Bass Exercises: One Octave Minor Blues Scale

One Octave Minor Blues Scale Exercises

Bass Exercise #1: E Minor Blues Scale Riff

This is a heavier-sounding rock riff applying the minor blues scale. You will find a lot of riffs using this scale. Be sure to play it cleanly not letting any open strings ring when they should not. Practice muting the open strings slowly with the metronome.

Bass Exercise #2: Minor Blues Scale on the Blues

Though not a rule, in the blues you are more likely to use the minor blues scale in solos and fills rather than for an entire bassline. This example might work on the first 4 bars of a C blues. Notice the C dominant 7th chord is clearly outlined until the blues scale passage in the 4th bar. Experiment with your own ideas applying the scale in a similar way.

Bass Exercise #3: G Minor Blues Scale Funk Bassline

A lot of funk basslines use this scale. The notation looks harder than it is. These are common rhythms found in funk. Be patient, listen and you will get it. Use that metronome!