Extended chords (9th, 11th, 13th) on bass

[gregouille23]

Hello,

I lately started to play more chords on bass, mostly for fun and for practicing melody, voice leading and chord progressions. But I have been limiting myself to basic patterns i.e. up to 7th chords. In order to expand further, I was wondering how you would play extended chords on bass. When playing a 7th chord I basically removed the 5th as it does not bring much color to the chord. So I assume extended chords would also work in a similar way. I play on a 4 strings so my range may be limited, I understand that. But are there ways to play such extended chords anyway?

Cheers,

 

[Drucifer]

There are a lot of books on bass chords out there, see here: Link Removed. One may help you, in my experience they don't show you which ones are practical or sound good, you'll have to try them to see what you like.

 

[Nashrakh]

Constructing these types of chords isn't the hard part, in my experience. As you said, eventually you will have to make choices as to what notes you'll drop (the 5th being the usual victim).

And I think it all comes down to hearing what kind of voicing you want - without the root if other instruments play it, no 7th but a 9th, no 3rd but an 11th, etc. I feel that's something no book can actually teach you.

Maybe getting into piano may be of worth to you. See what voicings pianists would play in their right hands (essentially limiting your note choices to a maximum of 5 notes), and work off of that.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

But are there ways to play such extended chords anyway?

Get a 6-string bass;
otherwise, continue what you are doing like 3rd, 7th, and 9th, or 7th, 3rd, and 9th.
In short, it would be a good idea to have that 3rd, 7th, and the top(est) extension.
Don't use a close voicing and don't forget inversions(?) of your three most important chord notes.

(P.S. If you have a bass playing the Root note).

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Constructing these types of chords isn't the hard part, in my experience. As you said, eventually you will have to make choices as to what notes you'll drop (the 5th being the usual victim).

And I think it all comes down to hearing what kind of voicing you want - without the root if other instruments play it, no 7th but a 9th, no 3rd but an 11th, etc. I feel that's something no book can actually teach you.

Maybe getting into piano may be of worth to you. See what voicings pianists would play in their right hands (essentially limiting your note choices to a maximum of 5 notes), and work off of that.

It's not that easy to simply "morph" piano chord voicing/s on the 4-string bass due to several "issues".

Here is a diagram of C7alt.
Which three notes are the most important of C7alt while playing on the 4-string bass and having ability to "properly" sonority-wise deliver "about" 3 chord notes?

 

[mambo4]

you may want to explore Invalid Link Removedwhich can use only the Root, 3rd, 7th
often even the root is dropped -which can get suspicious when you are the bass player.
which leave you with 3, & 7 and any extension

the basic idea behind this is a chord's function depends on its quality and its stability. Quality is major (maj 3rd) or minor (min 3rd) and the chord is either stable (maj 7) or moving(min 7th). So with only 3 & 7 we fulfill the function.

When I have an extension or melody note that I must play when comping chords, I do this:

1. play the melody note/extension on the G string
2. add the lowest root possible in that position (E or A string)*
3. look for a 3rd or 7th on the D string -there's always one in range
4. forget the other notes
5. If is sounds like ass, try something else

*Generally I play the root If at all possible.
Occasionally the chord will be some kind of transitional chord
or the voice leading will imply a cool chromatic movement
that allows for an inversion , leaving the root out.

It's not something that I do on the fly at my level, but after spending time experimenting an crafting.

 

[gregouille23]

Thanks for the replies so far. Well I don't intend to buy a 6 string... for now
Once I get more proficient with chords I may restring my 5 string EADGC though.
@mambo4 indeed I saw in a video someone skipping the root. I have yet to play around with it.

 

[mambo4]

becaureful there: the whole reason Jazz voicings will skip the root is because we bassists are relied upon to play the root.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

becaureful there: the whole reason Jazz voicings will skip the root is because we bassists are relied upon to play the root.

I think first we need to establish the "need"/"desire" to play chords on the bass.
Is it because there is only the bass guitar and a vocalist/soloist?
Is it because there is only the bass guitar in the band?
Or just some "sprinkling" double-stops in a full-fledged band.

Also, incorporating the chord-style comping/playing on the bass guitar could be interpreted as
"play the solid bass note first",
and
follow by some rootless, "shell", "axis" type of chord higher in the register.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Once I get more proficient with chords I may restring my 5 string EADGC though.

Here is my opinion.
Even a 4-string bass guitar could satisfy your starting usage of chords on the bass.
Things to consider.
You do NOT need to play one kind of chord voicing in one measure as just ONE kind of voicing architecture.
Which means, that changing chord voicing/s (of the same chord) every other beat or every beat (but of course, rhythmically adjusted) could help you to "melodiously" enforce that chord and produce a harmonic movement forward while staying on the same chord.

