[FinaleGuitar]

This lesson covers the shapes and patterns of major and minor scales.

There is a .pdf file to print out and see the different shapes.

Remember, a shape is how a scale looks on your fretboard. Shapes on the bass are movable all over the fretboard and the scale is named by where the tonic is. People think about what finger starts on the tonic and how many notes are on each string. Remember a scale really spans the entire fretboard. By practicing different shapes, you will be able to start connecting the different shapes into bigger and bigger shapes.

The other two files are patterns for major and minor scales. A pattern is the order or arrangement that you play the scale tones. There are different patterns based on rhythm and interval (like patterns based on thirds, fourths, or triplets). The minor patterns file is set to the relative minor of C major (A minor or Am). The Am should change to the correct minor when you change keys... cool, eh?

Things to remember:

• Use the key signature tool to change keys and cover all the major and minor scales!!!
  
• Combine different shapes with different patterns.
  
• The more combinations you practice the more you will start being able to play what you hear in your head like some bass playing ninja.
  
• Play it legato (which means connected... no silence or space between notes)
  
• Start slow with no metronome.
  
• When you can play it steady, play a long with the NotePad file, and use the file to increase tempo.
  
• Be consistent. You develop muscle memory faster by playing it the same way every time.
  
• Be patient.

Attached File(s)

•  MajorMinorShapes.pdf (52.46K)
  Number of downloads: 8
•  MinorBassPatterns.MUS (36.92K)
  Number of downloads: 3
•  MajorBassPatterns.MUS (36.92K)
  Number of downloads: 2