Here is a quick cheat sheet for those coming back to the video to learn/memorize one of the scales: 0:27 - 0 - The Fallopian Flat Niners 3:37 - 1 - The Diatonic Major Scale 8:25 - 2 - The Diminished Scale 9:36 - 3 - The Harmonic Minor Scale 10:55 - 4 - The Melodic Minor Scale 12:00 - 5 - The Whole Tone Scale
Alright folks. Scott has explained the glove before. It is because he has a disorder known as focal dystonia, in which the neural network begins to mesh together and causes involuntary contractions of a muscle or group of muscles. Scott wears the gloves as a remedy. In my mind, it is amazing he is such a good bassist, despite the disorder. My wife has it too, along with MS. It can be really debilitating. Thanks for the inspiration Scott, as well as the fun instruction. Keep shedding! I will def check out the fallopian flat nine. ha ha!
Played bass a lot in my youth - then life began (university, career, wife, kids the whole deal) 30 years later - thanks for giving me the confidence to pick it up again.
I'm a drummer looking to dabble in bass as a way to understand my primary counterpart in the rythm section. You are absolutely incredible and very knowledgeable. Thank you. My god bro well done
I too am a drummer who started to play bass about 6 months ago. You will be blown away by how you will find some thing soooo easy to understand on a bass because of your prior knowledge about rhythm. Another interesting thing was that so many of the songs that I jammed to on drums, I now realize how much I was subconsciously listening to the bass line and if I try (emphasis on try) to jam to those same songs on the bass, my brain kinda knows where to go, I don't have to the technical skills to get there yet. But interesting nonetheless
Very important lesson here! I was fortunate enough to study w Dave LaRue for a while and he showed me this EXACT same lesson. The 3 positions of the major scale changed a lot and opened up a world of freedom for me. This makes me want to play. Great lesson Scott!
Oh yeah, bookmark the video, go back and check every week. you'll find that you understand more and more every time, it's quite fun. Good luck with your bass playing!
This isn't very beginner. Keep searching for something that works for you. Scott is a legend though so keep this video and it will blow your mind in a few weeks/months/years. May you be blessed with the patience of a monk.
Scott, you are awesome! Been teaching guitar and bass for years....I'm an old goat......I tell my students very much the same thing, Plus I always say, there are no rules.....if you like a note that's not in the scale, and you like it.........PLAY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much....you have a gift and a light about you.....keep on making those videos!
Actually, this is not what I was taught when I had to suddenly switch from playing R&B to Jazz - to fill the shoes of the bass player who had left town. "Its not too difficult to hang with the jazz changes" I was told "you only have to learn the following 5 scales and then you can play practically any jazz standard. Thus I was told, in order of frequency of use, to learn; Diatonic major (Cmaj7) Dominant minor (Cm7 - i.e. natural 6, flat 7) Dominant Major (C7 i.e. major 3, flat 7) Cm7b5 C7b9 (Dominant Diminished) i.e. the dominant scale starting with a half step? ..and then the whole tone (ok, so that's six scales) But it seems from Scott's video, that some of the above are "just modes" - so I don't know if when, all those years ago, I've been learning scales in the wrong priority. However, in terms of "surviving the gig" - they got me through fine, and I even grew over time (at least in terms of proficiency within those scales) - and perhaps some overall musicality, I'd like to think. But what I'd like to really know is - what is wrong with above the approach?. Even after all this time, I am still completely baffled as to which scales are the most useful.
my god man, the idea of a major from the 3 finger starting points just blew my faceballs, right off, i've played for 23 years, and professionally for the last 18, i'd consider myself an accomplished bassist, but have never sat down and learnt all the modes and all, i'm what i've always thought of, and explained myself as a "Shapes" player. No matter what i'm playing at any given time i think about "shapes" where my walks and riffs go is based on shapes that work within the given scale, i won't necessarily be actively thinking about what scale or key, but rather which particular notes fit within what needs to be played, and the positions they fall into, and thus the shapes that i have at my disposal to play with.... learning each and every mode and scale has always been tedious for me, i've spent my time there, i've learnt all there is, but i've never been able to absorb the information too well, but the idea of learrning say the major scale from 3 starting points, resounds strongly with me... fits in with my "shapes" ideology, and best of all it's simple, makes sense, and is extremely easy to comprehend.... i've been watching your youtube clips for quite a while now, but i'll be if i'm not going to sign up to the academy just for introducing me to that mindset!! brilliant!
Your teaching on scales is amazing! Yes I used to be very disciplined in my younger years practising my scales up and down the fretboard. However although my little fingers were agile enough and someone once described me as having fingers like a demented spider! I was only young and kind of missed the point. Now I am little older I have calmed down, and I cringe thinking back. But yes scales are so important and it really is something I want to learn and to brush up on. I am very familiar with major and minor scales, and some things, but I am keen to learn more. Just to loosen me up a little. Not so I can play all the notes, but so I am more confident and not just left hanging when I am trying to figure something out. Something I learned young was a very wise musician taught me that the notes you don't play are just as important as the ones you don't. I love these bass lessons, Scott is an awesome bass player and teacher. He's teaching basic musical principles, or things you would learn on any musical instrument be it piano, violin or whatever. This is bass line stuff-no pun intended of course LOL !
When I started playing bass 15 years ago I bought the only bass lesson book in my city music stores. Recommended by a seller. 50 pages about how to create a bass line, based on 20 pages of music theory, the rest a few partitions of the tracks and backing tracks from the cd included in the book. ALL THIS SCALES THEORY was so well explained in only 4 pages. I still have this book. My only bass book
the whole tone is in the octatonic scale as well. I like to think of octatonic as oscillating between the whole tone scales, almost making its unrooted vibe even more destructive and awesome than the normal whole tone. Both are great and so much fun to throw into songs.
Right!? Hahah... Just remember in a pinch, G sus Saves! Can I get an A-men(or Scale)!!?? Yeah bad music puns on my part hah. I'm sure there's some even worse music pun to throw in with "Sin" Waves, as far as music / Sound theory goes,... G Sus & the Tones of Atonement!!!
