The AGGRESSIVE Bass Method
By
ToNy
NiX
I. Lesson One
Your
Weapon
This object, the electric bass will become part of you by
the time you complete this course. You need to familiarize yourself with it
inside and out. Referring to the photo above, learn the parts by using the
numbers. (1.) Bridge (2) Pickups (3) Body (4) The Neck and the Fretboard. The
neck is the actual piece of wood that is physically attached to the body. The
fretboard is a piece of wood laminate overlying the neck and contains the
frets. The frets are the raised strips located on the fretboard. (5) The Nut
(6) Tuning Key (7) Tuning Peg (8) the Head or Tuning Mechanism. These items
form your bass guitar and you should know their names. If you stick with playing
the bass, you will find the need to learn how to service it also, from changing
strings to pickups.
The Correct Playing Postures
The Left Hand
The basic
posture of the left hand is a relaxed claw in which the fingers are slightly
spread apart from each other and arched so that the fleshy part of the
fingertips presses the strings down.
The thumb
should be across from the 1st finger when holding the neck. This
posture should be kept as the left hand glides from position to position.
The Right Hand
The right hand is held in such a
manner as to let the fingers hang down perpendicular to the strings. The
strings can then be played either by plucking them with your fingers or some
choose to use a pick. I prefer using my fingers and applying them as four
picks. You can even bring in your thumb for a fifth if needed. Not to mention
that you’re playing dynamics are greatly increased when using your fingers. But
you may find a pick necessary on occasion to get that sound produced from a pick.
You can achieve a sound very close to that of a pick by keeping your finger
nails cut even with the tips of the fingers or even 1/16” of an inch longer
than the tips. When playing you may rest your thumb on top of the E string or
on top of the front or back pickup. Moving the thumb closer to the bridge gives
you more power when you play.
Playing close to the
bridge, as pictured, gives you more power when you play.
Moving your thumb further away from the bridge gives you
greater speed and sensitivity as depicted in the following photo. Notice how
the pickups are used as a thumb rest.
On the electric bass, when plucking the strings with the
thumb, it should be placed close to the bottom of the neck. You can hit a
string both on the upstroke and down stroke of the thumb, in addition to using
the fingers to give you a great amount of rhythmic versatility.
Fret
The Fretboard
5 4 3
2 1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
The above diagram is a map to your
bass fretboard. The diagram pictured is for a five string bass but can be used
for the four string bass also, just ignore the fifth or B string. This
excellent diagram shows the location of the different notes located on the fretboard.
The number located after each letter on the fretboard tells you the octave you
are playing on the neck. The color coding simply shows you on the neck, the
location of these octaves on different strings. An octave is the root note you
are playing; for example, you play a C and twelve half steps above that C will
occur another C higher in pitch than the C you played before, this is called
one octave above the root note. We will go into greater depth in theory later
in the course.
These notes are also the same as
for the guitar. The bass is tuned and played like a regular guitar without the
two bottom strings.
The dots or marks located on most
guitar fretboards indicate the odd numbered frets except for the double dots
which are located on the 12th fret. These double marks represent
that the note located at this point is one octave above that string played
open. The dots that follow after the twelfth fret go back to marking the odd
numbered frets.
Exercise One
Beginner:
To become
an aggressive bass guitarist, you MUST exercise your fingers to make them
stronger, faster and more agile. If you do not practice you will not
improve! In each part of all the lessons, I will include vital
exercises that must be mastered in order to maximize your gains from this course.
The exercises will develop and equalize the strength and balance required in
both hands to be a powerful bassist.
The first
exercise is designed to develop the strength and balance between finger (1)
index finger and (2) middle finger of the left hand. When beginning the
exercise, start out at a tempo of about 60 beats per minute, the better you
become increase the speed. Try to at least shoot for 120 beats per minute as
your goal.
I highly recommend practicing with a
metronome or drum machine. This not only helps to keep you in time, but it also
begins to program your sub-conscious to keep a steady, continuous beat without
speeding up or slowing down. It is very important that each bass guitarist
attain this ability. You are part of the rhythm section and between the drummer
and yourself, exists a delicate connection. It is this connection between the
bass guitarist and the drummer that allows them to create what is called a
groove. So, the main job of the rhythm section is to cut the groove for the lead
music to follow. Always keep this in mind.
To sound a
note on the fretboard, push the string down with the fleshy part of the finger
tip. Play the note between the frets and not on top of the actual fret itself.
Only use as much pressure that is required to push the string down far enough
on the frets to sound a note. Pressing any harder than this only makes your
fingers tired faster. Have a light and soft touch with the left hand and try to
keep your arms as relaxed as possible. Having a light touch with the left hand
makes you able to play much quicker than normal, more agile and conserve energy
in your fingers and forearms.
The first exercise begins ascending up the fourth (or top
string), the fifth string if you are playing a five string, from the first fret
up to the twelfth fret which is also the octave of that string played open.
Then you descend all the way back down to the first fret.
When you
play the ascending part of the exercise, use the finger pattern 1-2-3-4 on the
left hand; all the way up to the twelfth fret. When you descend use the finger
pattern 4-3-2-1. This completes one repetition of exercise one. When playing
this exercise, on the right hand alternate between fingers 1 and 2, using a
1-2-1-2-1-2 pattern. When you practice begin by playing four repetitions, (five
repetitions on five strings) one repetition on each string. For example play one
repetition on the E string, then move to the A string and play a repetition,
etc. If you play this exercise
correctly, you will experience a good burning sensation in your left hand and
forearm.
Advanced:
Play the exercise all the way up and down each string, then play the exercise
back down to the E string continuously without stopping. For example play your
repetition on the G string and then move to the D string, etc. Do this on each
exercise.
How to read tab
Tablature is very user friendly.
