We were playing C and G in the left hand, then switching to C and A. Let's play the same notes, but in a slightly more complicated rhythm. We're going to play each pair of notes twice, like C-G C-G, C-A C-A.
To get the rhythm, let's use another rhyme:
One potato two potato three potato four potato five potato six potato nine potato eight potato.....
It doesn't matter how many potatoes. Do you hear the rhythm?
One potato two potato three potato four potato five potato six potato nine potato eight potato.....
It swings, like boogie woogie!
Play two C-G's for One po
Play two C-A's for tato
Make sure you are swinging. Don't play the chords evenly. That would sound like "The Monster Mash," if you (are old enough to) know that tune. You want to play the second C-G shorter than the first, and similarly, play the second C-A shorter than the first. You want to accent the chords that fall on One and ta.
Turn on your metronome and give this a try. Better yet, pull out a tune with a good boogie woogie rhythm, or a "boogie woogie-like" rhythm and play this left hand along with it. You don't absolutely have to play in the same key for this exercise. If you are in a different key, turn the music down low and just play along for the rhythm. Or, just listen to some boogie woogie to get a feel for the rhythm.
Some good tunes to play along with:
No Particular Place to Go, Chuck Berry
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, by Jim Croce
The Freeze, a children's song by a duo called "Greg and Steve"
Great Balls of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis (This is an example of the chords being played evenly, not swung.)
Practice, practice, practice that rhythm until it is part of you. You need to be able to play it practically unconsciously, because you are going to have to play your right hand with it.
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