“This is a technique that has been used to great effect by some of my biggest blues heroes”: By thumb-picking bass notes while playing a melody, you can be your own rhythm section – Jared James Nichols shows you how

Jared James Nichols works the crowd in Nashville with his Goldtop Les Paul Standard. The stage is illuminated in purple.

A great way to accompany yourself while playing a melody on the guitar is to simultaneously play a repeating low bass note, usually on an open string, which can add rhythm and harmony to what you’re playing.

This is a technique that has been used to great effect by some of my biggest blues heroes – everyone from Lightnin’ Hopkins and Guitar Slim to players like John Fogerty, Lindsey Buckingham and Dan Auerbach.