Tips/Tricks/Excercises For New Bass Players

fleabass2232 · 05-20-2003, 08:34 AM

Seeing as how there have been many new members making threads about what they should be doing for excercises and drills to increase their skill, I figured, why not make a thread on it. Here are some drills and excercises I have come across that have and still help me.

I know there is LR's theory/technique thread, but there are like 50 pages, and, since search has been disabled, browsing through all the pages is not the easiest thing to do.

P.S. : I know all of you guys have excercises like this too, post them, the more we have the, better for the forum in whole!

#1.

[CODE]
G|----------------------------01234--43210------------------------------
D|-------------------01234--------------------43210---------------------
A|----------01234---------------------------------------43210-----------
E|-01234 --------------------------------------------------------43210--

G|----------------------------12345--54321------------------------------
D|-------------------12345-------------------54321----------------------
A|----------12345-------------------------------------54321-------------
E|-12345-------------------------------------------------------54321----
[/CODE]

Repeat this excercise until the 12th fret, then work your way back down the neck. This helped me when I was starting out.

#2. This is Joshmay41465's ASCII diagram of a neck on a bass. Try to memorize it as it will help you out a lot later on.

[CODE]
G | Ab | A | Bb | B | C | Db | D | Eb| E | F | Gb| G |
D | Eb | E | F |Gb| G | Ab | A |Bb| B | C | Db| D |
A | Bb | B | C |Db| D | Eb | E |F |Gb| G |Ab |A |
E | F |Gb| G |Ab| A | Bb | B |C |Db| D |Eb |E |
[/CODE]

#3. This is an excercise my old teacher gave me to learn dexterity and speed.

The best I can explain this is: Start at the first fret. The numbers represent your fingers. At the beginning and end of each one, move up by one fret.

[CODE]

UP DOWN

1-3 3-1

1-2 2-1

1-4 4-1

2-3 3-2

2-4 4-2

3-4 4-3

[/CODE]

I hope these help all of you. Check out the "Learning by Ear" thread also!

karxix · 05-20-2003, 09:15 AM

here's another good exercise (i got it off a billy sheehan video), gr8 for finger strength
play these with only ur fretting hand (usually left) and make sure each note sounds clear....note that this exercise might get a bit painful and irritating but is very useful
G----------------------------h5h6------------------------------
D--------------------h5h6----------h5h6----------------------
A----------h5h6-------------------------------h5h6-----------
E-h5h6-------------------------------------------------h5h6--

repeat this over and over going up a fret (or down) each time...the way to do this is hammer the 1st note with ur index finger then 2nd note with the middle one, then again hammer the 1st note with ur index but the one on the string below and so on.....go up and down the neck (in width and length),
do it at 1st with ur index and middle (the easiest)
then use ure middle ring finger instead of index middle (kinda hard)
then finally ring pinky (this is a killer....it's very hard to get the notes with the pinky to sound right)

this is a very good exercise for tapping!

fleabass2232 · 05-20-2003, 01:01 PM

^ Ive seen that one before. Good job karxix, lets keep this up guys, just next time, spell out all the words.

fleabass2232 · 05-20-2003, 02:11 PM

These next excercises are good for slap and walking bass.

Slap this entire thing. This should help you with learning to hit the strings in succession.

[CODE]

G|----------0----0-----------
D|-------0----------0--------
A|----0----------------0-----
E|-0----------------------0--

[/CODE]

The next one is the Octave/Slap-Pop

All your doing is Slapping a note, and popping the octave.

[CODE]

p
G|------------------------------------------
D|----3------4-------5-------6--------7--
A|------------------------------------------
E|-1------2------3--------4-------5------
s

[/CODE]

Next, is walking basslines. These are moslty the kind you hear in ska, blues and jazz. This pattern is in the key of "A". It is meant to follow an A-D-E chord progression.

[CODE]

G|------------------------------------------------------------------
D|--------------------------4-5-6-7-6-5-4-----6-7-8-9-8-7-6-
A|---4-5-6-7-6-5-4----5--------------------7-------------------
E|-5----------------------------------------------------------------

[/CODE]

karxix · 05-20-2003, 02:38 PM

here's another exercise, not so friendly one i'd say but gr8 for finger strength and independence!