I find Scotts bass lessons easily understandable and he bridges the gap between what a begginer can grasp to more advanced playing. His site helped me umderstand the diatonic chords in the major scale and that alone opened up alot regarding how chords work. I can now play a song and have an idea what type of chord to play based on scale degree. It does not seem hard at all but then again Ive been playing a long time. Lol
i like your videos, but.......(for the first 2 minutes) you explain everything very well, play a short lick with the scale you are talking about, and then wooooooow - you accelerate to speed of light, so that young bassplayer like me (58) suddenly get the feeling that it is better to put the bassguitar into the oven to have a nice and warm winter-evening instead of playing bassguitar.
I got super frustrated with this subject and told my teacher I am done. In desperation, he said forget all that crap and learn this: The minor and major pentatonic scales for each key. That is it. So I did. When I am in E, I know which scales are in minor and major. Same with A or C or any of them. Once I had that down cold, *THEN* we began to slowly pour more stuff on top. When I would get stumped, he would stop, back up and just keep going over what I did know, adding a few twist to the basics. I tell you, that is not a bad way to go. Sure, it may take a little longer, but what does that matter?
Charlie Foxtrot The 3rd - obviously Scott is stepping in to a level above where you are currently at. When I first started, I had The Who and Kiss for inspiration. I pressed and plucked the strings as I listened to a song (on a cassette tape or album), one small segment or step at a time. I learned by ear. Instructors are Great, but I never had the money to pay for one. So, as Scott has said before, Practice Actual Songs. For me, understanding the Nashville Number system and how it applies to the major key was a major step in my knowledge. This video just takes all of the possible variations of scales and simplifies it to make it easier. Oh sure, the major scale is where everyone should start, but Go Have Fun and rock out to something easy like AC/DC’s Hells Bells. Or, another song you like that is mostly root notes. If you don’t have a sense of accomplishment one in awhile, all the scale study in the world is going to make you want to quit. Cheers. And HAVE FUN!
Holy shit!!! Playing for 20+ years learning the same scale in 3 positions... doing it just blew my fucking mind open.. dam sir!!! THANKYOU!! What a tip!!!
6:30 - My brain just made an audible 'click' noise. This is exactly why I've been stuck on the applications of the major scale for what seems like an age. Now to rush home from work and get some shedding done.
association trick to remember the difference between harmonic and melodic minor scale shapes; harmonic minor = aeolian with major 7 (natural minor with a major 7) melodic minor = ionian with b3 (diatonic major with a minor/flat 3)
You're actually teaching me how to play guitar. I was getting so frustrated but then I started watching this and it broke everything down for me four strings at a time
What I find frustrating about theory: TOO MANY OPTIONS. Literally, every lesson, video, book etc. gives WAY too many ways to do every damn thing. I've been trying to find a way to learn theory without 8 different ways to do everything. Options are useful once you know what you're doing, but it all just ends up sounding like noise. "You can do it this way or you can do it that way and this way is just a modified version of that way." After banging my head against the wall learning the difference between a diminished minor and a phyerexian nigel I toss it all aside and just play. If there was a "simple" way to learn theory, I think I'd have found it by now, but I certainly haven't. I pick up bits and pieces here and there, but I find it cumbersome and hard to stick with for very long.
Unpopular opinion: Music theory is for academics and TH-camrs. Not to dismiss anyone or their area of expertise, but think about it. The Beatles didn’t spend a ton of time learning this stuff. Neither did Nirvana. If you want to learn theory, do it- but by all accounts it’s not much fun. Theory people turn the mystery and beauty of music into so many building blocks to be assembled, disassembled and endlessly analyzed. Music is an art, not a science, but music theory texts are compiled by people who study music rather than creating it. Also, it’s a good to remember that Music Theory is heavily biased towards western music; half-step, whole-step, major scale, etc. Indian music (for example) contains microtones between all of the western notes, and rhythms that don’t line up with “proper” theory, which strives to “educate” you on how music “ought” to sound, and what is “correct.” It’s all nonsense outside of the context of western music. If you have a feel for music, you have it. If not, no amount of memorizing scales will imbue you with that.
@@ThatGuy-y2c The bands you cite (Beatles, Nirvana) were playing relatively simple music. You don't need much theory to play 4 chord songs. But, if you want to play complex music (jazz, classical, Zappa, etc..),....then the theory becomes very helpful.
Foothilla No doubt. Simple music sells better always. Then again, I would challenge you to learn one of McCartney’s “relatively simple” bass lines before dismissing the Beatles. “Daytripper” or “Rain” should suffice.
When I was learning bass back in the day my teacher told me one day "oh the scales are important, here they are" and he handed me a sheet of scales to learn. I had no interest in them at the time because I was young and all I wanted to do was learn songs. I wish I had really learned the scales well and I could play anything now if I did. I can play songs now no problem but I would struggle if I had to improvise over a piece of music or if I was asked to play a song in a different key.
Playing the song in a different key is easy because the scale is movable. So you will be playing the same stuff over different frets. Yeah, I can't improvise too. I just play around the root notes when asked to improvise.
I know I am 3 years late but any new players out there that come here, stop at the diatonic major scale section. Put it on repeat for as long as you feel unlimited by the depth of what can be learnt and played from that scale. Then move on to the others. I'd 90% of contemporary musicians don't get this far, they learn the basics major and minor and a few off shoots like the blues scales and that is it. If you nail and learn the major scale with all it's forms, modes, chords etc. It will help with everything from sight reading, improvising, writing your own stuff and learning the scale derivatives such as the harmonic and melodic minors etc. Scott knows his stuff and 100% major is the most important piece of harmonic music theory any bass player will learn.
Scott: thanks for all of your wonderful videos! But there's one part that I didn't understand at all. At 6:09 you explain how you can cover the entire neck by using just those three fingerings. So you start with the first finger, then you go into the little finger position. But your little finger is not fretting the tonic C at that point. Instead it is fretting the note A at the 7th fret of the D string. And the subsequent little finger pattern that you play is not the same as the pattern you showed us earlier when you started with the little finger fretting the note C at the 8th fret of the E string. So I figure I must not be understanding something here, but I don't know what it is. Can somebody help me out?
