Alberti Bass Introduction

What Is Alberti Bass?

The Alberti bass is a left-hand accompaniment pattern named after Domenico Alberti. It breaks a chord into a repeating pattern: root–5th–3rd–5th.

Mozart, Haydn, and countless Classical-era composers used this pattern constantly. It creates a sense of gentle motion beneath a melody while outlining the harmony.

Alberti Bass on I–V–vi–IV in C

The left hand plays root–5th–3rd–5th for each chord, creating smooth accompaniment under any melody.

Play Alberti Bass in C

• Keep your left hand relaxed — fingers close to the keys.
• Play each note evenly; avoid accenting any single note in the pattern.
• Start slowly and gradually increase tempo once the pattern feels natural.
• Try to keep a steady pulse — use the metronome if needed.