G------------------------------2-3-4------
D----------------------2-3-4--------------
A------------2-3-4------------------------
E-1-2-3-4---1--------1-------1------------

G------------------------------1-3-4------
D----------------------1-3-4--------------
A------------1-3-4------------------------
E-1-2-3-4---2--------2-------2------------

G------------------------------1-2-4------
D----------------------1-2-4--------------
A------------1-2-4------------------------
E-1-2-3-4---3--------3-------3------------

G------------------------------1-2-3------
D----------------------1-2-3--------------
A------------1-2-3------------------------
E-1-2-3-4---4--------4-------4------------

that's basically how the exercise goes, number stand for finger & fret number (ie, 1 = index finger, fret 1, etc....)

the way to work this exercise is to keep the 1st finger all the time pressed while u move the others.....
so far the 1 , 2 part u have to keep ur index all the time on fret 1 of the E string while ur other fingers moves down the other frets , s ...... this is really good for stretching and muscle strength
just don't overstretch and overkill urself, keep it gradual

u have to play notes while fretting and avoid getting buzzes, when ur @ that level then ur getting better! if u find this too hard u can do the same exercise on another part of the neck where the frets r closer, i'd recommend around 5th fret

EDIT: fixed the exercise a bit, kinda explained it wrongly b4, my bad

karxix · 05-20-2003, 02:46 PM

if the link is still working u should get a good list of exercises that LightRaven once wrote!
(currently am getting server is too busy :S)

http://www.musicianforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8468

Ibanez39 · 05-20-2003, 03:28 PM

i think this is called spider or something, my friend showed me when i was learning. good for using all the fret fingers and moving them around on all strings.

G-------4---------1--------5--------2--
D-----3---------2--------4--------3----
A---2---------3--------3--------4------
E-1---------4--------2--------5-------- etc...

up and down the fretboard you go. it makes an X pattern with your fingers.

RIPJoeStrummer · 05-20-2003, 04:57 PM

I think this is called "12 bar blues" or something but I think mines a little different but anyway here it is.

All eigth notes except: ~ = quarter note
G-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D-------------4-4-|-5-5-4-4---------|-------------4-4-|-5-5-4-4---------|
A-----4-4-7-7-----|---------7-7-4-4-|-----4-4-7-7-----|---------7-7-4-4-|
E-5-5-------------|-----------------|-5-5-------------|-----------------|

G-------------4-4-|-5-5-4-4---------|-----------------|-----------------|
D-----4-4-7-7-----|---------7-7-4-4-|-------------4-4-|-5-5-4-4---------|
A-5-5-------------|-----------------|-----4-4-7-7-----|---------7-7-4-4-|
E-----------------|-----------------|-5-5-------------|-----------------|

G-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D-----6-6-9~~-6~~-|-----4-4-7~~-4~~-|-----------------|-----------------|
A-7-7-------------|-5-5-------------|-----4-4-5-5-6-6-|-7-7-7-7-6-5-4-0-|
E-----------------|-----------------|-5-5-------------|-----------------|

fleabass2232 · 05-20-2003, 05:48 PM

Cool. This is coming along nicely guys.

This is a drill for muted slaps. Its kinda hard at first, but it gets easy quick. The "four x's" are you hitting your entire left hand up against the fretboard, muting all the sound, creating a percussive...click if you will, you then hit a muted e string, wich could still be muted by your left hand. (i put my right palm down on the string, put it doesnt matter.) Then, you pop an open G string

, "clap" the fretboard again and pop open D, and hammer on to "2".

Ill attach an mp3 so you can hear the rythm.

[CODE]

G|------x-----0----x---------
D|------x----------x-----0h2
A|------x----------x----------
E|--0--x--x-------x--x------

[/CODE]

RIPJoeStrummer · 05-20-2003, 05:54 PM

Make this important.

fleabass2232 · 05-20-2003, 07:59 PM

yes i agree. BUMP. Sticky this LR, if you wouldnt mind, so our work doesnt go unnoticed.