I think his point was that if you are playing c maj and you get to the c on the 5th fret you can start again with the second finger position so c on 5th feet of 4th string then d on 7th and e on 9th. At that point you move to f on the 10th then you csn shift into the first finger pattern but pickup from the f do the fourth note then it f on the 10th g on the 12 th and a on the 14th. He’s just using different elements of each pattern in one scale. It’s not clear. He did rush that tbh.
Thank you I’m a 55 year old beginner my biggest struggle is finding lessons in order so I can advance properly plus I’m really bad with computer would like to stay in touch
Go to a keyboard and play from C to C on all the white notes (no sharps or flats in this key) This is the C major scale. (Ionian) Stay on the white notes and play from D to D. (Dorian) E to E. (Phrygian) F to f. (Lydian) G to G. ( Mixolydian) A to A. (Aeolian) B to B. (Locrian) This will give you the modes built on the key of C.
mukarusa nya actually The Orient includes countries and regions like Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Asia is a much larger continent which also includes places like India, Pakistan, Cambodia, Tibet and Nepal.
hitoZ I need to figure this out! I can't see an extra mic and I can see the plug in the amp, so he's not going into a console, must have a great mic and an even greater acoustic
Line out from the amp. Switching back and forth from recording from the mic next to him and then when he stops talking and just plays, they are using the direct line from the amp in the video. Would be nice to have a team of techs to help you out haha
It’s all patterns for sure. I used the major scale heavily to master the chromatic harmonica. I realized the different diatonic modes were the same pattern but just starting on a different note in the pattern. For diatonic harmonica, we call the modes “positions”. First position for major, second position, third and fourth positions etc. Same harmonica, same notes just starting the on a different hole. Now I get to do it on a bass.
I signed up to do the fretboard challenge - have to say, by week 3 I'd made months of progress and felt so much more confident on bass. Scot is a world class teacher but ultimately - you got to do the work! So get off the fence, sign up, pick a course (I suggest the fretboard challenge to all beginner and intermediate players - it's high paced and high level, and you learn so so much!) .. and go for it! Or lose more time on TH-cam 👍
Aren't the Ionian, Phrygian, Dorian etc not technically scales, but "modes" of the scale, I've never really called them scales I suppose, just because I think of those being the major minor etc.. and the modes being just modes of the actual scales.
Koka Bel Yeah, I agree, but what if we have a modal song, for example written in Dorian? Then the Dorian Scale would be the starting point on the root. Is that a scale or a mode?
If you have a CM Dorian mode of a song using the Dorian mode entirely, to me it is still the C Major scale, just the song is in the D Dorian mode of the C Maj scale. Semantics really is all it is. Mathematically it's kind of like the difference to me between a set and a sequence. Like in Major scales it is WWHWWWH, a mode will be the same pattern depending on where the Root note starts, but it is a set out of the sequence, like going to D Dorian on any major would be WHWWWHW. All the modes always follow the patterns of the scale they are based off of, just shifting the pattern based on the root note, unless I misunderstand something, I tend to be math oriented when thinking about such things I suppose. Nonetheless in the end still semantics I would say, so a silly thing for me to have said to begin with :P.
Koka Bel Are modes always the same pattern of whole and half steps though? If you do D dorian (from CM) it will be WHWWWHW. If you play a B dorian off of an A minor will it still be WHWWWHW (a static pattern) or will it be based off of the notes in your base scale (in this case HWWHWWW)?
the easiest way for me to think of the modes is in a shifting pattern from Major scales CMaj is obv easy especially on Piano (the white notes), but regardless when you change the root note as in your case playing a B Dorian, the mode will progress in a static pattern still based off the pattern of the major scale. So yes, still WHWWWHW..It just helps me to remember pattern and explain easily to think CMaj because: W = Whole (Tone) H = Half (Semitone C - Ionian W,W,H,W,W,W,H D - Dorian Shift front to back 1 W,H,W,W,W,H,W E - Phrygian shift one from Dorian H,W,W,W,H,W,W F - Lydian 1 from Phrygian WWWHWWH G- Mixolydian 1 from Lydian WWHWWHW A - Aeolian 1 from Mixo WHWWHWW B - Locrian 1 from Aeolian HWWHWWW This video is great because really all of these are inconsequential in a way, if you master the scales he mentions because really they are all a mode of a scale. (When you bring in diminished that just tells you to flatten an half-step), but really if you know the Major scales well on your neck and the patterns even then you already can play each mode of one, better to concentrate on the Diatonic than the modes (since they are really just part of the whole).
I legit can't tell the difference in what he's playing when he says learn the scale for each finger. It looks like he plays the exact same thing 3 times then changes it and starts moving up and down the neck.
He was playing the scale using 3 different fingering. So using any of those 3 fingers you can start the scale pattern and when you're playing you don't have to stay fixed to one pattern. You can start on one and go to another. That's how you make use of playing anywhere on the bass.
Well, western music has been largely centered on the Ionian Mode (Major Scale) for quite a few centuries, so it is proper to view all musical movement within that frame of reference. For example when we write minor sixth chords the sixth in the chord in question is derived from the parallel Major key and not from the Minor key of which the chord is a part. However, since bass guitars are typically (but not always) tuned to fourths all the way across their strings, symmetrical scale patterns are sufficient in every position of the instrument, but guitars tuned standard have a tuning irregularity between strings two (B) and three (G) - a major third, with all the other string intervals being fourths. This fact makes it necessary for guitar players (and multi-instrumentalists) to learn a variety of fingering patterns that are inherently asymmetrical. Learning symmetrical patterns may be sufficient for those who expect to only play bass guitars tuned to perfect fourths, but a habit like that might pose a problem later should a bass player decide to expand to otherwise tuned stringed instruments. Also, many pieces of music are written in Minor keys and though theoretically they are properly reckoned from their parallel Major key, (not their relative Major key), it is imperative that musicians, including bassists learn the Aeolian Mode (Minor Scale) because while performing it is inefficient to conceptualize a piece that's written in a Minor key by meta analyzing it and translating it into secondary nomenclature so that it's now three times removed from the sound the musician is attempting to produce ... 1. There is the reading of the note, 2. there is the analysis and reinterpretation of the note , 3. there is the playing of the string, and only then is there finally the produced sound ... maybe, but only if there's time for all of that. I discovered that there often was not. Learn your Minor scales.
