On the alternating bass.
"didn't sound like much"

No it's not meant to be the full sound, simply the root. Imagine you had a standup bass player accompanying you. He might play the root notes of the chord you're in. C and G, for C chord, for example.

thats what you're doing with the alternating bass. in order to travis pick this root must be in place before the rest of the form can be effectively played. if you have recordings of Merle travis or Chet atkins or Doc Watson when he's finger picking, listen for the alternating bass.

chance