BassManMike · 05-20-2003, 10:57 PM

looks good

original_stumpster · 05-20-2003, 11:27 PM

Thanks all, these have helped me heaps. One thing, on one post it had dots thoughout. Thanks

karxix · 05-21-2003, 02:20 AM

^^
hmmm, i think that was my post :P
i meant that u just keep on going using the same pattern of fingers but i fixed that now

karxix · 05-21-2003, 04:04 AM

here's a slap exercise, more of a popping exercise

slap the E and A string,
and u have to pop D with ur index and G with the middle finger, then switch them

(x --> mute string with left hand)

G---------x-|----------x-|
D------x----|-------x----|
A-----------|-0-0-x---x--|
E-0-0-x--x--|------------|

i attached a recorded sample played slow and normal

TheOtherWhiteMeat · 05-21-2003, 04:11 AM

I know this is very simple, but to improve your finger strength, just squeeze a tennin ball whenever you're on the computer or just lying around. Not hard or anything, but you'll find tha your tapping gets a whole lot better.

karxix · 05-21-2003, 12:06 PM

mmmm.....this thread shouldn't be on the 2nd page

keep it active and LR make it important....all tips exercises can be posted in just 1 thread instead of newbies coming asking 4 exercises and such!

RIPJoeStrummer · 05-21-2003, 03:32 PM

yeah.......bump

05-21-2003, 06:18 PM

I'm Just starting out, and these exercises are really helping!
Thanks all
Please post more if you have any.

fleabass2232 · 05-22-2003, 02:05 PM

I'm glad to hear that Faisley.

Im really busy with school this week, so i dont think i can put up any more excercises until the weekend.

But please, guys like HAvic5, jamh2000, and joshmay, post your knowledge!!

05-20-2003, 02:11 PM	#4
fleabass2232 back for the attack Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Where the Red Fern Grows Posts: 1,768	Walking Bass/Slap These next excercises are good for slap and walking bass. Slap this entire thing. This should help you with learning to hit the strings in succession. [CODE] G\|----------0----0----------- D\|-------0----------0-------- A\|----0----------------0----- E\|-0----------------------0-- [/CODE] The next one is the Octave/Slap-Pop All your doing is Slapping a note, and popping the octave. [CODE] p G\|------------------------------------------ D\|----3------4-------5-------6--------7-- A\|------------------------------------------ E\|-1------2------3--------4-------5------ s [/CODE] Next, is walking basslines. These are moslty the kind you hear in ska, blues and jazz. This pattern is in the key of "A". It is meant to follow an A-D-E chord progression. [CODE] G\|------------------------------------------------------------------ D\|--------------------------4-5-6-7-6-5-4-----6-7-8-9-8-7-6- A\|---4-5-6-7-6-5-4----5--------------------7------------------- E\|-5---------------------------------------------------------------- [/CODE]

05-20-2003, 02:38 PM	#5
karxix mx feet-smell inspector Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: lebanon Posts: 1,791	here's another exercise, not so friendly one i'd say but gr8 for finger strength and independence! G------------------------------2-3-4------ D----------------------2-3-4-------------- A------------2-3-4------------------------ E-1-2-3-4---1--------1-------1------------ G------------------------------1-3-4------ D----------------------1-3-4-------------- A------------1-3-4------------------------ E-1-2-3-4---2--------2-------2------------ G------------------------------1-2-4------ D----------------------1-2-4-------------- A------------1-2-4------------------------ E-1-2-3-4---3--------3-------3------------ G------------------------------1-2-3------ D----------------------1-2-3-------------- A------------1-2-3------------------------ E-1-2-3-4---4--------4-------4------------ that's basically how the exercise goes, number stand for finger & fret number (ie, 1 = index finger, fret 1, etc....) the way to work this exercise is to keep the 1st finger all the time pressed while u move the others..... so far the 1 , 2 part u have to keep ur index all the time on fret 1 of the E string while ur other fingers moves down the other frets , s ...... this is really good for stretching and muscle strength just don't overstretch and overkill urself, keep it gradual u have to play notes while fretting and avoid getting buzzes, when ur @ that level then ur getting better! if u find this too hard u can do the same exercise on another part of the neck where the frets r closer, i'd recommend around 5th fret EDIT: fixed the exercise a bit, kinda explained it wrongly b4, my bad Last edited by karxix; 05-21-2003 at 03:49 AM.

