Presentation from a Musicademy training day workshop with Andy Chamberlain on bass guitar technique. Get over 40 free lessons from Musicademy http://bit.ly/1pQDyUF

1. Bass Seminar
• Ideas for TASTEFULLY going beyond the root
note
• Based around ’10,000 Reasons’
• All material taken from the Musicademy DVD
video lessons also available via our streaming
site

2. Bass Seminar
• All material taken from the Musicademy DVD
video lessons

3. 10,000 Reasons: Verse 2
Beyond marking chords
Use 8th notes to add tension and release
Divide the bar length – half low half high

4. 10,000 Reasons: Chorus 3
Kick Drum
• Clap the kick drum with track then in isolation
with drums
• Clap the groove - which beats are the bass
groove on?
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

5. 10,000 Reasons: The Groove
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
/ / / / / (/ /)

6. 10,000 Reasons: Chorus chords
|A E |B/D# C#m |A E |B riff |
|A C#m |A B C#m |A B |E |
Tasteful Additions
• Ghost Notes
• Passing Notes
– step wise (7ths and 2nds)
– chromatic – between 4th and 5th
– Using the 5th – v important!
• Riffs

7. 10,000 Reasons: Riffs - Note choice
• Riffs should be based around chords not scales
• recommended riff notes
- 1st 3rd 5th 7th 8th (octave)
• Major chords - note choice order =
5th below, 5th above, octave, 7th 2nd p3rd in that
order

8. 10,000 Reasons: Chorus 3 Riffs
Riff 1 (B chord)
– 5th and octave ‘power chord’ shape
– Use 2nd (9th to add colour)
Riff 2 (B chord)
- ‘pull’ riff using 6th 2nd 1st (then passing note
to new A chord)

9. 10,000 Reasons: Chorus 4
• 8th notes in from verse 3
• Ghost and passing notes
• Riff 1 (B chord) as per chorus 3
• Riff 2 (E chord) chord tones = 3 4 3 2 1 5 1
• Riff 3 (B chord) chord tones = 3 4 3 2 1 6 5
Which sounds better - Riff 2 or 3?

10. 10,000 Reasons: Chorus 4 turnaround
• Minor chord riffs
- Feature b7th and b3rd
Chord tones 1 1 7 1 3 1

11. E scale for understanding notes to use
Scale 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Notes E F# G# A B C# D#
Chord maj min min maj maj min dim
7th maj min min min dom min ½ dim (b7)
basic chord (triad) makeup
1 E F# G# A B C# D#
3 G# A B C# D# E F#
5 B C# D# E F# G# A
7th D# E F# G# A B C#
name maj7 min7 min7 maj7 dom7 min7 ½ dim (b7)

12. 10,000 Reasons: Outro
Playing in a higher register
• Works with a more delicate dynamic
• Gives room for more melodic phrasing
– Still always focus on chord tones
• Works well when the drums have stopped

13. For Further Bass Lessons
• www.musicademy.com
• Sign up on our mailing list at the Musicademy booth to receive
these teaching notes by email
• Plus lots of DVD courses (Advanced Bass is via
Streaming/Subscription site)