NOTES ON THE BASS
(frets 4 – 8)
Have a look at the new notes on the bass we’re going to learn next. Notice the notes, you already know, are repeated in a similar pattern across frets 4 through 8. The only new notes we must learn are B, C, D, on the G-string.
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
FIFTHS ON BASS
A very useful pattern to learn on the bass are fifth patterns. A fifth is a tone on the fifth degree from a given tone. Or put simply, the fifth number in our major scale number system.
Fifths Ascending
Fifths Descending
SCALE PRACTICE
Now it’s time to learn a ‘moveable’ version of the C major scale.
WRITING OUR OWN BASSLINES
Try writing your own basslines to the drum tracks below. Try using the moveable C major scale, slides, octaves, and fifths.