05-20-2003, 04:57 PM	#8
RIPJoeStrummer Money City Maniacs Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Halifax, NS Posts: 3,398	I think this is called "12 bar blues" or something but I think mines a little different but anyway here it is. All eigth notes except: ~ = quarter note G-----------------\|-----------------\|-----------------\|-----------------\| D-------------4-4-\|-5-5-4-4---------\|-------------4-4-\|-5-5-4-4---------\| A-----4-4-7-7-----\|---------7-7-4-4-\|-----4-4-7-7-----\|---------7-7-4-4-\| E-5-5-------------\|-----------------\|-5-5-------------\|-----------------\| G-------------4-4-\|-5-5-4-4---------\|-----------------\|-----------------\| D-----4-4-7-7-----\|---------7-7-4-4-\|-------------4-4-\|-5-5-4-4---------\| A-5-5-------------\|-----------------\|-----4-4-7-7-----\|---------7-7-4-4-\| E-----------------\|-----------------\|-5-5-------------\|-----------------\| G-----------------\|-----------------\|-----------------\|-----------------\| D-----6-6-9~~-6~~-\|-----4-4-7~~-4~~-\|-----------------\|-----------------\| A-7-7-------------\|-5-5-------------\|-----4-4-5-5-6-6-\|-7-7-7-7-6-5-4-0-\| E-----------------\|-----------------\|-5-5-------------\|-----------------\| Last edited by RIPJoeStrummer; 05-20-2003 at 05:20 PM.

05-20-2003, 05:48 PM	#9
fleabass2232 back for the attack Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Where the Red Fern Grows Posts: 1,768	Muted Slaps Cool. This is coming along nicely guys. This is a drill for muted slaps. Its kinda hard at first, but it gets easy quick. The "four x's" are you hitting your entire left hand up against the fretboard, muting all the sound, creating a percussive...click if you will, you then hit a muted e string, wich could still be muted by your left hand. (i put my right palm down on the string, put it doesnt matter.) Then, you pop an open G string , "clap" the fretboard again and pop open D, and hammer on to "2". Ill attach an mp3 so you can hear the rythm. [CODE] G\|------x-----0----x--------- D\|------x----------x-----0h2 A\|------x----------x---------- E\|--0--x--x-------x--x------ [/CODE]

05-21-2003, 02:20 AM	#14
karxix mx feet-smell inspector Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: lebanon Posts: 1,791	^^ hmmm, i think that was my post :P i meant that u just keep on going using the same pattern of fingers but i fixed that now Last edited by karxix; 05-21-2003 at 03:51 AM.

05-20-2003, 08:34 AM	#1
fleabass2232 back for the attack Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Where the Red Fern Grows Posts: 1,768	Tips/Tricks/Excercises For New (and Experienced) Bass Players Seeing as how there have been many new members making threads about what they should be doing for excercises and drills to increase their skill, I figured, why not make a thread on it. Here are some drills and excercises I have come across that have and still help me. I know there is LR's theory/technique thread, but there are like 50 pages, and, since search has been disabled, browsing through all the pages is not the easiest thing to do. P.S. : I know all of you guys have excercises like this too, post them, the more we have the, better for the forum in whole! #1. [CODE] G\|----------------------------01234--43210------------------------------ D\|-------------------01234--------------------43210--------------------- A\|----------01234---------------------------------------43210----------- E\|-01234 --------------------------------------------------------43210-- G\|----------------------------12345--54321------------------------------ D\|-------------------12345-------------------54321---------------------- A\|----------12345-------------------------------------54321------------- E\|-12345-------------------------------------------------------54321---- [/CODE] Repeat this excercise until the 12th fret, then work your way back down the neck. This helped me when I was starting out. #2. This is Joshmay41465's ASCII diagram of a neck on a bass. Try to memorize it as it will help you out a lot later on. [CODE] G \| Ab \| A \| Bb \| B \| C \| Db \| D \| Eb\| E \| F \| Gb\| G \| D \| Eb \| E \| F \|Gb\| G \| Ab \| A \|Bb\| B \| C \| Db\| D \| A \| Bb \| B \| C \|Db\| D \| Eb \| E \|F \|Gb\| G \|Ab \|A \| E \| F \|Gb\| G \|Ab\| A \| Bb \| B \|C \|Db\| D \|Eb \|E \| [/CODE] #3. This is an excercise my old teacher gave me to learn dexterity and speed. The best I can explain this is: Start at the first fret. The numbers represent your fingers. At the beginning and end of each one, move up by one fret. [CODE] UP DOWN 1-3 3-1 1-2 2-1 1-4 4-1 2-3 3-2 2-4 4-2 3-4 4-3 [/CODE] I hope these help all of you. Check out the "Learning by Ear" thread also! Last edited by fleabass2232; 05-20-2003 at 01:48 PM.

