Lesson Four: Major and Minor Arpeggios

Posted: September 17, 2009 – 12:27 pm

 

Now that you have associated numbers with notes in a scale, we can now learn the arpeggios starting with the two simplest arpeggios, the major and minor arpeggios.  

The first thing in creating arpeggios is to pick the root note.  This root note is the 1st note.  For this example, I will use A.  In the image of the scale pattern in the previous lesson, it is the 1.  

The next step is adding the other notes to the arpeggio.  The simplest arpeggios have only three different notes.  The first and most common is the major arpeggio.  This consists of a root, a third, and a fifth.  This is not just mumbo-jumbo!  You already know the 3rd and 5th from the previous lesson.  The third is the third note in the major scale, and the 5th is the fifth note in the major scale.  The root is the A, the third is the Db, and the fifth is the E.  Shown here.

 

The second most common arpeggio is the minor arpeggio.  This consists of a root, a flat third and a fifth.  The flat third is the only difference in this arpeggio, but it makes it a completely different sound.  Now a flat third is nothing difficult to grab.  It is only a half step below the third note in the major scale.  so in this case it would be a C.  So an A minor arpeggio consists of an A, a C, and an E.  Shown here.

 

You know how to create arpeggios now, so what are the used for?  When you play along with a guitarist or pianist, they will be playing chords.  These chords are made up of entirely of notes from arpeggios.  For example, if a guitarist plays a G chord, that chord consists of only the notes, G, B, and D.  If a guitarist plays an A minor chord, they are playing an A, C, and E.  So now you can create bass lines with the notes from the arpeggios while the guitarist or pianist plays the chords.  Try using different rhythms, and patterns of arpeggios while playing along with someone else.  You are now creating bass likes off the top of your head!  Congratulations!  Try adding some notes from scales, and you will be on your way to brilliant bass lines on tap.

 

Here are the chords to Dispatch’s The General

 

Bb, F, C minor, G, D#, A#, F

 

Try playing along with the band!!! 

 

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Lesson Two: Octaves

Posted: August 12, 2009 – 7:45 pm

 Last lesson, you were given only the notes of the first two strings.  Today you will be given the tools to know the other two strings.  Now if you recall, the fifth fret on the lower string is the same as not playing any frets on the next higher string.  The fifth fret on the E string equals the A string; the fifth fret on the A string equals the D string;  the fifth fret on the D string equals the G string.  Therefore the 7th fret on the E string, equals the second fret on the A string; the 9th fret on the D string equals the the fourth fret; the 6th fret on the A string equals the 1st fret on the D string and so on.  This is important in familiarizing yourself with your bass.

Now an octave is a note that is the same note, but higher.  In the musical progression of notes the underline is an octave A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, Gb, G, Ab, A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, Gb, G.  Notice when you play these, the second C is higher than the first, but it still has the same sound.  

To find an octave of a note, you must move your finger up two frets, and down two strings as such:

So knowing this, see if you can fill in the rest of the bass notes on the other two strings.  Here is a worksheet that you can use:

Left click on this diagram and open it in another window so that it appears larger.  See if you can tell which are the octaves within the first two strings.  Octaves don’t always have to be two strings away and two frets down.  No that is only an easy way.  Another way to tell is if they are twelve half steps away.  I know for a fact that the F on the A string is the octave of the F on the E string.  Think about it. they are twelve notes away if you take into account that the A on the E string is the same as the A string.  This is not to say that these A’s are octaves, but they are the same exact note with the same pitch and frequency.  Now try to find the rest of the notes on the other two strings!

 

Oh, and by the way.  Here is a cool riff from the verse of  ”Play that Funky Music White Boy” by Wild Cherry.  

E, E, e, d, e, A, B, d, e    and repeat.

The big E represents the Lowest E on the E string whereas the little e represents the octave of that E.  That is the same for the A. 

Try playing with the band!

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