He is an amazing bassist in rock music, but it is not the best in the world considering versatility. Check out Wojtek Pilichowski, now that guy makes Victor Wooten look like a rookie.
How to turn a frown upside-down? Look...!!! You have great presence. Teaching skills are excellent. The Michael Jackson glove, while necessary, can be a tremendous attribute. Just a little graphic magic and voila'! (My normal consultant fee is waived). Assign each finger a color that lights up when played. The effect will greatly enhance the student to see and comprehend your movement techniques. That guy that looks like you, looks bored... let him do the color graphics. I can't see which finger is playing. I'm just a beginner. 2 weeks in. Thanks.
So far, I can play all over the neck in any key, but I have a hard time really connecting things up, like I don't know when I should shift my hand vs play up/down to the next string, to do any sort of truly impressive solo work or even big scale runs as fills, etc. Annoyingly, I mostly play for a church band, where songs are disproportionately in the key of G...I've sort of memorized that one by brute force before I really started taking the instrument seriously.
one of the multiple personalities of the guy from split teaching us how to play bass
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
This comment slaps
🤣🤣🤣
“Are you scales making sense?? Etcetera??”🤣🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Here is a quick cheat sheet for those coming back to the video to learn/memorize one of the scales:
0:27 - 0 - The Fallopian Flat Niners
3:37 - 1 - The Diatonic Major Scale
8:25 - 2 - The Diminished Scale
9:36 - 3 - The Harmonic Minor Scale
10:55 - 4 - The Melodic Minor Scale
12:00 - 5 - The Whole Tone Scale
Thank you!
Thanks
Thanks Felipe!
Farlopian scale... the best.
ioweyouone scale
Alright folks. Scott has explained the glove before. It is because he has a disorder known as focal dystonia, in which the neural network begins to mesh together and causes involuntary contractions of a muscle or group of muscles. Scott wears the gloves as a remedy. In my mind, it is amazing he is such a good bassist, despite the disorder. My wife has it too, along with MS. It can be really debilitating. Thanks for the inspiration Scott, as well as the fun instruction. Keep shedding! I will def check out the fallopian flat nine. ha ha!
Keep Shedding lol
Played bass a lot in my youth - then life began (university, career, wife, kids the whole deal) 30 years later - thanks for giving me the confidence to pick it up again.
same here (just 20 years instead 30 but same spirit ;) hope you did it!
How are you nowadays
The five scales:
Diatonic major
Diminished
Harmonic minor
Melodic minor
Whole tone
Alex Parer Spoilers dude!
Alex Parer aaaand no need to learn the natural minor scale. seriously.
Aeolian is natural minor. That's covered in the Diatonic Major. Start wherever you want it's all the same pattern.
ever heard of altered scale ?
the natural minor scale is the aeolian mode of the major scale which he includes in the video..
I'm a drummer looking to dabble in bass as a way to understand my primary counterpart in the rythm section. You are absolutely incredible and very knowledgeable. Thank you. My god bro well done
I too am a drummer who started to play bass about 6 months ago. You will be blown away by how you will find some thing soooo easy to understand on a bass because of your prior knowledge about rhythm. Another interesting thing was that so many of the songs that I jammed to on drums, I now realize how much I was subconsciously listening to the bass line and if I try (emphasis on try) to jam to those same songs on the bass, my brain kinda knows where to go, I don't have to the technical skills to get there yet. But interesting nonetheless
Very important lesson here! I was fortunate enough to study w Dave LaRue for a while and he showed me this EXACT same lesson. The 3 positions of the major scale changed a lot and opened up a world of freedom for me. This makes me want to play. Great lesson Scott!
Holy crap... That 1st tip just blew my mind. Playing the major with all fingers.... That has got to be the best thing i've ever heard.
Starts at 2:40
Thanks he talks so much
kkkkkkkkkkk
more like 3:35 lol man this dude rambles
No
What’s with thee gloves 🧤??????
I’m trying to learn how TO PLAY THE BASS ANS I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THIS GUY IS TALKING ABOUT. all I know is that he was in New York days before.
jose garcia start somewhere more basic like chromatic scale or major scale its like the do re mi shit
Oh yeah, bookmark the video, go back and check every week. you'll find that you understand more and more every time, it's quite fun. Good luck with your bass playing!
Start learning Primus right away. That's how i started. Been playing for 25 years.
😂😂 glad I'm not only one who get the feels haahha
This isn't very beginner. Keep searching for something that works for you. Scott is a legend though so keep this video and it will blow your mind in a few weeks/months/years. May you be blessed with the patience of a monk.
Scott, you are awesome! Been teaching guitar and bass for years....I'm an old goat......I tell my students very much the same thing, Plus I always say, there are no rules.....if you like a note that's not in the scale, and you like it.........PLAY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much....you have a gift and a light about you.....keep on making those videos!
I’m a drummer who’s trying to learn the bass just for something new so I got super hyped when I saw Siros Vaziri in the background
Actually, this is not what I was taught when I had to suddenly switch from playing R&B to Jazz - to fill the shoes of the bass player who had left town. "Its not too difficult to hang with the jazz changes" I was told "you only have to learn the following 5 scales and then you can play practically any jazz standard. Thus I was told, in order of frequency of use, to learn;
Diatonic major (Cmaj7)
Dominant minor (Cm7 - i.e. natural 6, flat 7)
Dominant Major (C7 i.e. major 3, flat 7)
Cm7b5
C7b9 (Dominant Diminished) i.e. the dominant scale starting with a half step?
..and then the whole tone (ok, so that's six scales)
But it seems from Scott's video, that some of the above are "just modes" - so I don't know if when, all those years ago, I've been learning scales in the wrong priority.
However, in terms of "surviving the gig" - they got me through fine, and I even grew over time (at least in terms of proficiency within those scales) - and perhaps some overall musicality, I'd like to think.
