Bass Guitar Lessons: 9 Easy Ways To Learn Bass Guitar

6) Learning The Minor Scale

Here’s the tab for the minor scale, for this example we’ve used the key of ‘A’. Therefore this is a ‘A minor scale’.

Just like our major scale, this shape can be moved across the fret board. All you have to do is change the root note.

This scale shape also works on the A string. As a challenge, try this:

• Play this minor scale shape on EVERY fret of the A string.
• Play this minor scale shape on EVERY fret of the E string.

How Do I Use The Major And Minor Scales?

As a general rule:

• Major scales work over major chords.
• Minor scales work over minor chords.

Using scales is a great way of enhancing your bass lines. For example, if you wanted to add a few extra notes to a minor chord, use a minor scale.

If you wanted to add a few extra notes to a major chord, use a major scale.

7) Bass Guitar Lessons – Learn To Alternate Pick

A common bass technique is alternate picking. This technique consists of moving the pick up and down across each string.

Using a pick gives your bass notes lots of attack. This is perfect for rock and punk styles.

Mike Dirnt from Green Day is fantastic at doing this, check out this awesome picked bass line in the song ‘Longview’.

How Do I Hold A Guitar Pick?

Okay, so let’s cover some basics here.

Step 1) Do A Thumbs Up Sign

Step 2) Place The Pick On Top Of Your Hand

Step 3) Clamp Your Thumb Down

That’s it! That’s how to hold a pick.

To learn more about how to hold a pick, go here: How To Hold A Guitar Pick In 3 Easy Steps

Using Alternate Picking On The Bass

Using alternate picking is the fastest way to play bass guitar. We’re going to show you 3 simple steps which will help you become an alternate picking master.

1) Pick Your Bass String With A Downward Motion

Most of your movement here is going to come from your wrist. You want to be pushing through the strings nice and securely.

Try this as a challenge:

• Down pick each of your bass strings.

2) Pick Your String With An Upward Motion

When you do alternate picking, your upstroke should be a direct mirror image of your down stroke.

When you do this, try to drag the pick back up across the string.

As a challenge, try this:

• Pick each of the strings with an up stroke.

3) Pick Your String With Downstrokes And Upstrokes

Once you’re comfortable with both down strokes and up strokes, try and use them together.

To do this, start with a down stroke, then immediately follow it with an up stroke.

So your motion should go:

Down, Up, Down, Up etc.

A great way to practice this pattern is with a scale or arpeggio.

To learn more about alternate picking, watch this video:

Even though in this video, alternate picking is being demonstrated on a guitar, the technique is EXACTLY the same.

9) Bass Guitar Lessons – 3 Killer Bass Lines

Now we’ve learnt a lot about bass techniques. Let’s have a bit of fun and learn some killer bass lines.

Bass Guitar Lessons – ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’ by Bon Jovi

This bass line is killer and sounds fantastic on bass guitar. You can hear it at the start of this song.

Here’s the tab:

Bass Guitar Lessons – ‘Billie Jean’ by Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was known for creating awesome bass lines, and this is no exception.

It kicks in right after the drums. Check it out here:

Here’s the tab:

Bass Guitar Lessons – ‘Money’ by Pink Floyd

Here’s a classic bass line from prog rock legends pink floyd. This particular bass lines sounds great if you use a pick.

Check it out here:

Here’s the tab:

Want more bass guitar lessons? Go here: 6 Essential Bass Lessons