StudyBass Fundamentals Two

You can do a lot with what you learned in StudyBass Fundamentals One. We're going to keep building on that foundation. In this curriculum we're going to start learning scales and the bassist's best friend: CHORD TONES!

Next you'll learn some beginning harmony and why notes and chords go together. Then, we'll end with the blues. The blues is at the root of almost all popular music styles.

You'll learn a couple more chord patterns. And finally, it's time for you to start memorizing the notes on the fretboard.

You're going to be busy.

In this StudyBass curriculum you will learn:

Seven major scale and chord patterns
Six minor scale and chord patterns
More about music notation
About major and minor keys
A common musical structure - The 12-Bar Blues Form
Applying common patterns, scales and chords to the blues
An almost century-old bassline: The Boogie Woogie
Three diminished chord patterns
Several approaches to memorizing the notes on the fretboard

Lesson Blocks

Introduction to Scales
Most people, even non-musicians, have heard of scales. When you begin playing, you probably expect to practice scales. Scales are an important part of music. For bassists, chords are even more important than scales. But, in order to understand chords, an introduction to a few scales is useful.
Introduction to Chord Patterns
Besides helping anchor the rhythmic side of things, the bassist's biggest responsibility is to anchor the chords being played by the whole band. In this short lesson block, I will explain what chords are and why they are important.
- About Bass Chord Patterns
- Chord Tones Are Primary
Major Scales and Chord Patterns
In this lesson block I first explain the major scale which is the mother of many other note patterns. The major scale serves as a reference point for all other patterns. Even though chord tones are a bassist's biggest concern, the numbers used to identify chord tones relate to the numbers of the major scale. After the major scale I'll show you common major-type chord patterns and some complementary major-type scale patterns.
Minor Scales and Chord Patterns
In this lesson block I explain the difference between major and minor, followed by some of the most common minor-type scale and chord patterns you will encounter.
Reading Music Part Two
This lesson block covers some other things you'll encounter in music notation. I'll explain tied notes, repeats, multiple endings, and chord symbols.
Introduction to Keys and Harmony
One essential role of the bass is to define the harmony of the music. You need to have a strong understanding of what harmony is and what keys are. In this lesson block I explain these important concepts and how they apply to the bass player.
Beginning Diatonic Harmony
Within a key you will find commonly used chords. In this lesson block I will explain how chords relate to keys and I will explain the three most popular chords used in each key called the I, IV and V ("The one, four and five").
Introduction to the Blues
Blues has heavily influenced almost every popular style of music - jazz, rock, funk, etc. Understanding how blues works will give you insight into other styles beyond the blues. Playing the blues is also a great way to see and hear how to apply various note patterns and rhythms.
Applying Patterns to the Blues
Once you have the 12-bar blues form memorized, we can start applying note patterns from earlier lessons to it. In this lesson block we'll apply some of the common patterns we've covered and some chord patterns to each chord in the blues.
Boogie Woogie
There are many slightly different versions of the blues form. In this block I will explain some of these variations and we'll look at a blues bassline which has been popular since before the 1930s - the Boogie Woogie.
Diminished Chord Patterns
Diminished-type chords don't occur very often, but when they do, you need to really know what you're doing. It's easy to upset the sound of these chords in the music if not addressed properly. Some of the theory behind these chords can seem complex. Take your time with them.
Memorizing the Bass Fretboard Notes
Good bassists can find and identify every note on the fretboard with ease. In these lessons I show you how to go about memorizing all of the fretboard notes.
End of StudyBass Fundamentals Two

Great job! Another curriculum completed. You should be out of the awkward beginning phase now. Naturally, there's still tons more to learn.

Next up is StudyBass Fundamentals Three. This will be the last "Fundamentals" curriculum. (You didn't think there would be 100 of them, did you?)

In SB F3 we'll keep building your bass and music foundation. We'll take care of some common technique issues you're probably experiencing and lots more.

I'm still adding more to SB F3. Stay tuned!

Go to StudyBass Fundamentals Three

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StudyBass Fundamentals Two

In this StudyBass curriculum you will learn:

Lesson Blocks

Introduction to Scales

Introduction to Chord Patterns

Major Scales and Chord Patterns

Minor Scales and Chord Patterns

Reading Music Part Two

Introduction to Keys and Harmony

Beginning Diatonic Harmony

Introduction to the Blues

Applying Patterns to the Blues

Boogie Woogie

Diminished Chord Patterns

Memorizing the Bass Fretboard Notes

End of StudyBass Fundamentals Two

Go to StudyBass Fundamentals Three

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