But what I'd like to really know is - what is wrong with above the approach?. Even after all this time, I am still completely baffled as to which scales are the most useful.
Scott, like most teachers, you talk more than you teach. Cofusing, and I've been playing for 30yrs....I can't imagine how a beginner feels.
Seriously?? No Dyxflargian quarter-augminished B# mode scale???
*a u g m i n i s h e d*
D I G M E N T E D
And the bauhoopian florp scale is also really nice if you combine it with the drooshed d scale
With an augmented Pi and a diminished ego?
in 8-tone temperament, it's actually equivalent to a califragilian polish manor 3 sharp; quite practical really when jammasturbating
my god man, the idea of a major from the 3 finger starting points just blew my faceballs, right off, i've played for 23 years, and professionally for the last 18, i'd consider myself an accomplished bassist, but have never sat down and learnt all the modes and all, i'm what i've always thought of, and explained myself as a "Shapes" player. No matter what i'm playing at any given time i think about "shapes" where my walks and riffs go is based on shapes that work within the given scale, i won't necessarily be actively thinking about what scale or key, but rather which particular notes fit within what needs to be played, and the positions they fall into, and thus the shapes that i have at my disposal to play with....
learning each and every mode and scale has always been tedious for me, i've spent my time there, i've learnt all there is, but i've never been able to absorb the information too well, but the idea of learrning say the major scale from 3 starting points, resounds strongly with me... fits in with my "shapes" ideology, and best of all it's simple, makes sense, and is extremely easy to comprehend....
i've been watching your youtube clips for quite a while now, but i'll be if i'm not going to sign up to the academy just for introducing me to that mindset!! brilliant!
LunchboxDOTinc excellent comment's cheers
Just left a comment saying, basically the same thing. This is such a great piece of advice. And I'm stuck at work with no bass near me!!!
haha i immediately grabbed mine and even in hand, it just makes so much sense...
Roll on 5 o'clock. :)
I'm sorry to be rude, but I have no idea how you could have been playing bass for 23 years without having explored this concept.
after 5 minutes of listening I have enough things to practice for a month... Scott you're a genious :)
We would have also accepted "genius."
Scott is the absolute greatest teacher ever!!! I play for a living and turn to Scott often
Your teaching on scales is amazing! Yes I used to be very disciplined in my younger years practising my scales up and down the fretboard. However although my little fingers were agile enough and someone once described me as having fingers like a demented spider! I was only young and kind of missed the point. Now I am little older I have calmed down, and I cringe thinking back. But yes scales are so important and it really is something I want to learn and to brush up on. I am very familiar with major and minor scales, and some things, but I am keen to learn more. Just to loosen me up a little. Not so I can play all the notes, but so I am more confident and not just left hanging when I am trying to figure something out. Something I learned young was a very wise musician taught me that the notes you don't play are just as important as the ones you don't. I love these bass lessons, Scott is an awesome bass player and teacher. He's teaching basic musical principles, or things you would learn on any musical instrument be it piano, violin or whatever. This is bass line stuff-no pun intended of course LOL !
When I started playing bass 15 years ago I bought the only bass lesson book in my city music stores. Recommended by a seller. 50 pages about how to create a bass line, based on 20 pages of music theory, the rest a few partitions of the tracks and backing tracks from the cd included in the book. ALL THIS SCALES THEORY was so well explained in only 4 pages. I still have this book. My only bass book
what book is it?
the whole tone is in the octatonic scale as well. I like to think of octatonic as oscillating between the whole tone scales, almost making its unrooted vibe even more destructive and awesome than the normal whole tone. Both are great and so much fun to throw into songs.
so satisfying to see how little clearance your head next to those support beams as you walk around. any taller and youd be bonking all day.
i lost it at fallopian flat nine.... you can end the video there, nothing can beat that.... i'm done!
+
Right!? Hahah... Just remember in a pinch, G sus Saves! Can I get an
A-men(or Scale)!!?? Yeah bad music puns on my part hah.
I'm sure there's some even worse music pun to throw in with "Sin" Waves, as far as music / Sound theory goes,... G Sus & the Tones of Atonement!!!
A Fallopian flat nine is the same as a Kevorkian Flat-Line
Dude, I'm dieing laughing, Seriously No pun intended Hah
AAAAAhhhhhh!!!!
I find Scotts bass lessons easily understandable and he bridges the gap between what a begginer can grasp to more advanced playing. His site helped me umderstand the diatonic chords in the major scale and that alone opened up alot regarding how chords work. I can now play a song and have an idea what type of chord to play based on scale degree. It does not seem hard at all but then again Ive been playing a long time. Lol
i like your videos, but.......(for the first 2 minutes)
you explain everything very well, play a short lick with the scale you are talking about, and then wooooooow - you accelerate to speed of light, so that young bassplayer like me (58) suddenly get the feeling that it is better to put the bassguitar into the oven to have a nice and warm winter-evening instead of playing bassguitar.
You just described his paid lessons, perfectly.
That's freaking hilarious. Lmao
He shows the scales. The rest is practice, practice, practice by yourself.
Do you know, there is a "pause" button on youtube? ;-)
you can also lower the speed in the video options
I'm not a bass player. I just love listening to him moving around notes to place focus on some ideas.
I got super frustrated with this subject and told my teacher I am done. In desperation, he said forget all that crap and learn this: The minor and major pentatonic scales for each key. That is it. So I did. When I am in E, I know which scales are in minor and major. Same with A or C or any of them. Once I had that down cold, *THEN* we began to slowly pour more stuff on top. When I would get stumped, he would stop, back up and just keep going over what I did know, adding a few twist to the basics. I tell you, that is not a bad way to go. Sure, it may take a little longer, but what does that matter?
That’s interesting. You should make some videos and teach them how you were taught.
Exactly my thoughts! Just nail down the pentatonic scales and you'll be good.
Spot-on. You have the proper mindset and attitude. You’re also fortunate to have a teacher that senses how to teach.
Charlie Foxtrot The 3rd - obviously Scott is stepping in to a level above where you are currently at. When I first started, I had The Who and Kiss for inspiration. I pressed and plucked the strings as I listened to a song (on a cassette tape or album), one small segment or step at a time.
