Bass Patterns based upon the Major Scale box.
Code:
Major Scale Box.
Code:
G|---2---|-------|---3---|---4---| 1st string
D|---6---|-------|---7---|---8---|
A|---3---|---4---|-------|---5---|
E|-------|---R---|-------|---2---|4th string
Want to play the C major scale. Find a C note on your
fretboard. How about the one at the 4th string 8th fret.
Place the R over that note and play the major scale pattern.
The notes of the C major scale await you. The intervals
within the box are always in the same place - relative to
the root note, i.e. the 3rd note of the scale is always up a
string and back one fret. The 5th is always up a string and
over two frets. Place the root and play the pattern, the pattern
will automatically place the correct notes under your fingers.
I found the box to be a friend.
Basic Chords - triads
• Major Triad = R-3-5 a C triad is made from the root, 3rd and 5th interval of the C major scale.
• Minor Triad = R-b3-5 a C minor is made with a flatted 3rd interval.
• Diminished Chord = R-b3-b5 and the diminished chord has both a b3 and a b5.
7th Chords - four note chords
• Maj7 = R-3-5-7 is a major triad with a natural 7.
• Minor 7 = R-b3-5-b7 a minor triad with a flatted 7.
• Dominant 7 = R-3-5-b7 a major triad with a flatted 7.
• ½ diminished = R-b3-b5-b7 normally written as Xm7b5 or X with a little circle with a strike through.
• Full diminished = R-b3-b5-bb7 normally written as X with a little circle. No strike through.
See a chord and play it's chord tones. As every key will have three major, three minor and one diminished chord it's a good idea to get your major, minor and diminished bass line chord tones into muscle memory so when you see a chord your fingers just know what will work. Now the song may only give you enough room for the root, or root five - adapt and get as many chord tones into your bass line as needed. Root on 1 and a steady groove from the other chord tones plus something to call attention to the chord change will keep you gigging.
Scales
• Major Scale = R-2-3-4-5-6-7 Home base
• Major Pentatonic = R-2-3-5-6 Leave out the 4 & 7
• Natural Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7 Major scale with the 3, 6 & 7 flatted.
• Minor Pentatonic = R-b3-4-5-b7 Leave out the 2 & 6.
• Blues = R-b3-4-b5-5-b7 Minor pentatonic with the blue note b5 added.
• Harmonic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-7 Natural minor with a natural 7.
• Melodic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-6-7 Major scale with a b3.
Let the major scale be your home base then change a few notes and you have something different. No need to memorize a zillion patterns. Let the major scale pattern be your go to pattern - then adapt/adjust from there.
Generic Notes - for your bass line.
• 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. So R-3-5-3 will fit under any major chord.
• The b3 is generic to all minor chords. And R-b3-5-8 will fit under any minor chord. Why the 8? Well the 8 is just another root in the next octave.
• The 7 is generic to all maj7 chords. Yep, R-3-5-7 fits nicely.
• The b7 is generic to all dominant seventh and minor seventh chords. G7 = R-3-5-b7 or Gm7 = R-b3-5-b7.
• The 6 is neutral and adds color, help yourself to 6’s. Love the sound of R-3-5-6 with a major chord.
• 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.
• Roots, fives, eights and the correct 3 & 7 will play a lot of bass.
Hope that helps.
