This important lesson shows you how to learn and use arpeggios on the bass, by applying my ‘linear harmony concept’ and, most importantly, shows how this concept can actually be applied to other areas of music!
Ok, we’ve all been told it’s imperative for us to practice our arpeggios and scales on the bass, but what you might not have been told is that what’s incredibly important how you practice them. Running arpeggios up and down the neck is fine, but just doing this will not really have any great effect on your playing.
By practicing them using my ‘continuous arpeggio exercises’ (explained in the following video tutorials), you will find that chord tones really unlock the mysteries of the fretboard. You’ll actually start ‘seeing’ the chord tones all over the neck which in-turn will stop you having to jump around the fingerboard unnecessarily as you will have whatever harmony you need under your fingers wherever you are on the neck.
As well as transforming the way you ‘see’ harmony on the neck these exercises are also an amazing ear training tool as well! By applying these exercises to your regular practice time you will start hearing the arpeggios in all there different inversions which in turn will help the development your ear.
These exercises are hard and it will take a lot of practice… but it really will transform your bass playing and your understanding of harmony. Work them into your daily practice routine and you will start to see the benefits. Good luck in the shed! S.
Click to download lesson worksheet
Part 2
Part 3
Want the tab and notation for this lesson?!… Click here to find out!
Excellent tutorial as usual Scotty, the notes,fingerings and ideas are inspirational. Great stuff.
So is the idea of the lesson to learn and execute the arpeggio shapes depending on which finger the root note falls on?
I hope that’s right
Yeah, basically there are at least three patterns for every arpeggio. Learn them all and you’ll start to ‘see’ the shapes all over the neck. Easy man, S.
These videos have helped me more than anything else i have done. i struggle with theory and have a few set patterns i revolved around however this is enourmous. I am takin gone video at a time and even these few patterns areenough to keep me occupied for a month.
and amazingly enough new shapes are revealing themselves and as a result of this clarity my speed has increased fluidly..thanks a lot for these :) mucho gracias
Glad to help matey! Spread the word! S.
Excellent. very motivational and extremely useful for me.
Scott,
I have been a mediocre bassist at my very best for around 10 yrs or so and I found your site and videos around 2 weeks ago and it has really blown my musically challenged mind. I really appreciate what you have done here and I am improving like crazy with this fresh look and approach to the bass.
Thanks Man!
Hey thanks for checking the site out man! S
Hi Scott
“How should I practice scales and arpeggios” is a question which has been driving me mad for about a decade, believe it or not! I’ve tried many times to get my teeth stuck into it, but since I have no idea when it’s time to move on (i.e when enough is enough), I tend to get bored and give up altogether. Your vids are brilliant! Only one question, really – is there a really good reason why the second minor 7 “shape” should begin on the middle finger? My pinky is real short compared to my other fingers, so the ring finger feels much more natural.
Thanks again for an amazing contribution to bass education, amigo. Wishing you all the best with the glove-therapy :)
John… glad to be of service! The minor 7th shape starting on the second finger… if it feels better using the third finger… do it lol! Peoples bodies are made differently. Thanks again for checking my stuff out! S ;)
Hi Scott,
I see you in these tutorials using five string basses with BEADG orEADGC string configurations. Which would you recommend in general?
Hey Bruce, I’m using EADGC but in all honesty I wouldn’t recommend one over an other. I suppose it just depends what your after… EADGC is great for chordal stuff and gives you a little more higher range whereas BEADG is great for pop, gospel type stuff where it’s good to have a little more low end. Hey… 6 string does both! Maybe that’s what i’ll get next, although I do like have a limited amount of note choices… makes me feel like i’m having to be a little bit more creative with what i’ve got. That’s why I really love playing 4 strings too. Over and out. S
Love the video Scott, it has has helped a lot, but i have a question. In the video you included the C for the dminor arpeggio… so is there no difference b/w the minor and the minor 7th? or is it a kind of a more advanced skill building thing because you’d be more like likely to use the 7th in soloing rather than not? and does the same apply with the major?
Yeah… in most cases you can get away with using a 7th on a minor chord. On a major chord you’ve gotta treat it with a little more care. Sometimes it sounds great when you put a major 7th on a straight major chord but sometimes in sounds a little weird and out of context. In jazz or extended harmonic type music it would usually sound cool (you’ve just got to trust your instincts – if it sounds like crap, don’t do it again lol!). In pop, rock, country etc a little more care is needed – but hey… just try it and see what fits! Easy man. S
Hey Scott!