I learned by ear.
Instructors are Great, but I never had the money to pay for one.
So, as Scott has said before, Practice Actual Songs.
For me, understanding the Nashville Number system and how it applies to the major key was a major step in my knowledge.
This video just takes all of the possible variations of scales and simplifies it to make it easier. Oh sure, the major scale is where everyone should start, but Go Have Fun and rock out to something easy like AC/DC’s Hells Bells. Or, another song you like that is mostly root notes. If you don’t have a sense of accomplishment one in awhile, all the scale study in the world is going to make you want to quit.
Cheers. And HAVE FUN!
Holy shit!!! Playing for 20+ years learning the same scale in 3 positions... doing it just blew my fucking mind open.. dam sir!!! THANKYOU!!
What a tip!!!
6:30 - My brain just made an audible 'click' noise. This is exactly why I've been stuck on the applications of the major scale for what seems like an age. Now to rush home from work and get some shedding done.
association trick to remember the difference between harmonic and melodic minor scale shapes;
harmonic minor = aeolian with major 7 (natural minor with a major 7)
melodic minor = ionian with b3 (diatonic major with a minor/flat 3)
You should do a whole session on that Fallopian flat 9
The bass player in The Tubes uses it .......
You're actually teaching me how to play guitar. I was getting so frustrated but then I started watching this and it broke everything down for me four strings at a time
What I find frustrating about theory: TOO MANY OPTIONS. Literally, every lesson, video, book etc. gives WAY too many ways to do every damn thing. I've been trying to find a way to learn theory without 8 different ways to do everything. Options are useful once you know what you're doing, but it all just ends up sounding like noise. "You can do it this way or you can do it that way and this way is just a modified version of that way." After banging my head against the wall learning the difference between a diminished minor and a phyerexian nigel I toss it all aside and just play. If there was a "simple" way to learn theory, I think I'd have found it by now, but I certainly haven't. I pick up bits and pieces here and there, but I find it cumbersome and hard to stick with for very long.
Get the Hal Leonard bass method the complete edition. 🙂
Best comment here
Unpopular opinion: Music theory is for academics and TH-camrs. Not to dismiss anyone or their area of expertise, but think about it. The Beatles didn’t spend a ton of time learning this stuff. Neither did Nirvana. If you want to learn theory, do it- but by all accounts it’s not much fun. Theory people turn the mystery and beauty of music into so many building blocks to be assembled, disassembled and endlessly analyzed. Music is an art, not a science, but music theory texts are compiled by people who study music rather than creating it. Also, it’s a good to remember that Music Theory is heavily biased towards western music; half-step, whole-step, major scale, etc. Indian music (for example) contains microtones between all of the western notes, and rhythms that don’t line up with “proper” theory, which strives to “educate” you on how music “ought” to sound, and what is “correct.” It’s all nonsense outside of the context of western music.
If you have a feel for music, you have it. If not, no amount of memorizing scales will imbue you with that.
@@ThatGuy-y2c The bands you cite (Beatles, Nirvana) were playing relatively simple music. You don't need much theory to play 4 chord songs. But, if you want to play complex music (jazz, classical, Zappa, etc..),....then the theory becomes very helpful.
Foothilla No doubt. Simple music sells better always. Then again, I would challenge you to learn one of McCartney’s “relatively simple” bass lines before dismissing the Beatles. “Daytripper” or “Rain” should suffice.
Never too old to learn something new. Many thanks.
From a thankful Yank.
When I was learning bass back in the day my teacher told me one day "oh the scales are important, here they are" and he handed me a sheet of scales to learn. I had no interest in them at the time because I was young and all I wanted to do was learn songs. I wish I had really learned the scales well and I could play anything now if I did. I can play songs now no problem but I would struggle if I had to improvise over a piece of music or if I was asked to play a song in a different key.
Playing the song in a different key is easy because the scale is movable. So you will be playing the same stuff over different frets. Yeah, I can't improvise too. I just play around the root notes when asked to improvise.
Thank you for your insight Scott!
skip to 3:30
I know I am 3 years late but any new players out there that come here, stop at the diatonic major scale section. Put it on repeat for as long as you feel unlimited by the depth of what can be learnt and played from that scale. Then move on to the others. I'd 90% of contemporary musicians don't get this far, they learn the basics major and minor and a few off shoots like the blues scales and that is it. If you nail and learn the major scale with all it's forms, modes, chords etc. It will help with everything from sight reading, improvising, writing your own stuff and learning the scale derivatives such as the harmonic and melodic minors etc.
Scott knows his stuff and 100% major is the most important piece of harmonic music theory any bass player will learn.
The "fallopian flat 9!" LOL! :-D
I have learnt my scales but I have never learnt the same scale using different finger positions. Brilliant!
OMG it is Moby and Michael Stipe ;)
Another way to think of the Melodic Minor scale is... it is a Major scale with a minor 3rd. Thanks Scott for these great videos
I see you fell in love with nylon strings, are they so great? What's the brand?
i want to know too :(
Thank you for sharing your love with us! Big ups from Poland. GR8
Play the video at x0.5 speed. Then Scott sounds drunk but you learn more because at x1 he moves too fast.
good tip and yeah, he sounds like me on a late friday shed session :)
how is this done?
@@siblingspeter1409 In the video window, go to Settings > Speed > 0.5.
Maaan
Brilliant. I'm in tears !
I have been playing electric bass for nearly 20 years... albeit badly, Literally a mahoosive Eureka moment at 5:57. Thanks for the guidance.
Scott: thanks for all of your wonderful videos!
But there's one part that I didn't understand at all. At 6:09 you explain how you can cover the entire neck by using just those three fingerings. So you start with the first finger, then you go into the little finger position. But your little finger is not fretting the tonic C at that point. Instead it is fretting the note A at the 7th fret of the D string. And the subsequent little finger pattern that you play is not the same as the pattern you showed us earlier when you started with the little finger fretting the note C at the 8th fret of the E string.
So I figure I must not be understanding something here, but I don't know what it is. Can somebody help me out?
