Bass Exercises: Common Patterns Summary

Common Patterns Summary Exercises

Bass Exercise #1: Roots, 5ths, and Approaches

Here is our G-C-G-D chord progression applying roots and fifths to each chord. Chromatic approach notes are used just before each chord change creating a smooth transition.

Bass Exercise #2: Combined Patterns in Rock

Often a chromatic note is used to connect roots and flat 7ths (end of bars 1 and 3). Notice the R-5-b7-approach at the end of bar 2. The same idea happens in bar 4, but is an anticipation of the E7 chord.

Bass Exercise #3: Patterns Applied to Bm-Em

Here on the Bm chord we apply the root and lower 5th. On the Em chord we apply the root and lower flat 7th. The very last note of the line is the 5th above for Em.

Bass Exercise #4: Patterns Applied to C-G-Am-F

R-5-6 applied to C. R-5-octave on G with a chromatic approach connecting G and A. On Am the note E is both the 5th of Am and an approach to F. R-5-6 applied to F with an approach note back to C.