Chart reading is an invaluable skill for bassists, often overlooked in favor of flashy techniques or complex solos. Mastering it not only makes you a versatile musician but also equips you to tackle a wide variety of musical styles, from blues to jazz to pop.
This lesson will break down the essential areas you’ll master when learning to read chord charts, using a 6/8 blues chart in D from my upcoming Blues Bass course (sorry there's no PDF or backing track for this lesson. If you want it, you'll have to sign up for the course! I'll add links when I release it).
Here's the chord chart we'll be using for the lesson. It's a 6/8 slow blues in the style of Same Old Blues by Freddie King.
Why Chart Reading Is Essential
Reading chord charts allows you to:
- Adapt quickly to new songs during rehearsals or gigs.
- Communicate effectively with other musicians.
- Understand song structures without needing detailed sheet music.
- Improvise confidently, knowing the harmonic framework.
- Learn the notes all over the neck, since you need to find them instantly.
- Master triads, arpeggios, and scales: the building blocks of bass lines.
- Learn different styles as you'll need to be somewhat well versed in a few genres in order to play them authentically.
Whether you’re playing blues, jazz, or modern pop, this skill will elevate your playing and save you time in learning and performing songs. I love seeing a chord chart on a gig or session as I can just follow it instantly and make a bass line.
TIP: usually less is more. Start by just following the root notes and playing in time with good tone and groove.
Here are some of the areas reading chord charts will help you in.
Understanding Time Signatures
The chart provided is in 6/8 time, which means:
- There are 6 beats per measure, and
- The eighth note gets one beat.
This time signature is common in blues, ballads, and shuffle grooves. To feel 6/8, think of it as two groups of three beats ("ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six"). Practice clapping or playing along to internalise the rhythmic flow.
Chord Symbols: Your Roadmap
Chord symbols are the shorthand musicians use to outline harmony. Here’s a breakdown of a few chord symbols you might encounter in a chart. There are quite a few but these are some common ones.
| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| D | Major triad | D-F#-A |
| D7 | Dominant 7th | D-F#-A-C |
| Bm | Minor triad | B-D-F# |
| Bm7 | Minor 7th | B-D-F#-A |
| G | Major triad | G-B-D |
Understanding these symbols allows you to quickly identify the harmonic structure and play with confidence.
Mastering Triads
Triads are the building blocks of harmony. They are three-note chords, and every bassist should know the following types:
| Triad Type | Formula | Example in D |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 1-3-5 | D-F#-A |
| Minor | 1-b3-5 | D-F-A |
| Diminished | 1-b3-b5 | D-F-Ab |
| Augmented | 1-3-#5 | D-F#-A# |
Practicing these shapes will give you a strong foundation for constructing bass lines.
Exploring Arpeggios
Arpeggios expand on triads by adding more chord tones. Here’s a guide to some essential arpeggios:
| Arpeggio Type | Formula | Example in D |
|---|---|---|
| Major 7th | 1-3-5-7 | D-F#-A-C# |
| Minor 7th | 1-b3-5-b7 | D-F-A-C |
| Dominant 7th | 1-3-5-b7 | D-F#-A-C |
| Half-Diminished | 1-b3-b5-b7 | D-F-Ab-C |
| Diminished 7th | 1-b3-b5-bb7 | D-F-Ab-B |
Practicing these arpeggios across the neck will enhance your technical ability and your understanding of harmony.
Chart Breakdown: "6/8 16 Bar Slow Blues in D"
The chart above features:
- A 16-bar blues structure with 6/8 time.
- Chords like D7, G7, and A7, typical of blues progressions.
- Some jazzier chords such as G# diminished and A augmented (A+).
- Opportunities to incorporate triads, arpeggios, and chord tones for a rich bass line.
By focusing on these elements, you can create a groove that serves the song while adding your unique touch.
Resources for Chord Charts
Want to find or create your own chord charts? Here are some great tools:
- iReal Pro: A powerful app for creating and practicing chord charts. It’s great for all skill levels and includes playback features for practice.
- Tomplay: Offers interactive sheet music and backing tracks for bass players.
- Tomplay Website [this is an affiliate link where I earn a small commission if you go on to purchase anything. There comes at no extra cost to you and it helps to keep this site and my free lessons going].
- Blank Chart Templates: Create custom charts using blank templates or notation software like MuseScore.
Learning to read chord charts transforms your bass playing by giving you the tools to handle any musical situation. Whether you’re mastering time signatures, decoding chord symbols, or practicing triads and arpeggios, this skill is a game-changer that allows you to instantly create music (if you work on the different elements).
Great bass lessons Dan. This sort of thing helps me a lot to understand and interpret what I’m needing to play even to my own song creations. I think your bass lessons are first class, easy to follow, well explained and above all musical. My son is a professional bass player too and he gives me lots of tips and help but he’s currently touring Europe and in Mexico playing his gigs so he’s not at home to help me. Having to shift from six string to base after I cut my fingers badly has been a major change for me but I’m starting to get the hang of it with your help thank you very much cheers Roger
Thanks, Roger. So cool what your son’s doing!
Just wondrous!!!
Thanks, José!
Great lesson Dan. This info is what people need to progress in their bass playing. More chord chart lessons if you have time. Thank you.
Will do, Paul. Thanks!
You continue to create great content. Thanks. I have some professional musician friends who turned me on to this years ago. As a part of my practice routine, I first go over the complete fretboard every note on every string. I can easily play the chords with my second finger. The fourth finger is okay, and the first finger is almost nonexistent unless it is a minor chord. I appreciate you teaching me about playing the chords starting on the various fingers—economy of movement at its finest. I am still putting in about 2 to 4 hours of practice daily. Your videos have helped me immensely. All the best.
That’s amazing commitment, Howard. Keep it up!
When you prescribe to base brits for your exclusive newsletter and free ebook When you offer it for free ebook you should stand behind that not waste people’s time filling it out and not getting it that also discourages people from signing up and paying for lessons also cuz they feel they’re being played with when they really want to learn bass guitar when you offer this for free you should stand behind it or take that down it discourages people from signing up and paying for lessons especially for people that are trying to learn the bass and following all your videos and supporting your channel if you offer something for free please stand behind it I believe a lot of people would not sign up and pay for bass lessons because of this offer and you don’t get it just my opinion especially when you offer free downloads and you don’t get it very discouraging to a person is trying to learn the bass so I Believe by taking that down it won’t discourage other people from signing up or paying for lessons just my opinion
That’s not my experience in many years of doing this. How is getting people into bass via a free resource a bad thing?
Dan awesome videos awesome lessons and once again great tips your videos are absolutely awesome for getting started or even advance Bass players sharpening their skills for learning bass guitar thank you for sharing your videos absolutely great videos Dan thank you
Thanks, Walter!
Dan as always a great lesson!
I love your teaching style: it’s beginner friendly enough that I can follow it without being overwhelmed but it is definitely aimed at more intermediate to advanced players. I easily spend a month going through your lessons doing bits over and over and every time I watch it I discover some detail I missed previously and really makes the lessons worth watching again and again.
Thanks so much!