass

&˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ .. ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ..

? œ œ œ œ .. œ œ œ œ œ .
GM

œ œ- œ œ- œ - œ- .
(B)
œ
œ œ œ .. œ œ œ œ ..
11

&œ
(Modified Boogie Bass)
GM G7

? œ œ œ œ .. œ œ œ œ œ ..
œ -œ œ
œ- œ - œ
œ
-
DID YOU NOTICE - that when you include the ALTERNATE BASS - you are actually playing
THE MAJOR CHORD TRIAD - or ARPEGGIO on the MAJOR CHORD!
i.e. C Scale - CDEFG - CEG is the C Major Chord, G Scale - GABCD - GBD is the G Major Chord, etc.
The Major Chord is built on the 1st, 3rd, & 5th tones of the Major Scale.

#3 Practice - F Major with Counterbass and Alternating Bass

&˙ ˙ ˙ .. ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ..
˙

? œ œ œ œ .. œ œ œ œ œ œ ..
FM FM

œ œ- œ œ- œ œ- -
(A)

œ œ œ .. œ œ œ ..
17

&œ œ
(Modified Boogie Bass)
FM F7

? œ
œ
œ œ œ
œ
œ .. œ œ œ œ
œ
œ .
.
œ - - œ - œ -
NOW - go and play this same exercise using the D Major, A Major, and Bb Major basses.