NOTES ON THE BASS

Let’s add the next section of the bass on to the notes we already know.

THIRDS ON BASS

A very useful pattern to learn on the bass are third patterns. A third is a tone on the third degree from a given tone. Or, put simply, the third number in our major scale number system. A flat third is one semitone (one fret) below that.

ARPEGGIOS

Now that you’ve learned your thirds, you can build arpeggios or chord shapes into your playing. You can build your arpeggios by combining your thirds and fifths together. Major chords/arpeggios follow the formula 1 3 5, and minor chords/arpeggios follow the formula 1 b3 5. The diagram below shows the major and minor shape arpeggios you need to know.

SCALE PRACTICE

The C major scale has another layout as shown below. This shape can be moved about the fretboard.

WRITING OUR OWN BASSLINES

Try writing your own basslines using the C major scale and arpeggios. The style is reggae and chords are played as follows C-Dm-C-Dm-F-G-F-G.

Try writing your own basslines using the C major scale and arpeggios. The style is folk and chords are played as follows

Verse C/G/F/CG

Chorus Am/G/Am/FG

Verse C/G/F/CG C