A Band in Your Hand! Sustaining Bass Notes While the Melody Moves

This lesson focuses on developing left-hand finger independence by sustaining a bass note while playing a moving melody above it. The exercise challenges the fretting hand to hold one finger in place while other fingers move freely. This situation comes up often in solo ukulele playing, especially when a bass line needs to ring while the melody continues.

Before we get started, please be sure to download the worksheet to follow along:

First, learn the scale

The exercise begins with a simple F scale played on the higher strings. The scale ascends from F to C and then descends back to F. This scale remains constant throughout the lesson. Before adding anything else, the goal is to become comfortable playing this scale smoothly and evenly.

The right hand uses a fingerstyle approach. Alternation between thumb and fingers helps keep the motion steady, but the right hand itself does not change during the exercise. The right-hand pattern stays consistent so that all attention can be placed on the left hand.

Now, let’s hold one bass note while playing a scale above it

Once the scale feels comfortable, the thumb adds a bass note on the third string. At first, this bass note is played on the open string. The rhythm may look complex in notation, but think of it as a steady flow of eighth notes. The sound and feel of the motion are more important than the visual appearance of the rhythm in notation.

The core of the exercise involves holding down different fretting hand fingers to sustain bass notes while continuing to play the same F scale above. When the first finger holds a bass note, the scale must be fingered using different fingers than usual. This forces the hand to adapt and prevents reliance on familiar patterns. The same process is repeated with the second, third, and fourth fingers holding sustained notes.

Each finger creates a different physical situation. Some combinations feel natural, while others feel awkward. This is intentional. The goal is not comfort, but awareness. By keeping one finger planted and moving the others, the hand learns to stay relaxed while managing multiple roles.

The right hand can be simplified if needed. Since no notes are played simultaneously, you can use the thumb throughout. This keeps the focus entirely on the left hand.

Go through the exercise slowly, and then take it to pieces you already know

Be sure to practice the exercise slowly. Before playing, it is useful to pause and notice how it feels to have one finger planted while the others remain free. Over time, this builds flexibility and control.

But, this is only an exercise to prepare you for situations you will encounter in your music. So after working through this exercise, go pick up a piece you’re already comfortable with and apply the same lessons. The left hand should feel more prepared to handle sustained notes and moving lines at the same time.