Bass Basics

Note names associated with each fret

In this exercise the quarter note will be 40bpm, the eighth note will equal 80bpm, and the sixteenth note will equal 160bpm.

Intro to the Major Scale

The major scale is an 8 note scale that starts and ends on the same note. Each note in the major scale is either a whole or half step away. Related to the bass guitar a whole step is two frets and a half step is one fret. The major scale pattern is W - W - H - W - W - W - H. If you are playing the F major scale you would start on the first fret of the E string (F), third fret on the E string, open A string, first fret on the A string, third fret on the A String, open D string, SECOND fret on the D string, third fret on the D string. Once you have a solid grasp of the notes in the F major scale, play them along with a metronome - whole notes at first, then half notes, then quarters.

Subdivision Exercise 1 (45bpm)

Here’s the familiar exercise of one finger per fret going up each string and back down. The exercise is repeated 4 times with hand claps on different subdivisions. The first time has clapping only on each beat. The second divides the beat in half (8th notes). The third divides each beat in threes (8th note triplets). The fourth divides each beat in fours (16th notes). The goal of this exercise is to get you to hear different subdivisions in your head while playing a familiar exercise.

Hit The Road Jack

Here’s a play along track of a basic version of “Hit The Road Jack.” The bass line consists of 4 different notes. Open A string, G (3rd fret on E string), F (1st fret on E string), and open E string. Each one of these notes is a half note meaning it lasts for 2 beats each. The first recording has the bass line so you can get comfortable with playing along with it. Once you’re comfortable you can move to the 2nd recording that doesn’t have the bass in it so you can hear what it sounds like with only you playing the bass line.

Fretting Hand Slides - E String (Exercise #5)

Exercise 3: Open String Ear Training

Listen to the exercise below and try to copy it using your ear. This pattern is 12 bars long (the recording repeats four times) and each note is an open string.

Exercise 2: Adding the Fretting Hand

Using the same pattern and drum beat from the Open String Exercise we’re now going to add the fretting hand. Play one time through the pattern on the open E string (1 x half note, 2 x quarter notes, and 2 x half notes) and then press down with your index finger of your fretting hand on the first fret and play the same pattern. Alternate playing the pattern on the open string and with your index pressing down on the first fret. Once you feel comfortable on the E string repeat the exercise on the other strings (A then D then G). Once you are comfortable playing along with the bass then you can go back to the “Drums Only” file and play along by yourself.

Exercise 1: Open Strings

I know some of these exercises we’re working on can be really boring so something we can do to help that is play along with a backing track. I’ve created a basic groove that consists of 1 x half note (2beats) 2 x quarter notes (1 beat each) and 2 x half notes (2 beats each). Using that basic groove we’re going to go through all of the open strings. Listen to the audio with the bass as an example and try to make your bass sound like that. Hold each note out until the next note. We’ll start with the open E string, then the A, the D, and the G. Once you feel you have a solid grasp of what this exercise should sound like then move on to the “Drums Only” version below. You’ll probably notice that the drums’ bass drum pattern matches the rhythm of the bass, take a mental note of that for now because that will be an important concept in the future.

METRONOME APP RECOMMENDATION

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pro-metronome-tempo-beat-subdivision-polyrhythm/id477960671

Below is a video of how to set up your metronome. You DON’T need an external speaker in my opinion and you DON’T need to upgrade to the paid version of the app if you don’t want to. Both are completely optional.

Tuning

Here is a link to the tuning app I recommend. I also dug up a tutorial for the app to get you started.

Cleartune App

Standard tuning for a bass guitar is E - A - D - G. That means the lowest string (the fattest one that’s closest to your head when you hold the bass as if you’re about to play it) is tuned to an E note, the next string (2nd closest to your head) is an A, next is D, lastly G is the skinniest string furthest away from your head. There is a little needle that will tell you if the string you play is too flat (too low) or too sharp (too high). Once you get each string as close to the middle as you can then you are ready to rock.

Beginning Technique Exercises

Here are two videos, one about the technique of each hand.