Top 10: The Best Bass Lessons and How To’s in June

Lessons and how-to columns are among the most popular features on No Treble. Here are the best of the best for June, based on readership.

Looks like the bass community is getting things done!

As always, thanks for reading, commenting and sharing.

Chord Construction: A Guide for Bassists

1. Chord Construction: A Guide for Bassists

Damian tackles this reader question in this Ask Damian Erskine column: “I’ve had difficulty with understanding chord construction on the bass. I know my scales and their modes inside and out, and I know a lot about the fretboard… I figured when I was starting out that I really didn’t need to know chords “because I’m a bass player.” Now I’m paying for it. Could you explain chord construction to a confused bass player?”

Lesson: Funky Finger Funk with Pentatonic Fill

2. Lesson: Funky Finger Funk with Pentatonic Fill

Time to get funky. Here’s another quick bass lick lesson for you, centered around a pentatonic fill. Follow along with the video and this transcription (and check out some other lessons here covering pentatonic scales and patterns)…

Lesson: Offbeat Double Thumb Slap Bass

3. Lesson: Offbeat Double Thumb Slap Bass

Thomas “MarloweDK” Risell has been working on a new concept in double thumb slap bass, which basically is an “in reverse” technique. This means the “down” thumb is on the offbeat, and the “up” thumb is on the downbeat. This creates a whole new feeling worth exploring. MarloweDK shows us the way…

Getting Noticed - Part 3: Working Your Local Music Scene

4. Getting Noticed – Part 3: Working Your Local Music Scene

Damian wraps up his series on Getting Noticed Out There with some advice on connecting with your local music scene. Check out Part 1: Your Demo and Part 2: Social Media too…

When Technology Breaks: A Survival Guide for Bassists

5. When Technology Breaks: A Survival Guide for Bassists

In this “I Wish I Knew That” column, Ryan Madora said “Everything about the bass is great… until something breaks.” She follows up with some advice on being prepared for just about anything…

Left Hand Technique: Pivoting

6. Left Hand Technique: Pivoting

Although I advocate a traditional left hand foundation (i.e. 1-2-4 fingering system), any bassist who plays long enough will come across passages that don’t lie well using this fingering system. “Pivoting” can be an attractive solution for such passages. Dr. D breaks it down…

Left Hand Thumb Independence for Bassists

7. Left Hand Thumb Independence for Bassists

A follow up to Dr. D’s “Pivoting” column, this column focuses on taking it to the next level with left hand thumb independence, and an exercise to get you moving in the right direction…

All Sides of the Beat: A Discussion for Bass Players

8. All Sides of the Beat: A Discussion for Bass Players

Damian answers a reader’s question on playing around the beat: on it, behind it, ahead of it… with feeling.

Pace Yourself: Thoughts on the Process of Practicing and Learning

9. Pace Yourself: Thoughts on the Process of Practicing and Learning

Whether you’re embarking on a long distance run, sitting down to a delicious plate of food, or facing a mountain of material to learn, keep one thing in mind: pace yourself. Establishing a good pace for learning material or practicing a new technique is extremely important, especially when you’re looking at a deadline. Ryan shares her thoughts on practicing and learning effectively…

When a Band Member Quits: A Discussion of Music Rights, Replacements and Other Considerations

10. When a Band Member Quits: A Discussion of Music Rights, Replacements and Other Considerations

A reader is faced with a dilemma: the principal songwriter in his band is leaving, and while he needs to make a decision on replacing his rhythm guitarist (or not), there’s the bigger issue of music rights moving forward. Damian shares his thoughts in this Ask Damian column…

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