Introduction to Bass Theory
& Fun Things You Can Do With It!
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Decoding The Bass Guitar
The concept of approaching the scale as a set of numbers, rather than multiple sets of letter-name-notes, is very powerful and can be applied in many different ways to your playing. This concept really is the foundation of Decoding the Bass Guitar, though in the lesson you will learn how to take this much, much further. If you are a young beginner then consider taking this Online high school guitar credit for some great lessons.
If you are looking for instruments or for a special guitar you can find the best advice in this website. Buying the best electric guitar for your needs requires a good bit of research before you hit your local music store. You can get one in MusicCritic great sounding guitars and find the right one for you. We even have the newest Fenders, and as you like guitars you know everything about this instrument is perfect, no matter what sort of environment you’re playing, the sound you get is amazing.
Questions or Comments? Leave one below.
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Hey John,
I’m torn between using a plectrum and just trying to use the two finger method. I’ve played mostly 6 and 12 string acoustic using thumb and three fingers to pick the strings but I find I can’t match the speed required to play the Metal style required by my current band. Is there a practice drill I can use to improve my speed using the two finger method of playing?
Ps I have an identical five string to the one you are using in your demo.
Cheers Kev.
Hi Kevin,
The two finger method is quite different than the way you would finger pick on a guitar… I’ll make a note about perhaps doing a video on that though.
Even though Paul McCartney has enjoyed some success using the pick (AKA plectrum) on bass, I use the index and middle fingers to strike (as well as to pluck and claw) at the strings. This is, beyond the shadow of the doubt, the best way to play through most music categories (i.e., Classic Rock, C&W, Folk, Gospel, etc.).
A lesser used method of attack is the slap and pull method. The theory behind this is easy enough to grasp, by developing and putting it in practice is challenging.
I would like to add the slap and pull method and expand my horizons as a bassist.
I’ve been playing both electric and upright bass for probably enough years that an admission would give my age away. I will say that You have great approach to the electric bass. It’s practical and real.
easy to follow instructions, i’m learning guitar but am interested in the bass as well, i would love to follow up on your lessons but would like to know if this theory works with guitar as well thanks
Hi RJ – yes, this theory applies to the guitar as well. Keep in mind though that the 2nd string on the guitar is not tuned to a 4th of the 3rd string, so at that point you need to compensate with the pattern.
hello sir iam alisina thanks for sending me the video thanks alot thank you so much.
The first 2 big strings (E and A) on the bass (and 6 string guitar) are the keys to almost everything for me. I am an intermediate player (bass, 6 string and 12 string). If I were starting to learn the guitar for the 1st time now, I would memorize the name of every note on the 1st 12 frets of the E and A strings and memorize the name of all the Barre chords with the E and A shape. After that everything falls into place. Thanks for this Bass Video, I am going to save it and refer to it often. Bill
Hello John:
Your simple explanation of the way the bass guitar works is excellent. It’s the most simplified description I’ve heard…and I’ve heard many! Thank you for making this video available and for taking into consideration beginner players like myself.
Best Regards,
William
Jonathon, had a look at this but also checked out your riff
thingie and the ‘penny dropped’ for me, so happy, thx.
cool beans!
Finally, a clear shot of the fretboard and fingering……… 🙂
Very nice, thanks Jon!
I guess the next improvement I could suggest would be to smooth out the delivery of your presentations a bit, your style can be a little halting at times. (Just trying to be constructive). Another thing that might help but is a little more tricky. If you could occasionally superimpose the note name, or number you are talking about onto the fretboard position….. I know thats a bit more video production, but it would really help improve understanding of the concepts such as I IV V, or scales in general, or in your song/riff lessons.
Thanks again and always!
Ideally I’d love to find a way to get an animated fretboard… that would be cool 🙂
nice job
The video was helpful. I’ve been procrastinating on replaying the I, IV, V lesson, I get it but still unable to really understand. I guess I needed the visuals too. It helped pull everything together—for me. Thank you.