I think his point was that if you are playing c maj and you get to the c on the 5th fret you can start again with the second finger position so c on 5th feet of 4th string then d on 7th and e on 9th. At that point you move to f on the 10th then you csn shift into the first finger pattern but pickup from the f do the fourth note then it f on the 10th g on the 12 th and a on the 14th. He’s just using different elements of each pattern in one scale. It’s not clear. He did rush that tbh.
I agree. He goes way too fast. Nowhere can I find a diagram for starting with the first finger.
man you sound just like Jaco. very impressive and a great teacher!!!!!
You are truly an awesome guy, thanks for the laughs and the knowledge.
Another home run lesson! Just watched it twice. Probably come back and watch it some more. lol BASS ALL DAY!!! Thnx again Scott!
Scott’s out here teaching us beginners to say Radiohead songs and female anatomy as scales and I’m here for it
Got an american professional p bass on the way. Im 48 years old and have owned tons of basses. Going old school now. I hope it's a good one
fallopian flat 9? what?
ミハイル・エリック・ ニコデマス 'weebs suck' yeah its kinda like falafel sharp four, if you understand
I prefer the keborian half-sharp second as a substitute tbh
Too technical. It's felatio 69 every time for me.
69 is only good in felatio anyway
this got sexual all of a sudden...
Can you do a video next on the finger placing
You have a very cool looking place there, good job!
Great training for us too. Thank you so much, sir.
Thank you I’m a 55 year old beginner my biggest struggle is finding lessons in order so I can advance properly plus I’m really bad with computer would like to stay in touch
Songsterr is a great tool.
Go to a keyboard and play from C to C on all the white notes (no sharps or flats in this key)
This is the C major scale. (Ionian)
Stay on the white notes and play from D to D. (Dorian)
E to E. (Phrygian)
F to f. (Lydian)
G to G. ( Mixolydian)
A to A. (Aeolian)
B to B. (Locrian)
This will give you the modes built on the key of C.
OK, five scale:
Diabolical Major
Demolished
Harmonica Minor
Melodica Minor
Halter Top
OK, I'm set!
Hi Scott!
the melodic minor scale is a scale that was different up and down,
up is c,d Eb,f g, a, b , c
down is c ,Bb, Ab,g,f ,Eb,d, c.
8 Minutes in the video
"And the second scale type is . . ."
As I was corrected a while back, Oriental is furniture, Asian is a cultural reference. But keep up the good work. Learning a lot from your videos.
mukarusa nya actually The Orient includes countries and regions like Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Asia is a much larger continent which also includes places like India, Pakistan, Cambodia, Tibet and Nepal.
I still haven't seen a comment saying how he looks like he'd be James McAvoy's older brother.
Any videos on what are the three finger patterns, how do you play in any key, how do transitions with chord changes?
Hi Scott, how do you record the bass sound in your videos, it's so clear and 'on place', are you using separate mic for the cabinet?
hitoZ I need to figure this out! I can't see an extra mic and I can see the plug in the amp, so he's not going into a console, must have a great mic and an even greater acoustic
Line out from the amp. Switching back and forth from recording from the mic next to him and then when he stops talking and just plays, they are using the direct line from the amp in the video. Would be nice to have a team of techs to help you out haha
It’s all patterns for sure. I used the major scale heavily to master the chromatic harmonica. I realized the different diatonic modes were the same pattern but just starting on a different note in the pattern. For diatonic harmonica, we call the modes “positions”. First position for major, second position, third and fourth positions etc. Same harmonica, same notes just starting the on a different hole. Now I get to do it on a bass.
Myxomatosis scale is way underrated.
I signed up to do the fretboard challenge - have to say, by week 3 I'd made months of progress and felt so much more confident on bass. Scot is a world class teacher but ultimately - you got to do the work! So get off the fence, sign up, pick a course (I suggest the fretboard challenge to all beginner and intermediate players - it's high paced and high level, and you learn so so much!) .. and go for it! Or lose more time on TH-cam 👍
I'm still trying to master the dyslexian scale.
Good lesson. These basics go a long way as a foundation for bass playing.
Crazy Eyebrow Sync !!! Thanks for Sharing !!
Duuuudeee, I've been using that fallopian scale joke since highschool!!! I never ever heard someone else say it, this is awesome!!! Scott you rule.
VERY NICE VIDEO SCOTT. YOU KINDA LOOK LIKE A MIME WITH THAT SHIRT AND GLOVES PLAYING BASS ON HIS BREAKTIME AND ITS AWESOME 😜😊
Great sense of humor adding to the lessons, love it!
Aren't the Ionian, Phrygian, Dorian etc not technically scales, but "modes" of the scale, I've never really called them scales I suppose, just because I think of those being the major minor etc.. and the modes being just modes of the actual scales.
You should listen to the whole video before commenting.
"Ok, I'll try to in the future"
Koka Bel Yeah, I agree, but what if we have a modal song, for example written in Dorian? Then the Dorian Scale would be the starting point on the root. Is that a scale or a mode?
If you have a CM Dorian mode of a song using the Dorian mode entirely, to me it is still the C Major scale, just the song is in the D Dorian mode of the C Maj scale. Semantics really is all it is. Mathematically it's kind of like the difference to me between a set and a sequence. Like in Major scales it is WWHWWWH, a mode will be the same pattern depending on where the Root note starts, but it is a set out of the sequence, like going to D Dorian on any major would be WHWWWHW. All the modes always follow the patterns of the scale they are based off of, just shifting the pattern based on the root note, unless I misunderstand something, I tend to be math oriented when thinking about such things I suppose. Nonetheless in the end still semantics I would say, so a silly thing for me to have said to begin with :P.
