Bass guitar basics pdf

Just plain c-major scale notes. Time values of notes: are related with time signatures. For example waltz time signature is three quarters. This means that in waltz, we have three beats or three counts for one measure, with quarter note receiving one beat, or count. And for rock or blues we have four beats or counts per measure with quarter note receiving one beat or.

I wont use staff, clef sign, or time signatures and classical notation in this book, but I found it useful to mention. When you master this manual, youll have batter clue why. Also when you go to next level of learning I think this will be useful as well.

If we play same scale, but starting from some other note, in music theory, these scales are called C-major scale modes. Logically, if we have seven basic tones, also we have seven modes: Ionian corresponding to Cmaj7 major scale. Main idea of playing through positions is not to make big moves with whole hand on guitar neck, or trying to find notes randomly, but rather to learn notes and get use to them, and just move fingers.

I will explain seven, or I can say eight positions. The last position will be actually reflected first one, but with slightly changed fingering, having in mind that we play empty or open strings in first position. Every position refers to specified C major mode, or lets say refers to appropriate note from C-major Cmaj7 scale. In this book, I will name them by numbers, and notes. Numbers are here instead of other names, so first position will be named first because it is the first note within Cmaj7 scale on our guitar it is note E on four string bass, and note B on five string bass guitar.

So first position starts with open strings played with zero fret , second position starts on first fret from note F with four string, and note C with five string bass, and so on When I learned positions, I preferred note naming at that time, I still used four string bass guitars - so first position was E-position, second one F-position and so on. Having in mind that this book covers both four string, and five string bass guitars, that is the reason that Ill stick for number-naming rather that note.

For example: I rather call the first position first position, than E, or B position, because on five string guitar, when we play the notes on B-string, everything else is completely the same. We can say that B-string basically was addition to four string bass. Chapter 4 Before you start Before you start practicing, there are few extremely important things that you should have in your mind all of the time. Start practicing in slow tempo.

Actually, always use tempo that you are able to play exercise smooth, easy, and crisp. If you are not able to, lets say, repeat some exercise eight times with no single mistake you should not rise up tempo.

Much wiser is rather to slow it down until you can play the exercise easily and smooth, with no mistakes. So keywords are: smooth, easy, crisp.

Of course, at the very beginning, you will not be able to play exercise in a way that for example I do it but do not worry about this at all. Practicing is accumulative process. So even if you do not notice small improvements after any exercise, believe me there are some. After every single practicing session. In very short time, you will start to notice that your technique is improving. If you have some kind of recording device, such as an iPhone, or android phone, or camera with movie recording option, or whatever, record short clip of yourself when you start practicing, at the very beginning.

And make the same clip of the same exercises after two weeks, and after one month, and then compare these clips. You will see improvement instantly. Cool, right?

If you are real beginner, and you have just started, this can sound discouraging, but I have good news, it is not. Remember, every big star had hard time at his beginnings. Your idol, if you have one - too. Lot of work and passion is behind every successful musician. Actually, lot of hard work is behind any successful person at any given skill, or occupation, or whatsoever.

As a matter of fact, when you drill yourself in direction that you play any given exercise easy, smooth and clean you will be able to raise tempo quite easily. So important thing at beginning, is just to be patient, and not to give up.

And in very short time you will be amazed with results. You will notice that your progress is exponential. At the very beginning, at the very start, it really is a bit hard, but after just short amount of time and effort progress will be noticeable on daily basis.

Just be patient, and dont rush. Also, when you start practicing, try to pronounce aloud, or if it is a bit easier for you, actually sing the names of notes that you play.

Yes, I know that some of you may ask what the difference is. But believe me, pronouncing aloud or singing , makes a BIG difference.

I do not know how to explain it in words. That is beyond my knowledge, but in real life, I noticed that when you pronounce notes aloud, brain just memorize things much better. I guess it is because of repeating: if you say notes only by heart, from your memory, without sound, you repeat that note only once. I noticed one of the reasons why people do not pronounce notes aloud is that they are a bit shy, especially kids. Somehow, they do not feel comfortable with it. Especially for introvert kind of persons.

So, if you actually bought this book for your youngsters, please do not laugh on them, but rather offer them your full support with your smile. Smile is good laughing is not. Again, especially for introverts. So, in short terms, start practice in slow tempo, and pronounce notes aloud, or sing them. Play exercises all the way to the end and back. Of course, this applies on all modes and exercises. Be patient and persistent.

Do not give up easily. This is also good practice for your entire life, get yourself tempo that you can sustain, and never give up, and if the sky is your aim, you will reach the sky. I am not sure if I got the point in translation, but anyhow I decided to leave it here. Also, my recommendation for you is just to fly over this whole book first. You will need just a minutes, not hours, promise. This will help you to remember where to start with your practice for next time.