05-20-2003, 09:15 AM	#2
karxix mx feet-smell inspector Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: lebanon Posts: 1,791	here's another good exercise (i got it off a billy sheehan video), gr8 for finger strength play these with only ur fretting hand (usually left) and make sure each note sounds clear....note that this exercise might get a bit painful and irritating but is very useful G----------------------------h5h6------------------------------ D--------------------h5h6----------h5h6---------------------- A----------h5h6-------------------------------h5h6----------- E-h5h6-------------------------------------------------h5h6-- repeat this over and over going up a fret (or down) each time...the way to do this is hammer the 1st note with ur index finger then 2nd note with the middle one, then again hammer the 1st note with ur index but the one on the string below and so on.....go up and down the neck (in width and length), do it at 1st with ur index and middle (the easiest) then use ure middle ring finger instead of index middle (kinda hard) then finally ring pinky (this is a killer....it's very hard to get the notes with the pinky to sound right) this is a very good exercise for tapping!

05-20-2003, 01:01 PM	#3
fleabass2232 back for the attack Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Where the Red Fern Grows Posts: 1,768	^ Ive seen that one before. Good job karxix, lets keep this up guys, just next time, spell out all the words.

05-20-2003, 02:46 PM	#6
karxix mx feet-smell inspector Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: lebanon Posts: 1,791	if the link is still working u should get a good list of exercises that LightRaven once wrote! (currently am getting server is too busy :S) http://www.musicianforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8468

05-20-2003, 03:28 PM	#7
Ibanez39 mx alpine ski team Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: here... Posts: 316	i think this is called spider or something, my friend showed me when i was learning. good for using all the fret fingers and moving them around on all strings. G-------4---------1--------5--------2-- D-----3---------2--------4--------3---- A---2---------3--------3--------4------ E-1---------4--------2--------5-------- etc... up and down the fretboard you go. it makes an X pattern with your fingers.

05-20-2003, 05:54 PM	#10
RIPJoeStrummer Money City Maniacs Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Halifax, NS Posts: 3,398	Make this important.

05-20-2003, 07:59 PM	#11
fleabass2232 back for the attack Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Where the Red Fern Grows Posts: 1,768	yes i agree. BUMP. Sticky this LR, if you wouldnt mind, so our work doesnt go unnoticed.

05-20-2003, 10:57 PM	#12
BassManMike Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: United States Posts: 549	looks good

05-20-2003, 11:27 PM	#13
original_stumpster Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: canberra, australia Posts: 7	Thanks all, these have helped me heaps. One thing, on one post it had dots thoughout. Thanks

05-21-2003, 04:04 AM	#15
karxix mx feet-smell inspector Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: lebanon Posts: 1,791	here's a slap exercise, more of a popping exercise slap the E and A string, and u have to pop D with ur index and G with the middle finger, then switch them (x --> mute string with left hand) G---------x-\|----------x-\| D------x----\|-------x----\| A-----------\|-0-0-x---x--\| E-0-0-x--x--\|------------\| i attached a recorded sample played slow and normal

05-21-2003, 04:11 AM	#16
TheOtherWhiteMeat Real Join Date: August 03 Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 9,293	I know this is very simple, but to improve your finger strength, just squeeze a tennin ball whenever you're on the computer or just lying around. Not hard or anything, but you'll find tha your tapping gets a whole lot better.

05-21-2003, 12:06 PM	#17
karxix mx feet-smell inspector Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: lebanon Posts: 1,791	mmmm.....this thread shouldn't be on the 2nd page keep it active and LR make it important....all tips exercises can be posted in just 1 thread instead of newbies coming asking 4 exercises and such!

05-21-2003, 03:32 PM	#18
RIPJoeStrummer Money City Maniacs Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Halifax, NS Posts: 3,398	yeah.......bump

05-21-2003, 06:18 PM	#19
Faisley_ Guest Posts: n/a	I'm Just starting out, and these exercises are really helping! Thanks all Please post more if you have any.

05-22-2003, 02:05 PM	#20
fleabass2232 back for the attack Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Where the Red Fern Grows Posts: 1,768	I'm glad to hear that Faisley. Im really busy with school this week, so i dont think i can put up any more excercises until the weekend. But please, guys like HAvic5, jamh2000, and joshmay, post your knowledge!!

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