 

[gregouille23]

I think first we need to establish the "need"/"desire" to play chords on the bass.
Is it because there is only the bass guitar and a vocalist/soloist?
Is it because there is only the bass guitar in the band?
Or just some "sprinkling" double-stops in a full-fledged band.

Also, incorporating the chord-style comping/playing on the bass guitar could be interpreted as
"play the solid bass note first",
and
follow by some rootless, "shell", "axis" type of chord higher in the register.

At the moment I have no goal to ever perform chords on bass on a gig, at least not using bass as the primary melodic instrument. For now, all I am after is to have fun at home, apply music theory and maybe later use some progression in compositions.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

There are a lot of books on bass chords out there, see here: Link Removed. One may help you, in my experience they don't show you which ones are practical or sound good, you'll have to try them to see what you like.

I've checked your suggested web-site.
Here is my opinion about one of them.
Bass Scales, Chords & Arpeggios Book By Guitar Command
Bass Guitar Scales Chords And Arpeggios is a printable PDF book for bass guitarists. It contains a huge range of movable scale, chord and arpeggio fingerboard diagrams – allowing you to play in any key.

Does the author realize how it sounds in REAL LIFE?
The author indicates playing Em as - Open E, B on the A string, E on the D string, and Open G.
Or playing (barre) Fm on the first fret???

It's a BASS GUITAR!

 

[BrBss]

I've checked your suggested web-site.
Here is my opinion about one of them.
Bass Scales, Chords & Arpeggios Book By Guitar Command
Bass Guitar Scales Chords And Arpeggios is a printable PDF book for bass guitarists. It contains a huge range of movable scale, chord and arpeggio fingerboard diagrams – allowing you to play in any key.

Does the author realize how it sounds in REAL LIFE?
The author indicates playing Em as - Open E, B on the A string, E on the D string, and Open G.
Or playing (barre) Fm on the first fret???

It's a BASS GUITAR!

View attachment 3338544

And the Dm fingering shown is even worse!

 

[bfields]

I seem to remember this video having some good examples:

 

[mambo4]

Janek Gwizdala has a good video on this, with some practical exercises

 

[SteveCS]

...

Does the author realize how it sounds in REAL LIFE?
...

That has to be a resounding NO... Those guitar-type voicings CAN be made to work around and above 12-15, but IME the minute the lowest note is below D on the E string it has to be 7ths or compound intervals, 9ths, 10th, 11ths and 13ths etc.

And the Dm fingering shown is even worse!

5ths above and 4ths below can be done with care anywhere, but first inversion with a doubled 5th in that register, that's just careless...

 

[Lobster11]

At the moment I have no goal to ever perform chords on bass on a gig, at least not using bass as the primary melodic instrument. For now, all I am after is to have fun at home, apply music theory and maybe later use some progression in compositions.

If that's the case, why don't you get yourself an inexpensive guitar for this purpose? Everything you learn about chord construction and theory will transfer to bass, and it will probably be more useful for writing chord progressions for compositions.

 

[TheLowDown33]

I'm a chordal bass player (at least my solo stuff) and I notice that once you try to add extensions, it often requires you to leave out other voices (essentially play shell voicings). Theres nothing wrong with this, but it becomes difficult when you have chords bigger than 7th chords because you often have to leave out a defining quality (anything but an unaltered 5th, in practice) which makes the chord kind of ambiguous. It works, but you just have to be very wise with your note choices and your voice leading to make it happen.

 

[gregouille23]

If that's the case, why don't you get yourself an inexpensive guitar for this purpose? Everything you learn about chord construction and theory will transfer to bass, and it will probably be more useful for writing chord progressions for compositions.

I do have a guitar and can play basic open and barre chords. But guitar is just not my instrument, I dont enjoy it very much. So i would prefer to expand on chords on bass and see where that takes me

 

[fjbass78]

I've checked your suggested web-site.
Here is my opinion about one of them.
Bass Scales, Chords & Arpeggios Book By Guitar Command
Bass Guitar Scales Chords And Arpeggios is a printable PDF book for bass guitarists. It contains a huge range of movable scale, chord and arpeggio fingerboard diagrams – allowing you to play in any key.

Does the author realize how it sounds in REAL LIFE?
The author indicates playing Em as - Open E, B on the A string, E on the D string, and Open G.
Or playing (barre) Fm on the first fret???

It's a BASS GUITAR!

View attachment 3338544

i think that website is just showing you arpeggios of the chords. no way to play those as chords on a bass, i don't think.