Chord Progressions
Bass players tend not to play chords but there's no denying they're fun; not to mention useful to know. This video lesson takes you through the key of G major and harmonises it to get a set of seven different chords (see below the video for the diagram). Pair this lesson with the one on the seven arpeggios of C major.
G Major Harmonised In Tenths
Tenths are intervals and the root and the tenth makes up a double stop (technically not a chord but a nice and easy way to illustrate the point). Here they are with the fingering patterns.
Download the PDF: G Major Scale In 10ths
Roman Numerals (Nashville Number System)
Musicians number the chords using Roman numerals with lowercase denoting minor and uppercase for major chords:
I ii iii IV V vi vii
Take these shapes and experiment. Put them in different orders and you get chord progressions. Write a few then add some rhythm and organise your progressions into some sort of structure. You will have the beginnings of a piece of music.
Learning how melodies work over the top of the chords will give you another important element of music. This example is in the key of G major/E minor so use those scales as well as the pentatonic scales and you'll be in business.
Now go and write your next hit!
I have just started to play bass again after a break of fifty five years and I find your lessons great to get me going again. Aged eighty one , I’m having difficulty stretching my fingers to hit the note sufficiently hard enough to stop the buzzing. I shall carry on shifting my hand. Love the lessons.
Thanks very much, Mick, and good on you for picking it up again! Take it easy and just play what you can.
It’s a nice ththjg.please can you tThkeach me?
I don’t do private lessons unfortunately but hopefully, these free lessons will help you! Good luck.
I want to know how to play bass guitar perfectly
I don’t think anyone can play it perfectly but we can try! I have loads of free lessons and a premium course (From Beginner To Bassist) that will help.