Diagrams of the major progressions for bass guitar(5 string)

[B3Wannabe]

NOTE: This is a same as the 4-string lesson, but the diagrams are different.



Assume we're playing in the key of "Bb" for all the following progressions. Also, I'm going to use arabic numbers instead of roman numerals for the progressions.

The diagram will be written as such:

----------
----------
----------
----------
----------

...representing each string on the bass, the bottom line being the B (low) string. Fret positions will be written as arabic numbers on the line that you should play and in the order that you should play them from left to right, as such:

-----------
-----------
---8-------
-8---6----
-----------
(C, F, Bb)


...means that you play C, the 8th fret on the E string, F the 8th fret on the A string, Bb the 6th fret on the E string, in that order. With that, here are the major progressions:


1-4-5:

-----------
-----------
---6--8---
-6--------
-----------
(Bb, Db, F)


2-5-1:

-----------
-----------
---8-------
-8---6----
-----------
(C, F, Bb)


7-3-6:

-----------
------5----
---5------
-5--------
-----------
(A, D, G)


3-6-2:

-----------
----5------
-5--------
------8---
-----------
(D, G, C)


5-1-4:

-----------
-----------
-8---6----
---6-------
-----------
(F, Bb, Db)




The following diagram shows where each part of a progression (or note of the Bb scale) is located on the fretboard for the key of Bb:


||(1st)----------------(5th)----------------------------------(12th)-----------

||---+-7-+-1-+---+-2-+---+-3-+-4-+---+-5-+---+-6-+---+-7-+
||-4-+---+-5-+---+-6-+---+-7-+-1-+---+-2-+---+-3-+-4-+---+
||-1-+---+-2-+---+-3-+-4-+---+-5-+---+-6-+---+-7-+-1-+---+
||-5-+---+-6-+---+-7-+-1-+---+-2-+---+-3-+-4-+---+-5-+---+
||-2-+---+-3-+-4-+---+-5-+---+-6-+---+-7-+-1-+---+-2-+---+

NOTE: Again, 1-7 denotes the keys of the Bb scale or the part of a progression. Also, this patter is good for all keys. All you have to do is rotate the bold part of each line left or right together. This part repeats because the 12th fret is the same as playing an open string one octave higher.


I'm sure this will help anyone get started with the bass guitar, and begin to understand the concept behind what's going on. This doesn't show you how to do improv, but keep the basic bass line of the progressions.

[NewBass]

B3,

This is really over my head... Can you break down one example (in detail) for me? Thanks!

NewBass

[B3Wannabe]

Maybe this will help...

Take this example:

2-5-1:

-----------
-8---6----
---8-------
-----------
-----------
(C, F, Bb)

In this example, you play the 8th fret on the E string then the 8th fret on the A string then the 6th fret on the E string, giving you the notes C, F, Bb (in that order). This is a 2-5-1 progression for Bb.


The next example shows where all the notes for the Bb scale are located on the first 14 frets of the fretboard:

----------(12th)-----------------------------(5th)-------------(1st)||

+---+-2-+---+-1-+-7-+---+-6-+---+-5-+---+-4-+-3-+---+-2-||
+---+-5-+---+-4-+-3-+---+-2-+---+-1-+-7-+---+-6-+---+-5-||
+---+-1-+-7-+---+-6-+---+-5-+---+-4-+-3-+---+-2-+---+-1-||
+---+-4-+-3-+---+-2-+---+-1-+-7-+---+-6-+---+-5-+---+-4-||
+-7-+---+-6-+---+-5-+---+-4-+-3-+---+-2-+---+-1-+-7-+---||

The Bb scale is:

Bb (1), C (2), D (3), Eb (4), F (5), G (6), A (7), Bb

With this you can place the notes on the fretboard easily. It's a pattern that works for all the keys. It's just shifted left or right.


Hope this clarifies it better...

[NewBass]

B3,

Thanks so much! Now I see.... Sorry I didn't catch it right away, but I am still a novice at this... Now I've got something I can practice with...

Feel free to throw us young bass pups a bone anytime you want  :lol: I am beginning to realize how important it is to understand theory. It opens up a lot more doors to me in my playing...

NewBass

[B3Wannabe]

:lol:

I thought that would help. I'm new myself. I've only been playing 2 years, but I'll throw that I know.

 :wink:

[NewBass]

B3,

Where did you learn all this stuff in two years? Books? Videos? Lessons? This seems like a incredible amount of knowledge you've acquired in two years... I wanna know what you know and how to apply it!!!!!

[davidml3]

You can really find the scales, notes, etc here

http://www.guitar-and-bass.com

and
here

http://www.unpronounceable.com/interchart/

hope that helps

NOTE: This is a same as the 4-string lesson, but the diagrams are different.



Assume we're playing in the key of "Bb" for all the following progressions. Also, I'm going to use arabic numbers instead of roman numerals for the progressions.

The diagram will be written as such:

----------
----------
----------
----------
----------

...representing each string on the bass, the bottom line being the B (low) string. Fret positions will be written as arabic numbers on the line that you should play and in the order that you should play them from left to right, as such:

-----------
-----------
---8-------
-8---6----
-----------
(C, F, Bb)


...means that you play C, the 8th fret on the E string, F the 8th fret on the A string, Bb the 6th fret on the E string, in that order. With that, here are the major progressions:


1-4-5:

-----------
-----------
---6--8---
-6--------
-----------
(Bb, Db, F)


2-5-1:

-----------
-----------
---8-------
-8---6----
-----------
(C, F, Bb)


7-3-6:

-----------
------5----
---5------
-5--------
-----------
(A, D, G)


3-6-2:

-----------
----5------
-5--------
------8---
-----------
(D, G, C)


5-1-4:

-----------
-----------
-8---6----
---6-------
-----------
(F, Bb, Db)




The following diagram shows where each part of a progression (or note of the Bb scale) is located on the fretboard for the key of Bb:


||(1st)----------------(5th)----------------------------------(12th)-----------

||---+-7-+-1-+---+-2-+---+-3-+-4-+---+-5-+---+-6-+---+-7-+
||-4-+---+-5-+---+-6-+---+-7-+-1-+---+-2-+---+-3-+-4-+---+
||-1-+---+-2-+---+-3-+-4-+---+-5-+---+-6-+---+-7-+-1-+---+
||-5-+---+-6-+---+-7-+-1-+---+-2-+---+-3-+-4-+---+-5-+---+
||-2-+---+-3-+-4-+---+-5-+---+-6-+---+-7-+-1-+---+-2-+---+

NOTE: Again, 1-7 denotes the keys of the Bb scale or the part of a progression. Also, this patter is good for all keys. All you have to do is rotate the bold part of each line left or right together. This part repeats because the 12th fret is the same as playing an open string one octave higher.


I'm sure this will help anyone get started with the bass guitar, and begin to understand the concept behind what's going on. This doesn't show you how to do improv, but keep the basic bass line of the progressions.

   You said you would help anybody get started .   well i know something but haven't seen this before . I been taken lession for sometime By  this white guy who is very good .  But when going to a black church  its a little differance .  could you help with some thing.  Like bass lines .  Do you have any Bass guitar fret chart .  Any tabs.       Thank you .   Hope to hear from you .

    bro.   James

[p-love]

I have to thank you because I have been wanting to learn how to read bass tab for a real long time. You gave me a major jump twoard perfecting this art. Thank you very much and may God continue to bless you as you Bless his musicians. Believe it or not this is a form of ministry. Take care and God Bless