And also, it will help you to get general impression what this book is all about. If images are too small for you, I recommend you to save them onto your computer and print them, or to make sketches with free hand. So, I guess that would be all I wanted to say before you take your guitar, and do some serious business. So, grab your guitar, and get to work! Good luck! Guitar fingerboard also: fretboard Following image show fingerboard of five string bass guitar.

Fifth string is low B. If you are using four string bass guitar simply disregard the left column. Numbers show frets. Zero fret matches empty or open strings. We also call it nut opposite side from bridge. We do not press anything just pick the string. Notes with different sign, but the same sound are called enharmonic notes. These few exercises are also excellent for stretching hands, fingers, tendons and ligaments. You have probably already heard when some famous musicians, and excellent players say they practice for several hours every day.

One of things that they actually do is the same as sportiest they train to achieve and keep good form. When you reach top form, just a week without practicing results with ligaments and tendons shrinking, and decreasing of your playing form. One famous musician said if I do not practice for one day I can notice that.

If I do not practice for two days critics will notice that. And if I do not practice for three days audience starts to notice. Lets hope this book will be the starter, that one day with all your effort, will bring you into these kind of musicians. I am right-handed person, so, my left hand is on guitar neck, and I use right hand for plucking strings.

If you do not feel comfortable with plucking strings with fingers, you can start using guitar prick, but my recommendation is to use fingers, and to use them one after another. For example when one note is played on one string lets say D-string and next one is on the string that is located above A string , right hand will set itself in short time if your tone on D string was played with middle finger, it is logical that note on A string will be played with that finger too, because that finger arrives to string A first.

Do not worry about this, as I said, hand will simply set itself, and find right positions! At very beginning it is ok just to play one single note, you can press note G on fifth fret on D string and just try to play in steady tempo.

One finger, after another schematically: G 1 , G 2 , G 1 , G 2 and so Remember at very beginning it is hard, but please do not give up just because it is hard. After less than a week you will start to realize it is not so hard it is easy. Just put the fingers onto fingerboard, and play in tempo that you can hold and play. Do not worry if it seems it is too slow. I will repeat one more time, the most important thing is not to speed things up when it is not time for speeding up.

It is allowed to raise tempo when you are able to play exercise nice, smooth and crisp and clean and easy with as less effort as possible. If you rush while you are still not able to speed things up you are on good track to screw things completely. There is big chance that you will not set your fingering correctly, and later, you will have lot of troubles with it.

So, again please do not rush. Be patient. For all these exercises set metronome on tempo , and start. If it is too quick for you, please, slow it down. If it is still too quick do not be afraid to slow down even more. Remember the good news, when you set thing correctly in slow tempo, you will be able to raise tempo quite easily.

Put fingers on whatever position on your guitar, according to the image. I would recommend somewhere on the middle of your fingerboard.

If frets are too far for your hand, just put it closer to the bridge where distance in between frets is smaller. Numbers match fingers. Repeat every exercise at least eight times. If you are just starting I guess you will even feel a bit of pain in your hand, but you know how they say no pain no gain.

After a while, when your hands and tendons become stretched and elastic, you can choose whether you want to use this exercises for warming up, or youll go to scale exercises straight away.

You can move hand up, closer to tuning mechanism where distance in between frets is a bit longer. Now, you will be able to play at that region of guitar neck. But for start, I do recommend these exercises. It looks simple, which it is, but is also excellent for stretching hands. Stretching exercise No 1. You play: 3 4 3 4 1 2 1 2 Stretching exercise No 2. You play: 1 4 1 4 2 3 2 3 Stretching exercise No 3. You play: 4 1 4 1 3 2 3 2 Stretching exercise No 4.

You play: 2 1 2 1 4 3 4 3 Stretching exercise No 6. You play: 2 3 2 3 1 4 1 4 Stretching exercise No 7.

You play: 3 2 3 2 4 1 4 1 Stretching exercise No 8. You play: 1 3 1 3 2 4 2 4 Stretching exercise No You play: 4 2 4 2 3 1 3 1 Stretching exercise No You play: 2 4 2 4 1 3 1 3 Stretching exercise No It is open E- string. It is actually Phrygian mode of C-major scale. But having in mind that I will also use extended scheme for five-string guitar, so the first note is B Locrian because of this intention to cover both, four and five string bass guitars, I will stick just for naming by numbers so we will call it just first position.

So, if you use five string bass guitar, this position matches Locrian B mode scale. From that point, position, tones, and fingering are the same on both four and five string guitar. Bass tabs are a great way to help you learn a song exactly note for note, and to get down all of the little, but very important details that count.

To find your favorite bass tabs, click on the first letter of the artist or band name. Most artists and bands are alphabetized according to their first name, unless they are widely known by their last name. We hope you enjoy our free bass tabs! All the bass guitar scales in the book are presented as movable diagrams, allowing you to play all over the neck.

Bass tab, showing the scales in 1 octave, is also provided. Bass Guitar Scales Chords And Arpeggios also features bass chords, both in open position and as movable chord shapes.