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Jonathan,
thanks – your DVD has helped me a lot, however I am still having problems finding notes on the upper range of my bass. I am studying your system…
Do you have any suggestions?
Also I have been playing a long time the wrong way and am not trying to us the “economy of movement”. I can’t seem to keep the fingers down on the fretboard. Any suggestions??
Skip
i sir iam really funa of you please sir send me some videos of bass guitar lessons thanks.
Question: I am torn between getting a 4 or 5 string Bass. I have played 6 string guitar for decades. Players I know use a 4 string and say that they tried a 5 string and the B-string “just gets in the way”.
You play the 5 string, so what should I consider when making my decision? I love the deep sounds of the B-string, but wonder if that is the right reason for a 5 string.
Thanks,
Chuck
Hi Chuck, yes I do play and love the 5 string, but the deep sound is not the only reason – more importantly is the symmetry of patterns that you get by adding the fifth string, which gives you access to a lot more notes without having to jump all over the fretboard. If the 5th string is getting in the way, it is only because they don’t know what to do with it properly, with all respect.
Do we really have to use a pick when playing a bass?
NO!!!
For me, the use of a pick is an option that I use for a certain effect or if it really hurts my fingers to play.
When I play electric bass, I strike the stings with my index and middle fingers about 85% of the time.
Some players use their thumbs, but I find the thumb method to be too slow.
Some of the incredible bassists use [what I call] the slap-pull method, thumping the lower strings with their thumbs and striking the higher notes with their fingers.
If the slap-pull method is what you want to adopt, learn the basics first.
Check out the many different styles of playing. That includes orchestral bass parts (large ensembles which back up singers) down to the crudest players. Don’t limit your studies to the stuff that you like.
Also important: practice!!!
You will never be considered for any marathon runs if you don’t first master the complexities of crawling first.
I wish you success in your endeavors.
No, definitely not. Patrick made some good points – it really is all about your preference, and the sound you want to achieve. Personally I choose to use a pick, but also use my other three fingers (2,3,4) quite a bit as well. The pick gives me the speed and accuracy I like and the other fingers let me pop strings or do other things like that.
WOW!IN FACT THIS IS NICE AND THIRST QUENCHING!
The info is solid. When I watch these videos I hear the sound first and then see the fingers move. Very distracting. Its probably my computer. Is there a fix for this short of purchasing a new computer.
Hammer On!
Thanks for this
This will be the third DVD I’ve ordered from you..
I have Guitar Scale Patterns
and
Unlocking I IV V
they were both great and easy to learn on, I believe your
Decoding the Bass will be too..
How do I download my copy? I ordered the DVD and Download!
Richard A Palmer
These are very good lesson I have been playing scales but don’t know how to put the together?
That’s what the course is all about! 🙂
Hi John,i’m the beginner and i’m very inspired by your videos so i don’t if its possibly to send me lessons for beginners,thnz in advance
Thank you so much for this opportunity you’ve provided,my question is how to identify scale with number e.g c2,c4,g3,d2 f4 etc thanks
Pick,fingers,thumb,etc…
It’s all personal preference – period. I’ve seen/heard awesome bassists of all kinds using all these various techniques with total control and excellent sound and grooves. So use what works best for you. And, don’t put so much into the technique or mechanics of it. Just focus on making good music. And by all means, learn your instrument. You don’t have to master it – just find a fair level of proficiency!
Luv dis lessons
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Hi Jonathan, I really appreciate the lessons that you are offering here and plan to check out your
guitar lessons as well. I know enough theory to be dangerous after many years of playing several instruments by ear. So, I need to get busy as I ain’t no kid at 66, but I’m very excited. Thanks again for the opportunity. Jim
Pls send me bass guitar lesson videos
All I want to know is the easiest way of playing the 5-strings bass….I love it and would want to know how to play wihtout it being stressfull…and secondly…how many strings is a standard guitar made up of..??
thanks alot