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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.

Here's the link: How to use a tuner

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 1 Video Link E Note or Chord

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 2 Video Link on A Note or Chord

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 3 Video Link on D Note or Chord

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.

Lesson 4 Video Link on G Note or Chord

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 1 Video Link on Fretboard and Markers

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 2 Video Link on Octaves

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 3 Video Link on Major Triads

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____________________________

Lesson 4 Video Link on minor triads

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 1 Video Link on All Apologies Bass Tutorial

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 2 Video Link Creep by Radiohead

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 3 Video Link to With or With You by U2

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___

Lesson 4 Video Link to Zombie by Cranberries

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).

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