Koka Bel Are modes always the same pattern of whole and half steps though? If you do D dorian (from CM) it will be WHWWWHW. If you play a B dorian off of an A minor will it still be WHWWWHW (a static pattern) or will it be based off of the notes in your base scale (in this case HWWHWWW)?
the easiest way for me to think of the modes is in a shifting pattern from Major scales CMaj is obv easy especially on Piano (the white notes), but regardless when you change the root note as in your case playing a B Dorian, the mode will progress in a static pattern still based off the pattern of the major scale. So yes, still WHWWWHW..It just helps me to remember pattern and explain easily to think CMaj because:
W = Whole (Tone) H = Half (Semitone
C - Ionian W,W,H,W,W,W,H
D - Dorian Shift front to back 1 W,H,W,W,W,H,W
E - Phrygian shift one from Dorian H,W,W,W,H,W,W
F - Lydian 1 from Phrygian WWWHWWH
G- Mixolydian 1 from Lydian WWHWWHW
A - Aeolian 1 from Mixo WHWWHWW
B - Locrian 1 from Aeolian HWWHWWW
This video is great because really all of these are inconsequential in a way, if you master the scales he mentions because really they are all a mode of a scale. (When you bring in diminished that just tells you to flatten an half-step), but really if you know the Major scales well on your neck and the patterns even then you already can play each mode of one, better to concentrate on the Diatonic than the modes (since they are really just part of the whole).
Weathered 59’ precision runnin’ tape wounds?
Oooooh! Just sounds so damn FRESH!
A pair of Johnny Sins are teaching me to slap the bASS. lmao
I legit can't tell the difference in what he's playing when he says learn the scale for each finger. It looks like he plays the exact same thing 3 times then changes it and starts moving up and down the neck.
Thank god im not alone. Have you figured it out by now?
He was playing the scale using 3 different fingering. So using any of those 3 fingers you can start the scale pattern and when you're playing you don't have to stay fixed to one pattern. You can start on one and go to another. That's how you make use of playing anywhere on the bass.
right ! SAME NOTES, but PLAYED DIFFERENTLY on the neck
Excellent instructor! Inspirational demonstration! Clear and precise!
LMFAO
12:40 every time Link opens a chest in Ocarina of Time
I love that custom shop p bass. My favorite of all your basses
What about chromatic?
If you don't know that scale. Put your instrument on ebay... lol
Angel Danel Díaz Morales I concur 😂😂😂😫
BABAAM! Only scale u need imo!
Well, western music has been largely centered on the Ionian Mode (Major Scale) for quite a few centuries, so it is proper to view all musical movement within that frame of reference. For example when we write minor sixth chords the sixth in the chord in question is derived from the parallel Major key and not from the Minor key of which the chord is a part. However, since bass guitars are typically (but not always) tuned to fourths all the way across their strings, symmetrical scale patterns are sufficient in every position of the instrument, but guitars tuned standard have a tuning irregularity between strings two (B) and three (G) - a major third, with all the other string intervals being fourths. This fact makes it necessary for guitar players (and multi-instrumentalists) to learn a variety of fingering patterns that are inherently asymmetrical. Learning symmetrical patterns may be sufficient for those who expect to only play bass guitars tuned to perfect fourths, but a habit like that might pose a problem later should a bass player decide to expand to otherwise tuned stringed instruments. Also, many pieces of music are written in Minor keys and though theoretically they are properly reckoned from their parallel Major key, (not their relative Major key), it is imperative that musicians, including bassists learn the Aeolian Mode (Minor Scale) because while performing it is inefficient to conceptualize a piece that's written in a Minor key by meta analyzing it and translating it into secondary nomenclature so that it's now three times removed from the sound the musician is attempting to produce ...
1. There is the reading of the note, 2. there is the analysis and reinterpretation of the note , 3. there is the playing of the string, and only then is there finally the produced sound ... maybe, but only if there's time for all of that. I discovered that there often was not.
Learn your Minor scales.
7:52 omg is that some toejam and earl i hear? :D
It sure is. Nicely spotted.
Excellent vid and lesson, Scott! Inspiring!
He failed to mentioned the Egomatic Triptonian Shredolydian Minor scale, but that's because he's a bass player. Every lead guitarist knows that scale.
the "fallopian flat niners" so much to learn that's a wicked crazy name for a scale but if you say so brother - lets go!
What's with the glove?
there is a whole video dedicated to "why I wear the glove"
Simon Miller i like that video
@@simonmiller6697 where ? I do not find it
Andres R www.quora.com/Whats-the-reason-Scott-Devine-wears-gloves-when-he-plays
Thank you for explaining it in a way I can understand perfectly.
Billy Sheehan, according to himself, only knows the major scale.
And as far as I'm concerned the best bass player in the world...
He is an amazing bassist in rock music, but it is not the best in the world considering versatility. Check out Wojtek Pilichowski, now that guy makes Victor Wooten look like a rookie.
Azi Crawford damn!
when you get to that level,there is no best,it just becomes your personal preference
You're the best bass instructor on TH-cam!
how many people looked up the Fallopian mode?
I prefer the "Fallopian Tube" amp.
Don't have to look it up....
god damnit you tricked me
Very good! I'm very happy now! When I play very fast dow and up to the scale, sound is like good a wave!
ohhshit adam neely
How to turn a frown upside-down? Look...!!! You have great presence. Teaching skills are excellent. The Michael Jackson glove, while necessary, can be a tremendous attribute. Just a little graphic magic and voila'! (My normal consultant fee is waived). Assign each finger a color that lights up when played. The effect will greatly enhance the student to see and comprehend your movement techniques. That guy that looks like you, looks bored... let him do the color graphics. I can't see which finger is playing. I'm just a beginner. 2 weeks in. Thanks.
Myxomatosis
Totally innocuous question, but what is the brand and model of Gavin's Glasses? I really like them. ...Still interested in the scales though...
am I the only one wondering what happened to the crazy purple bass giveaway from last week?
Alguien Asspero He'll usually post a video a few weeks after and near the end choose a winner.
For a moment, thought the bridge photo was a window.
Great effect.
Another great vid
Too much rabbit and flash playing for me.
So far, I can play all over the neck in any key, but I have a hard time really connecting things up, like I don't know when I should shift my hand vs play up/down to the next string, to do any sort of truly impressive solo work or even big scale runs as fills, etc.
Annoyingly, I mostly play for a church band, where songs are disproportionately in the key of G...I've sort of memorized that one by brute force before I really started taking the instrument seriously.