Tip: Playing on one string

To play bass well, you will need to know how to shift positions confidently and move up and down the neck based on what you hear.

A good exercise is to learn to play melodies and scales on a single string.

Try Twinkle twinkle little star using just your index finger. Then On top of old smokey. The intent is to make you shift your hand comfortably. When you do this, note the interval that you are shifting to relative to the chord.

For scales, use 3 or 4 fingers as you refer. I play scale modes in order, major, mixolydian, dorian, aeolian, etc. Note which notes shift as you change mode.

Happy plucking

 

Bingo.