Online Bass Lessons at StudyBass.com and the book Bass Guitar for Dummies, for the how to stuff. How to hold your bass, how to tune it, how to mute the strings, how to decide if you will use fingers, thumb or a pick, things like that.
Scales to get your fingers moving on the fretboard, however, about 85 to 95% of what we do is not from scales it's from chord notes. Follow the chords in the song and play the notes of the chord, aka chord tones.
I suggest you let Google find fake chord sheet music on your favorite songs -- Google guitar chords, "name of the song" the comma and quote marks help in the search.
So -- you gotta know your scales and put some generic chord tones into muscle memory, i.e. see the Cmaj7 chord coming up and know that the R-3-5-7 notes of the C scale are going to be a safe bass line. See the Am7 chord coming up and know that R-b3-5-b7 will work for that chord.
Right at first use only the Root, R-R-R-R and when that is easy add the 5 - R-5-R-5. When you can do that add the other chord tones. Add as many as you think are needed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obFcsEtFIKA
I think this should get you going.
Bass Patterns based upon the Major Scale box.
Code:
Major Scale Box.
G|---2---|-------|---3---|---4---| 1st string
D|---6---|-------|---7---|---8---|
A|---3---|---4---|-------|---5---|
E|-------|---R---|-------|---2---|4th string
Place the root (R) on the C note 4th string 8th fret and the C major scale await you.
Place the root (R) on the C note and play the R-3-5 and you have just played the notes of the C major chord aka C arpeggio. Chord progression for this song is G-C-D. Place your box root on a G on the 3rd string. Where is your C? Where is the D? The next song's progression is C-F-G. Place your box root on a C on the 3rd string. Where is your F? Where is your G? Yep, piece of cake.
Basic Chords
Major Triad = R-3-5
Minor Triad = R-b3-5
Diminished Chord = R-b3-b5
7th Chords
Maj7 = R-3-5-7
Minor 7 = R-b3-5-b7
Dominant 7 = R-3-5-b7
½ diminished = R-b3-b5-b7
Full diminished = R-b3-b5-bb7
Scales
Major Scale = R-2-3-4-5-6-7
Major Pentatonic = R-2-3-5-6
Natural Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7
Minor Pentatonic = R-b3-4-5-b7
Blues = R-b3-4-b5-5-b7
Harmonic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-7
Melodic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-6-7
Major modes
Ionian same as the Major Scale.
Lydian use the major scale and sharp the 4 - yes, it’s that simple.
Mixolydian use the major scale and flat the 7.
Minor Modes
Aeolian same as the Natural Minor scale.
Dorian use the Natural Minor scale and sharp the b6 back to a natural 6.
Phrygian use the Natural Minor scale and flat the 2.
Locrian use the Natural Minor scale and flat the 2 and the 5.
Generic Notes.
The root, five and eight are generic and fit most any chord. Remember the diminished has a flatted 5.
The 3 is generic to all major chords. See a major chord R-3-5-8 is a generic bass line that will work.
The b3 is generic to all minor chords. See a minor chord R-b3-5-8 is a generic bass line that will work.
The 7 is generic to all maj7 chords. R-3-5-7.
The b7 is generic to all dominant seventh and minor seventh chords. R-3-5-b7 or R-b3-5-b7.
The 6 is neutral and adds color, help yourself to 6’s. I like R-3-5-6 for major chords. Has a great sound.
The 2 and 4 make good passing notes. Don’t linger on them or stop on them, keep them passing.
In making your bass line help yourself to those notes, just use them correctly.
Remember roots, fives, eights and the correct 3 will play a lot of bass.
Get your scales going and put some generic chord tone patterns into muscle memory then go play the bass line to some songs. Google bass backing tracks and have fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUK5pE5x_6A look what is on the right hand side of the screen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwMYW...eature=related Just roots at first then see what else needs adding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4x0u...eature=related Again just roots for now, then see if you can get R-5 in before the music goes off and leaves you.
Have fun.
