- Going beyond the root note -
As bass players we tend to stick to the root notes when
coming up with our bass-lines (or chord note e.g. Cmaj7
– we play C) after all that is one of our roles in
the band. The bass defines the chords being played and guides
the movement of the music from one chord to another. This
role is usually shared with a guitar or piano. So it is
important to stick to our role, no one likes a busy bass
player. We are there to create a foundation for the band
to play off! (With the drummer of course)
But on the other hand, there is more to bass playing than
just playing the root note, it also becomes quite boring
after a while. As players we need to express ourselves too,
and come up with tasteful lines that not only outlines the
movement of the chords but to also embellish the song! (Time
for the guitarist to give us some room!!!)
In this first lesson we will look at the basic forms of
the major and minor arpeggios. We will go into more depth
as our lessons continue.
I look at scales and arpeggios and other aspects of music
theory as tools. The more tools you have, the more you can
build and create!!!
So lets look at the starting point for our arpeggio exploration.
Arpeggios are very useful, not only as an exercise to develop
your bass technique, but an important tool to create bass
lines and fills over chord progressions and changes.
An arpeggio is a broken chord (i.e. a chord being played
one note at a time, not all together). A basic chord is
made up of three notes. The note the chord is built on is
its root note (1), the third (3rd), and the fifth (5th).
So Gmaj will include the following notes: G (root), B (3rd)
and D (5th). This is great importance to us as a bass player,
as we can use the notes, G,B,D when we come up with bass
line or fill over Gmaj.
See below for the major arpeggio fingering and its shape.
This shape can be used over every major chord.
The same applies for the minor arpeggio. The notes for
Gmin will include G (root), Bb (3rd) and D (5th). See below
for the minor arpeggio fingering and its shape. This shape
can be used over every minor chord.
Learn these major and minor arpeggio shapes, and have fun
creating new bass lines, which will enable you to go beyond
the root note!
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