Down an octave (introducing the low F)

We can now apply some of our recently acquired knowledge to help us understand that we can find F elsewhere on the bass [guitar] neck.

If we take our F on the D string and then apply the octave shape downwards, moving back down the fingerboard two frets and across two strings, we find a low F on the first fret on the E string. It may not have been obvious at these early stages of our studies but clearly octave shapes work in both directions on the fingerboard.

Look at our diagram of the E string and see our low F bass note at the first fret.

Figure 4. The low bass note of F on the E string

Let us play another simple exercise incorporating our low F bass note. These exercises help familiarize ourselves with not only where the notes are on the fingerboard, but they are helping you become more familiar with the position of the notes on the musical stave.

Exercise 3

Next: Octave and root and fifth shapes for our low F.