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
Gm Pentatonic Scale For Bass Guitar – Low Position
We continue to explore the minor pentatonic scale, this time in the G minor (Gm). There are two positions in which to play this scale; this lesson covers the low position.
As always, remember your basics:
⁊ Start slowly
⁊ Play it 10 times, perfectly Continue reading
Dm Pentatonic Scale For Bass Guitar – High Position
We continue to explore the minor pentatonic scale, this time in the D minor (Dm). There are two positions in which to play this scale; this lesson covers the high position. If you haven’t done so already, I recommend you first learn the low position.
As always, remember your basics: Continue reading
Dm Pentatonic Scale For Bass Guitar – Low Position
We continue to explore the minor pentatonic scale, this time in the D minor (Dm). There are two positions in which to play this scale; this lesson covers the low position.
As always, remember your basics:
⁊ Start slowly
⁊ Play it 10 times, perfectly Continue reading
C Minor Pentatonic Scale For Bass Guitar – High Position
We continue to explore the minor pentatonic scale, this time in the C minor (Cm). There are two positions in which to play this scale; this lesson covers the high position. You should learn the low position first. If you haven’t done so, why not do it now? To learn the low position, click here.
As always, remember your basics:
⁊ Start slowly
⁊ Play it 10 times, perfectly Continue reading
C Minor Pentatonic Scale For Bass Guitar – Low Position
We continue to explore the minor pentatonic scale, this time in the C minor (Cm). There are two positions in which to play this scale; this lesson covers the low position.
As always, remember your basics:
⁊ Start slowly
⁊ Play it 10 times, perfectly Continue reading
Riffing in Dm Pentatonic
Other bassists often ask me, “the Blues are so limiting. What can you really do with five notes?”
The question tells me a lot about the person, and how they view music. My personal take is this: you can make more beautiful music with five notes than you can with a million. It’s all about your approach.
Yesterday, while I was taping for some new lessons, I took a few minutes to just riff for the fun of it. The video below shows that riff session. Notice that I seldom go outside the pure pentatonic scale – a few times using the flat 5. Continue reading
E Minor Pentatonic Scale For Bass Guitar – Two Octaves
The keys of E and E minor – or a mashup of both – are arguably the most used keys in Rock and heavier music. (Even if you de-tune a half or whole step, you’re playing in the position that would be E on a standard tuned instrument.) And it’s fair to say that the Em pentatonic scale is at the heart of a significant majority of rock riffage. Therefore, it’s probably a really good idea to learn the E minor pentatonic scale early, and study its potential for your entire career as a bassist. Continue reading
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