New bass players are usually very focused on the physical aspect of playing bass. Which in itself is not surprising. Being able to use both your left and right hand independently is a huge challenge by itself. It is no easy feat fretting the right note and simultaneously plucking the
Read moreGroove Backpack #10 – Building basslines with the pentatonic scale
One of the first scales you learn when diving into theory is the pentatonic scale. It is a powerful five note scale that is used in numerous musical styles. But how do you make basslines with the pentatonic scale? In this article I will give you a few examples. If
Read moreAs a new bass player, where do you start?
For new bass players it can be very daunting to determine where to begin. The world of bass playing is huge and there are so many amazing and cool things about it. In this article I hope to give you some insight into what you should focus on when you
Read moreCreate your own basslines: Adding to the root notes
How can you create a bassline which doesn’t only consist of the root note of every chord? And what other possibilities are there when it comes to note choice? This article features some tips and tricks to create more elaborate and interesting basslines. Let’s get started! When you add extra
Read moreGroove Backpack #9 – Amazing basslines over major seventh chords
To be a complete bass player, it is essential to be able to play basslines over every different chord type. Most bass players who are into funk and blues have a huge vocabulary when it comes to playing over minor and dominant chords. Major 7th chords however aren’t used often
Read moreGBP #8 – Using the minor pentatonic scale in bass fills
Often the first scale every bass player learns is the minor pentatonic scale. And there is a good reason for that. The minor pentatonic scale is found in every style of music from funk to jazz to blues and metal. It is an essential tool every aspiring bass player needs
Read more