Modes and Diatonic Chords
One of the first things I do with an incoming student at Belmont University is to make sure they understand the diatonic modes and chords, and can play them on their instrument. Simply put, the modes are from Classical Music and were used in Gregorian Chant (hence their other name: Church Modes). Continue reading
Parts of a Bass Guitar
Before you get started learning to play the bass guitar, let’s go over the main parts of a bass.
NEXT: How to Hold the Bass Guitar
Aim High – Play Low!
Lane
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The Most Important Songs for Bassists to Learn
You see them all the time: The Top Ten Thousand Love Songs of All Time. The Top 100 Hits of the Last Three Hours. Boxcar Willie’s Top 500 Hits Box(car) Set. The Top One Hundred Top Songs for Bassists to Learn.
In fact, this column is supposed to be about that last list. That’s why you’re reading it – because you want the names of one hundred songs to learn to help make you the world’s coolest bass player – or at least one who can get in a band. Continue reading
The Melodic Minor Modes
The Melodic Minor scale is one of my favorite scales. It’s also one of the most important scales on which to learn to improvise, because some of the most important chords in Jazz come directly from the modes of the Melodic Minor scale. In this lesson we’ll break down the Melodic Minor modes and their corresponding 7th chords. Continue reading
How to Learn Any Scale
I see a lot of Bass players of all levels who struggle with their instrument. Even those with otherwise impressive skills can get lost in the upper registers, struggling to find the desired notes. This is often because they don’t know the fretboard as well as they should – or could, with some dedicated practice. Thoroughly learning the fretboard is what this lesson is about. Continue reading
C Major Pentatonic Scale – High Position
Continuing our study of the Major Pentatonic Scale, here it is in the key of C, in the higher position. This position begins on eigth fret of the E string. This is the same exact scale as shown in the previous lesson. the only difference is where on the neck you place the notes.
As always, remember your basics:
⁊ Start slowly
⁊ Play it 10 times, perfectly
⁊ Increase speed slowly Continue reading
G Major Pentatonic Scale Low Position
Our study of the Major Pentatonic Scale begins with G Major.
As always, remember your basics:
⁊ Start slowly
⁊ Play it 10 times, perfectly
⁊ Increase speed slowly Continue reading
Funk Riff in E with Major Third
While it’s true that a lot of funk is based on the Minor Pentatonic scale, it doesn’t always have to be. For example, this basic funk riff uses the major third. It is based on the Major Pentatonic scale, with the addition of a few notes.
Watch the video, and pay special attention to which notes are used. Then, learn the notes in order, but not in time. Next, play along with the slow version, until you’ve got it down. Finally, you can play along with the regular tempo version. Continue reading
Relative Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales for Bass Guitar
Did you know that every scale – whether major or minor – has a relative scale? Knowing the relationship between major and minor scales will help you better understand how these scales can be used to create bass lines.
For this lesson, feel free to put your bass down and just watch/listen to the video.
Once you have watched the video, try the exercise outlined below.
Extending the Minor Pentatonic Scale, Part 1
Now that you have learned the two most important fingering patterns for the minor pentatonic scale, and have practiced it in five (or more) keys, it’s time to begin exploring how to extend the scale by adding other notes.
This lesson begins with adding two notes that are often heard in conjunction with the minor pentatonic scale. Continue reading
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