Much easier to read than music, although do not ignore learning how to read
music especially if you plan on seeking a career as a studio musician. Tab is
very easy to understand. The entire tab in this course is written for five
string basses, except for the first exercise, since the multi-string bass is
becoming more popular among bass guitarists.
For those of you with four string
basses, simply ignore the bottom line of the tab. The tab below in the first
exercise contains four lines. Each line represents a string on your bass. The
first line on the top represents an open G string; the second line from the top
is an open D string; the third string from the top is an open A string; the
fourth string from the top is an open E string; If a fifth line is present, the
fifth line from the top is an open B string. When a number is located one of
these lines, this tells you two things; (1) Which string is to be played (2)
Which fret to place your finger to sound the note. The numberings below the tab
finger exercises tell you which finger to use to fret the note with on the left
handed exercises and which finger to use to pick the string on the right handed
exercises. The note values in the bass staff will show you the rhythm to play
the notes to. Do not let this confuse you because note values will be covered
in one of the first theory lessons in this course, but for now I will give a
brief crash course just so you will have a better understanding of what is
going on in the exercises. The first exercise is in 2/4 time. The time
signature tells you two things. The top number tells you how many beats are in
a measure and the bottom number tells you what note value gets a beat. For
example in 2/4 time, you have two beats per measure and the quarter note gets
one beat. Measures in music, is a grouping together of notes. How many notes
are grouped together in a measure is determined by the time signature. On music
and tab, they are separated by a line on the music staff. In this exercise each
measure contains four eighth notes, except for two measures that contain a half
note instead. One of these notes gets two beats. Two eighth notes equal a
quarter note. So the following exercise will be counted out like this: 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & etc. The
& means you count the upbeat by saying “and”. So you are really counting it
out as; “one and two and one and two and” etc. One and Two and, is one measure
and is the four notes that you play in each measure. As I mentioned earlier the
time signatures and note values along with much other topics will be covered in
the theory lessons in this course. Let’s get our bass now and try the first
exercise. Those of you with five string basses start on your top B string with
this exercise. The fingering below the tab is for the left hand. Be sure to
play each note clearly and distinctively.
Exercise one: Left
Hand development for the 1st and 2nd fingers
Fingering
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3
4 1 2
3 4 1 2 3
4 1 2
3 4 1 2 3
4
1 2 3 4 1 2 3
4 1 2
3 4 1 2 3
4 1 2
3 4 4
4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1 4 3 2
1 4 3
2 1 4 3 2
1 4 3
2 1 4 3 2
1
4
3 2 1 4
3 2 1 4 3 2 1 0
Right Hand Exercise
This
exercise is designed to exercise fingers one and two on the right hand. Play it
in the same fashion as the exercise before. All the way up one string and back
down is one repetition. Do this on each string. The following tab is written
for a five string. So those of you with four strings start with the top E
string and ignore the bottom line of the tab. Five string players start on the
top B string. Notice that the time signature for this exercise is 4/4 time.
This means the quarter note gets one beat and there are four beats per measure.
This time count the measure out like this “One and Two and Three and Four and”
etc. The notes in exercise two are once again eighth notes. Eighth notes get
one half a beat in 4/4 time. The fingering below the tab is for the right hand.
Exercise Two: Right
Hand development of the 1st and 2nd fingers
Fingering 1
2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2
2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2
1
2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2 1
2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2
1
2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2
1
2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2 1
2 1 2
1 2 1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2
1 2 1
2 1 2 1 2
1
Putting It Together
This last exercise for lesson one
will include combining the two previous exercises. This one will make you think
a little more than the others. The top row of fingering numbers is for the left
hand, the bottom for the right.
Exercise Three:
Development of the 1st and 2nd fingers on both hands.
L.H. 1 2
3 4 4 3 2 1 1 2
3 4 4 3 2
1 1 2
3 4 4 3 2
1 1 2
3 4
R.H. 1 2
1 2 2 1 2 1 1 2
1 2 2 1 2
1 1 2
1 2 2 1 2
1 2 1
2 1
4 3 2
1 1 2
3 4 4 3 2
1 1 2
3 4 4 3 2
1 1 2
3 4 4 3 2
1
2 1 2
1 1 2
1 2 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 2
1 1 2
1 2 2 1 2
1
1 2 3
4 4 3
2 1 1 2 3
4 4 3 2 1 1 2 3
4 4 3
2 1 1 2 3 4
1 2 1
2 2 1
2 1 1 2 1
2 2 1
2 1 1 2 1
2 2 1
2 1 1 2 1 2
4 3 2
1 1 2
3 4 4 3 2 1 1 2 3
4 4 3
2 1 1 2
3 4 4 3 2
1
2 1 2
1 1 2
1 2 2 1 2 1 1 2 1
2 2 1
2 1 1 2 1
2 2 1 2
1
1 2 3
4 4 3
2 1 1 2 3
4 4 3
2 1 1 2 3
4 4 3
2 1 1 2 3
4
1 2 1
2 2 1
2 1 1 2 1
2 2 1
2 1 1 2 1
2 2 1
2 1 1 2 1
2
4 3 2
1 1 2
3 4 4 3 2
1 1 2
3 4 4 3 2
1 1 2
3 4 4 3 2
1
2 1 2
1 1 2
1 2 2 1 2
1 1 2
1 2 2 1 2
1 1 2
1 2 2 1 2
1
1 2 3
4 4 3
2 1 1 2 3
4 4 3
2 1
1 2 1
2 2 1
2 1 1 2 1
2 2 1
2 1
Remember, If You Do Not Practice, You Will Not Improve!!!
Try to make time to practice at least one hour a day. I
usually practice a minimum of three hours a day. When I have a day that is
free, I practice anywhere from 6 to 10 hours a day.
END OF LESSON ONE
