Bass Guitar Scales
(Scroll down to see the full list of tutorials in
this section)
 The foundation of music, believe it or not, isn’t actually
riffs and solos. It is scales. Every single riff or solo or rhythm you have ever heard follows a scale.
Even Billy Sheehan follows scales when he is shredding. In fact, that is why he is able to shred so efficiently;
he knows his scales and has come to master them through hard work and dedication.
So how can you learn your bass guitar scales?
A good knowledge of bass guitar scales and music theory will improve your playing tremendously. To cite a few
examples, learning bass scales will allow you to write your own songs, play in different styles of music, jam along
to other musicians and fast progressions in your musicianship.
Why so? If you have basic knowledge of music theory and scales, you can easily jam along with a live band simply
by knowing the key that the song is in. You will know what the notes that are appropriate to be played when you are
improvising on the bass.
Also, different kinds of scales (e.g. major and minor scales) sound differently. This is also reflected in the
mood of the song created in major (happy) or minor (sad) keys. Having the knowledge of scales will also help your
creative juice flowing and allows you to apply your theory knowledge into practical playing. In short, you do not
have to play around with notes blindly just to know which ones will get you the ideal effects.
 By utilizing these fundamental music theories, you'll be able to express
feelings in your music and vice versa, you will also be able to home in on different styles of music. Say for
example, you want to play country music. The cool thing to know is that different scales bring along different
flavours to them.
In flamenco music, the use of Phrygian guitar modes is used to add a distinct Spanish taste to the sound. On the
other hand, the use of major pentatonic scales is the cornerstone for country music.
This scale gives country it's distinct upbeat and happy sounding music. The idea here is that certain styles of
music makes use of certain scales. You can add a huge repertoire of sound diversity by mastering bass scales.
The important question now is; "Great! How can I learn to play scales?". This section of lessons was specially
created for you to learn some of the most commonly used scales in music. By learning them, you will find that this
knowledge will uncover previously undiscovered avenues in your playing.
Lesson Listing - Scales on Bass Guitar:
- Getting Started With
the Major Scales
This is the most fundamental scale in music. Essentially, all other kinds of guitar scales or chords can be
derived or traced backwards to the major scale. Not surprisingly, this is the easiest scale to pick up.
-
What You Need to Know About
the Minor Scales
Along with the major scale, the natural minor scale is the essential ones that all bassists need to
learn and master under their belts. In this article, we will reveal several concepts behind it.
-
Tips
And Advice on Playing in Major Keys
In this article, we will be discussing how to play bass in the major keys. Basically, we want to cover
this tutorial as most modern forms of music are built around it.
-
Minor Pentatonic Scales
for Rock And Heavy Styled Music
The minor pentatonic scale is a 5 note sequence that is simple to learn and easy to apply in your
everyday playing. It's very popular in rock or hard rock genres of music.
-
Pentatonic Scales And How to
Play Them on The Bass
Learn the theory behind the pentatonic scales on the bass guitar with this video tutorial. Besides the
basic fundamentals, we are also going to look at practical applications.
-
How to Practice
Bass Guitar Scales Effectively
I know it is a chore to practice scales. Most bassists and guitarists dread it. Well, if you want to
improve your overall musicianship, this is what you need to do to help train your ears, fingers and
overall understanding of music.
-
Chromatic Scales For
Improvising And More...
If there's one scale that most people don't need to memorize, its the chromatic scale. With half steps
between each interval, this scale is usually used for improvisation or ab-lib purposes.
-
Melodic Minor Scale to
Create Distinct Sounding Tones in Music
The melodic minor is a variation of the bass natural minor scale. With raised notes during accession,
it creates a very unique flavor to your music playing.
-
Learn the Practical Usages
of the Ionian Modes on Bass
Though the C ionian mode is essentially the same notes as a C major scale, the context in which it is
applied to is usually different. Find out more as we explain it in more depth.
-
Master the Dorian Modes And
Correctly Apply Them in Your Music
The dorian mode is a variation of the natural minor except that it has a raised 6th. While most people
are familiar with D dorian which consists of the same notes as the C major scale, the full flavor of
the mode is brought out over the chords (D dorian over D minor chords) it is played with.
-
Create Spanish
Sounding Licks With the Phrygian Mode
The phrygian mode creates a spanish/flamenco feel. While there are lots of practical uses for this
mode, one of the best ways to discover and learn more about them is through practice.
-
Lydian Modes to Help
Improvising Bassists Create Happy And Upbeat Tones
The lydian mode is a close cousin of the Ionian mode and creates a happy feel to it. However, what is
potentially useful to the improvising musician is that it can help create unusual flavors and tension
in music when used right.
-
Jazz Style Musicians
Guide to the Mixolydian Modes
Like the Lydian mode, the Mixolydian mode is one of the most interesting scales for the bass guitar.
Typically, this mode has found its way into a staple tone for jazz music as well as achieving blues and
country sounds.
-
Aeolian Scales And Modes
That Are Commonly Found in Popular Music
The Aeolian mode is the diatonic scale of the natural minor. This is a mode in which many of us are
familiar with due to its common usage in western and rock music.
-
Locrian Modes And Its
Usage in Death/Heavy Metal Genres
The locrian mode stands out from the other counterparts due to is tensive and dissonance feel it
creates. Typically, they are used in heavy metal or death metal music.
-
Melodic Minor Modes
- How to Utilize the Them In Your Playing
This is a lesson that stems from the earlier article on melodic minor scale. Find out more about how to
apply the modes to your playing and what they can do for you to achieve a particular sound or feel.
Bass Scales For Beginners - A Detailed Look at Specific
Topics...
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