I want to learn the bass Book 1
Chapter 1
Lesson 1
How to choose your bass It all depends on who’s going to use it and the type of music that the person is into. If you're are right-handed or left-handed. If you are a parent wanting to buy your child a bass and your child is still small, then go for a mini or shortscale bass. Bass can be heavy, big and lengthy. So always consider these factors before buying because you will struggle reaching notes and also during practise, it will be uncomfortable.
Some more factors to consider are the types of bass, if it's electric, acoustic, u-bass, fretless or double bass. (Please see type of bass for more details) Best practise in buying your bass is to go to a guitar shop because not only you can hear what the bass sounds like but also you can hold it and have a go if it feels right for you. Also there are loads of stocks in the store which means you can choose any type, size and style you want. Plus there are store managers and assistants to help you and you can directly ask their expertise to help you decide on your first bass.
Lesson 2
Parts of the bass
Lesson 3
How to tune your bass
The most convenient and accurate to tune your bass guitar is by using a tuner. Either a clip-on tuner, a phone app tuner or via your effects pedal. Most multi-effects pedal got built-in tuner. You can either choose a Chromatic tuner or from a selector mode of the tuner which is specific to bass guitar.
Lesson 4
Music alphabet, numbers and notes.
A B C D E F G
Letters can be a chord or can be an individual note i.e. Root Note/Key
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Numbers could represent as a chord itself or a note on a scale or an interval. Also it can be the fret number when you are reading a tablature. (See how to read TAB lesson)
Time Signature: 4/4: Four counts in four bars 1, 2, 3, 4.... (Rock) 3/4: Three counts in four bars 1, 2, 3... (Waltz) 2/4: Two counts in four bars 1, 2.... (March)
Lesson 5
How to read TAB
There are four lines that represents the four strings of the bass. The line on top means higher pitch and bottom line represents lower pitch. The other way of looking at it is like it's a reverse fretboard facing you.
Sample Chord on Tab
G_____________________
D_____________________
A_____________________
E_____________________
Sample Riff on Tab
G______0__3__5______0__3__6__5_______
D______________________________________
A______________________________________
E______________________________________
String No. 4 (low E string)
Chapter 2
Lesson 1
E as a Note and/or a Chord
G_______________________________________
D_______________________________________
A_______________________________________
E________0______________________________
So the E note or chord is the open 4th string. Hence on the TAB it's written as O. Now that you know where the E note or chord is located, before you start playing, we will need to review our notes and the measurement.
In this exercise you need to tap or clap your hand whilst counting to get the timing or measurement of the note.
Whole Note: 4 Beats - Count 1 to 4 and clap on 1
Half Note: 2 Beats - Count 1 to 4 and clap on 1 and 3
Quarter Note: 1 Beat - Count 1 to 4 then clap on all
8th Note: 1/2 Beat - Count 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & then clap on all
16th Note: 1/4 Beat - Count 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a then clap on all.
Lesson 2
A as a Note and/or a Chord
G______________________________________
D______________________________________
A_______0______________________________
E______________________________________
The A note or chord is the open string of the 3rd string. Hence on the TAB its again written as O. Practise playing using whole note, half note, quarter, 8th and 16th if you can.
You can try and experiment which works best for your plucking hand whether you use a plectrum or your fingers. Try and develop your technique.
Lesson 3
D as a Note and/or a Chord
G______________________________________
D________0_____________________________
A______________________________________
E______________________________________
The D note or chord is the open string of the 2nd string. Again it's written O on the TAB as an open 2nd string. Repeat the exercises that we've learned and try to create a rhythm.
For example: Half note and two 8th notes.
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
D D D
Remember that when you're playing bass you are also a secondary drummer giving rhythm to the song.
Lesson 4
G as a Note and/or a Chord
G_______0______________________________
D______________________________________
A______________________________________
E______________________________________
The G note or chord is the open string of the 1st string. Again it's written O on the TAB because it's an open string. Use all the exercises that we've learned. Use the plectrum or your fingers. Create your own variation or rhythm using this chord or note.
Chapter 3
Lesson 1
Learn the fretboard
On our previous lesson we learned about the chord or note G. Now in order for us to learn the fretboard, we need to know where these notes are located.
G as a Note and/or a Chord on the fretboard
G___0_________________________________
D_______5_____________________________
A____________10_______________________
E___________________3_________________
The 1st open string is our G but also if we press on the 2nd string 5th fret, we also got our G note or chord. The same on the 3rd string 10th fret. And on 4th string 3rd fret.
Next, is to learn about the dots or fret markers. If you look on your bass fretboard, there are dots or markers. The purpose of that is to make life simple and instead of counting the frets, you will have a guide on where you are on the fretboard.
In this diagram, you will see what notes are on the dots or markers.
G___G#/Ab___A#/Bb___C_____D_____E_____
D___D#/Eb_____F______G_____A_____B____
A___A#/Bb_____C______D_____E___F#/Gb__
E____F________G______A_____B___C#/Db__
0 1 3 5 7 9
So, on the 0 or open strings, we got E, A, D, G which is also our guide in tuning the bass plus at the beginning of this book, we learned about the open chords or notes.
Now, on the first fret, some bass got a marker but others don't so it depends on the bass that you got. But it is still essential to know what notes you got on the first fret. It's F, A#/Bb, D#/Eb, G#/Ab which is actually just moving notes half step.
E, F, F#/Gb, A, A#/Bb, B, C, C#/Db, D, D#/Eb
The sequence is when you move upwards half step, you will have sharps (#) with the exception of E and B. Then moving downwards you will have flats (b) with exception of C and F.
Lesson 2
Learn the Octaves
Octave is the 8th note of the scale. It's the same note but it's either higher or lower.
