NOTES ON THE BASS
Let’s add the notes B, E, F, & A on to the notes we already know.
Now lets practice everything we’ve done so far by playing to the chord sheet below. Remember to use all the muting techniques you’ve learned to keep your playing clean. Use the online metronome below. Pick an easy tempo to start like 40bpm and play a note per click. Use the left-right left-right fingering with your plucking hand. From bar 9 we add our new notes for this level. Don’t go so fast, learn your notes slowly and effectively.
Online Metronome
40bpm 4/4
60bpm 4/4
80bpm 4/4
100bpm 4/4
120bpm 4/4
140bpm 4/4
160bpm 4/4
180bpm 4/4
OCTAVES ON BASS
A very useful pattern to learn on the bass are octave patterns. An octave is a tone on the eighth degree from a given tone. Or put simply the eight number in our major scale number system. When you play a note, and then it’s octave, the second note will be the same note but in the next register.
SLIDES ON BASS
On Bass we can slide from note to note. This can add interest to your playing. To play a slide you pick a note and then move to another without picking the second note. It’s important to push down into the fretboard as you slide, so your sound doesn’t become muted.
SCALE PRACTICE
Now it’s time to learn our first scale. The C major scale.
Improvise examples like 1 4 5 in G major and then transpose to the keys you know.
Now we look at the same C major scale that is laid out across the 4 strings. Play this scale up and down (ascending and descending) until it becomes very familiar.
WRITING OUR OWN BASSLINES
Try writing your own basslines using the C major scale. Add slides and octaves to add interest.