Great videos! I notice you have quite big hands, which is great for the one finger per fret technique in the first position, but what about someone like me who has girly hands!? Do you recommend using double bass technique with the left hand in the first position? Some of those stretches are pretty awkward and still require me to move my hand, and on a fretless it makes intonation even more of an issue than normal!
Hey Martin… yeah definitely try out the double bass technique, I know a few guys who use it really well so it’s definitely worth looking at. Thanks for checking out the tut’s man! S
It’s a huge pleasure to reveal your vids one at a time and getting to know them slowly.
You’re doing a fantastic job here. Really helps and makes me wanna practice every chance I’ve got.
Hey Scott,
I hate studying but discovering your website has inspired me. I love the way you use tab in your PDF downloads, haven’t read music in 17 years, never needed too, never wanted too but for the first I’ve wanted too. Love your method of teaching, you make bass playing sound interesting (which it is!) coz most of the other online teachers make bass playing so boring (so stereotypical). Keep up the good work. Your the best man!
Hello Scott,
thanks a lot for these very inspiring videos! I have started studying the proposed II-V-I progression, but found it difficult to find _any_ closest arpeggio note on the chord changes, so I added a few levels of complexity: First try to find the closest root note and play up/down from there, then try to find the closest root or fifth and so on. This makes it a lot easier for me to get into this kind of playing that I have never approached, despite being a bass player for over 10 years (mainly metal/hardcore stuff though).
I´ll definitely hang out at your page more often, keep up your work and groove on!
Sure you probably know this but these are fantastic lessons and tips for 6 string guitar and other stringed instruments. I came to your website to improve my understanding of the role of the rhythm section in a band setting and started looking around. I’ve since found dozens of useful practice tips and exercises for my own 6 string guitar training. Heck I may convert to bass at the rate I’m going!
Hi Scot
Still on with these lessons, great. but I sound, dont really know how to describe this, but if i was speaking it would sound all in one tone, and boring, and I feel my playin is like this. Is there a lesson on this site that deals with this, or is there one to buy, Ive already got jazz begingings, and major ii,v,i. Cheers
Paul
Hi, dont reply to my last message, i found it, dynamics!!
Paul
Hey Scott, I’m new to your website and first wanted to say thanks so much. I can’t believe that you do all of this let alone for free! You must spend a lot of time on the videos and it’s definitely appreciated! But, I was trying to watch the videos for how to practice arpeggios, but none of the videos are coming up. I was able to download the worksheet but that’s about it! Any magic trick? Thanks again!
Taya
Hey Tayra great to hear you’re diggin’ the lessons! I think it could have been a temporary issue with the videos. try using a different browser too as sometimes that can be an issue. Scott ;)
Still not working, maybe you are still fixing it, but it just comes up as part 1, big blank, part 2 blank…
You are just so helpful. None of the lessons I saw from youtube taught me or explained me this theory and concepts. I learned why arpeggios and scales are so important in soloing now. knowing arpeggios for given chords helps me to connect all the chords using scales. I did not know this concept before.
I bought two of your packages.. they’re just so incredibly helpful.. thanks
Hi Scott, and other bass musician’s :)
I’ve been on this site for a couple of months, and it really helps me a lot (I’m still on the beginner level). I’m danish and have some trouble understanding every thing, but anyway, the lessons has helped me. Thanks for the time your spending on these lessons :)
hey scott, i play a 5 string bass as it gives me more flexability, but i noticed you tune your 5 eith a top e string where i tune mine with a top B ,, which way is more productive? i like being able to hit some real low notes. what are the plus and minus’s?
Hey Bob – I have my 5 string strung e,a,d,g,c. It just means I can play more chordal type stuff. But – I love low b too! Neither is better, just different. Scott ;)
Hi Scott,
You’ve single-handedly resurrected my passion for bass! I note you talk about arpeggios a lot and mention dominant and diminished arpeggios but is there a lesson where you introduce people to them? I’m still watching Part I of this video but my computer is playing up and I can’t seem to get through all the parts at the moment!
Scott
Sorry about that. Found them on you tube. Just getting familiar with your site.
John