E note or chord
G_____________________________________
D_______________2_____________________
A_____________________________________
E________0____________________________
A note or chord
G_____________2_______________________
D_____________________________________
A________0____________________________
E_____________________________________
D note or chord
G_____________7_______________________
D_______0_____________________________
A_____________________________________
E_____________________________________
Lesson 3
Major Triads G Note or Chord triad
G______________________________________
D________________________________0_____
A_________2____5____________2__________
E_____3_________________3______________
This is comprise of the 1 - 3 - 5 or in the case of G chord, it's G - B - D. The G here is your root or your 1 then B is your 3 or third and D is your 5 or fifth.
C Note or Chord triad
G_________________________________0____
D___________2____5___________2_________
A______3_________________3_____________
E______________________________________
The C chord is C - E - G. The C here is your root or your 1 then E is your 3 or third and G is your 5 or fifth.
D Note or Chord triad
G________________________________2_____
D_________6_____7______0____4__________
A_____5________________________________
E______________________________________
The D chord is D - F# - A. The D is your root or your 1 then F# is your 3 or third and A is your 5 or fifth.
A Note or Chord triad
G_______________________________________
D_________________________________2_____
A_________6____7________0____4__________
E_____5_________________________________
The A chord is A - C# - E. The A is your root or your 1 then C# is your 3 or third and E is your 5 or fifth.
E Note or Chord triad
G_________________________1____4_______
D____________________2_________________
A_______________2______________________
E______0___4___________________________
The E chord is E - G# - B. The E is your root or your 1 then G# is your 3 or third and B is your 5 or fifth.
Lesson 4
Minor Triads
Minor triads got a flattened 3 or translated to 1 - b3 - 5. Or, in the case of G chord its G - Bb - D. The G is your root or 1 and the Bb is your b3 or flattened third and D is your 5 or fifth.
G minor or Gm
G_______________________________________
D_________________________________0_____
A__________1____5___________1___________
E______3_______________3________________
C minor or Cm
G_________________________________0_____
D__________1_____5___________1__________
A_____3_________________3_______________
E_______________________________________
A minor or Am
G_______________________________________
D_________________________________2_____
A__________3____7___________3___________
E______5_______________5________________
D minor or Dm
G___________________________________2___
D___________3_____7___________3_________
A______5________________5_______________
E_______________________________________
E minor or Em
G____________________________0_____5____
D______________________2________________
A_______________2_______________________
E______0___3____________________________
Chapter 4
Lesson 1
Learning Songs
All Apologies by Nirvana
Based on 1 - 4- 5 chords progression. For example: 1 is C then 4 is F and 5 is G. If we transpose it to C#, then 1 is C# and 4 is F# and 5 is G#. And if your bass is dropped tune to Eb, then your chords are D as your 1 and G as your 4 and A as your 5.
For now, let us simplify the song and play it on C.
G_______________________________________
D_______________________________________
A_3__3_3___3___3_3____3___3_3____3__3_3_
E_______________________________________
Then the chorus goes to F and G
G_______________________________________
D_______________________________________
A_______________________________________
E__2_________________________4__________
F (In the sun...) G (Married...)
Lesson 2
Ghost Notes
Ghost notes is when you pluck the string and its being muted. You can call it as unnecessary note.
In this lesson we will try learning the song Creep by Radiohead
Chord progression is 1 - 3 - 4 - 4m (in the key of G)
G______________________________________
D______________________________________
A____________2____3_____3______________
E_______3______________________________
G B C Cm
Bass Pattern:
G_____________________________________
D_____________________________________
A_____________________________________
E_______3____x_3_3_______3____x_3_3___
G x G G G x G G
G_____________________________________
D_____________________________________
A_______2____x_2_2_______2____x_2_2___
E_____________________________________
B x B B B x B B
G_____________________________________
D_____________________________________
A_______3____x_3_3_______3____x_3_3___
E_____________________________________
C x C C C x C C
G_____________________________________
D_____________________________________
A_______3____x_3_3____________________
E_____________________________________
Cm x CmCm
G_____________________________________
D_____________________________________
A_______3___5__6___8__________________
E________________________3____________
C D Eb F G
Lesson 3
Alternate finger plucking
using Index finger and Middle finger 8th note exercise.
Song: With Or Without You by U2
G______________________________________
D______________________________________
A__5_5_5_5_5_5_5_5___5_5_5_5_5_5_5_5___
E______________________________________
D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
G______________________________________
D______________________________________
A______________________________________
E___5_5_5_5_5_5_5_5___5_5_5_5_5_5_5_5__
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
G______________________________________
D______________________________________
A______________________________________
E___7_7_7_7_7_7_7_7___7_7_7_7_7_7_7_7__
BmBmBmBmBmBm BmBmBmBmBmBm
G______________________________________
D______________________________________
A______________________________________
E___3_3_3_3_3_3_3_3___3_3_3_3_3_3_3_3__
G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G
Lesson 4
Learning Bass Run and Slash Chords.
In this lesson we will be learning the song Zombie by The Cranberries.
Chord Progression: 6m - 4 - 1 - 5/7 (Em - C - G - D/F#)
Played as 8th note. 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & Time Signature: 4/4
G_______________________________________
D_______________________________________
A______________________3_3_3_3_3_3_5_3__
E__0_0_0_0_0_0_3_0______________________
G_______________________________________
D_______________________________________
A_______________________________________
E___3_3_3_3_3_3_5_3___4_4_4_4_4_4_4_4___
CONCLUSION:
I hope you’ve learned something from this book. Starting from your first time to own or hold a bass up to the first note or chord you've learned as well as the first pluck of a string or strings.
Please continue to use this book and keep practising. And will see you again in BOOK 2. Just search on Amazon (I Want To Learn The Bass Book 2 by Vincent Ryan Borres).
