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Scales Archives - Page 5

Jazz Bass Improvisation
Sheet Music & Instruction

Jazz Bass Improvisation

Musicians Institute has released Jazz Bass Improvisation, written by jazz bassist Putter Smith. The book offers approaches to chords, scales, arpeggios through detailed practice routines and techniques to help advance practical techniques, improvisation concepts, jazz theory, chord studies and scale patterns. The method is suitable for both electric and upright players. The book ships with a companion CD, featuring 34...

Practice Your Scales… But Which Ones?
Ask Damian Erskine

Practice Your Scales… But Which Ones?

Q: Scales… everyone should practice scales. But which scales? For someone that’s beginning to play or even some that has been playing for a long time, this can be a dilemma. How do you practice them? How do you implement them in your playing? A: Great question. Of course, everyone should know their: 1. Major scales 2. Minor scales …as...

Practical Theory: Practice Tips for Scales (Part 3)
Bass Lessons

Practical Theory: Practice Tips for Scales (Part 3)

In this third and final installment of the Practice Tips for Scales series, we continue our look at the Major tetrachord formula to practicing scales. (Be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2). This week, we dive into arpeggios, using consistent patterns to repeat on the upper register of the neck. Once we get comfortable with the pattern,...

Practical Theory: Practice Tips for Scales (Part 2)
Bass Lessons

Practical Theory: Practice Tips for Scales (Part 2)

This week, we’re continuing where we left off with Part 1 of this series, covering the Major tetrachord formula to practice scales. This week, we expand on the basics by covering various finger patterns and covering the entire neck. As part of this exercise, we’ll also skip notes in the scale, playing in thirds, fourths, fifths, and so on, to...

Practical Theory: Practice Tips for Scales (Part 1)
Bass Lessons

Practical Theory: Practice Tips for Scales (Part 1)

Practicing scales in a musical way helps keep things interesting. In this lesson, we kick off with some tips for practicing scales by using different intervals, arpeggios and fingerings. We’re also introducing a new approach to looking at the Major scale formula. Normally, we view it as 7 different steps (8, if you count the octave): G A B C...

Bebop Scales: Jazz Scales And Patterns In All 12 Keys
Sheet Music & Instruction

Bebop Scales: Jazz Scales And Patterns In All 12 Keys

Aebersold Jazz has released Bebop Scales: Jazz Scales And Patterns In All 12 Keys, a new method book by Joe Riposo. The 48-page book covers Bebop scales and patterns in all 12 keys of the Major, Minor, Dominant 7th, and Locrian (Half-diminished) scales and is designed to help the player hear, use and understand Bebop scales more efficiently, and apply...

Musical Explorations: 12 Tones, 12 Beats and Franc O’Shea
Ask Damian Erskine

Musical Explorations: 12 Tones, 12 Beats and Franc O’Shea

Q: Is there anything outside of the norm that you are working on or thinking about with your musical explorations? A: Actually, in the May issue of Bass Guitar Magazine (UK), Franc O’Shea (his columns are always enlightening and thought provoking), wrote an interesting piece on dividing the chromatic scale and giving every semi-tone a pulse in a bar of...

Long Term Practice Routines
Ask Damian Erskine

Long Term Practice Routines

Q: I have a question about long-term pratice routines. There are a lot scale/arpeggio exercises out there, but I want to know: what do you is the best method to really cover all types of scales/chord in all keys all around the instrument? Is it good to do an exercise in all keys an then go on to the next...

Practicing Scales (Part 2)
The Lowdown with Dr. D

Practicing Scales (Part 2)

This week, Dr. D. continues the series on practicing scales. Check out part 1. Advanced Scale Work At whatever technical level you have been playing scales, you have hopefully been incorporating technical challenges into the mix. Mastering various fingerings, bowings, plucking techniques, refining your left hand shape, trills, vibrato, artificial harmonics, etc., should be an integral part of the routine....

Diatonic Major And Minor Scales For Electric Bass
Sheet Music & Instruction

Diatonic Major And Minor Scales For Electric Bass

Jamey Aebersold’s latest edition to their bass method library focuses on the importance of scale mastery for electric bassists. Diatonic Major And Minor Scales For Electric Bass includes both major and minor scale exercises, designed to help bassists develop new and creative lines, while learning the entire fretboard and improving technique. The exercises require full use of the thumb and...

The Bass Player’s Guide to Scales & Modes
Sheet Music & Instruction

The Bass Player’s Guide to Scales & Modes

Stuart Clayton has released his latest bass method book, The Bass Player’s Guide to Scales & Modes, through his Bassline Publishing company. The Bass Player’s Guide to Scales & Modes is a thorough reference manual featuring all the scales, modes and arpeggios, from construction to recommended fretboard patterns. “[This] is a book that I have written in response to teaching...

Practicing Scales
The Lowdown with Dr. D

Practicing Scales

The last installment of the Lowdown inspired a question from a reader about the “proper way to practice scales.” That would all depend on your specific goal, whether it be a technical or a musical one. There are innumerable ways to practice scales, and a plethora of material available to give you guidance. At the early levels, much more than...