The SNEAKY Trick Every Pro Bassist Uses

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There’s a ‘trick’ that just about every bassist uses that takes their bass lines from ‘OK’ (or even ‘meh’) to extraordinary.
And the best part?
You don’t need an encyclopaedic knowledge of music theory or even to know your fretboard that well.
To use this ‘trick’, you only need 3 frets, but those 3 frets can make a MASSIVE change to your bass lines.
In fact, this technique isn’t truly a ‘trick’; it’s more like an essential component of the language of playing bass.
It’s just that this particular piece of the language is super easy to start using, and it can make a huge difference to how your bass lines sound.
The 7 lines in today’s video from artists like Paul McCartney, Nate Watts and Metallica show just how common it is.
You may even start using this trick yourself and notice it in tons of other bass lines as well. As soon as you know what it is, it’ll start jumping out at you.
Good luck with the lesson and happy playing!
Cheers,
Luke
#becomeabassist #basslesson

[@BecomeABassist]

The 3-Fret Rule is something I cover on day 19 of my 21-Day Beginner Bass Challenge, so if you want to check out the *_rest_* of the challenge, the link is right here: becomeabassist.com/products/beginner-bass-challenge/ EDIT - Quick correction! At the 6:57 mark, the top graphic should say that you should approach major chords from BELOW, not above. Thanks to @swagner89 for pointing it out.

[@dingoswamphead]

Thanks Luke. Really valuable.

[@jlclodfelter]

This is a brilliant way of introducing people to walking bass lines. I particularly liked the Carol Kaye example.

[@marshwetland3808]

funky funk yo-yo!

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

Within the first three minutes, you described the only bass chops I have! 😁 Chromatic runs from one root note to another is about all I got! I'm usually playing hard rock, so pumping the root is what the rest of the band want, the runs at the chord changes are what make me sound like I know what I'm doing.

[@tomcoryell]

I was surprised by him not saying the word “chromatic”.

[@webstercat]

Play what works & your buds will love you.

[@mumblbeebee6546]

Same. “Alberta, Alberta” taught me that in slow… then “Mustang Sally” a bit faster, and then an Albert Collins track I forgot the name of, in pretty quick. After that, I joined a band and joined the legion of bassists who pumped root notes 😂

[@scottkretsch4887]

@@tomcoryellyeah, me too.

[@davejones7475]

Yikes! I'm 1,000 years old and played bass for around 900 years. I have made a living not having a clue what I'm playing. Only the root and the 1. You have just taught an Old Dog (and Old is Gold) a new trick! The Force is with you & I tip my hat 😮.

[@D_Tuned]

Chuck Rainey on Quincy Jones' "Streetbeater (Sanford & Son Theme)" goes crazy with this trick.

[@stitchgrimly6167]

I learned this rule from the start of Smoke On The Water. It only does it that once to introduce the bass but it's so badass. It's the best part of the song.

[@BecomeABassist]

Great example @stitchgrimly6167!

[@ballhawk387]

And then there's the John Entwistle 3 frets down, 12 frets up, 6 frets down, 8 frets up, etc with harmonics rule. Thanks, excellent stuff!

[@brucesmith9144]

Great stuff. Love using approach notes to outline chord changes. Noticeably drives the rhythm of the song. Really a mood changer.

[@hinduismwithpremananddasbhagat]

Target chord, approach notes, something I never saw until I started studying jazz bass. It was a huge revelation that a note might be tied to what is coming and not what was.

[@carltaylor4942]

I'm 68 and just learning walking bass theory. Really is opening my eyes to a lot of new concepts I wish I'd known a long time ago.

[@PabloGarcia-sf7bn]

This technique is the whole of the Sanford and Son theme song and Barney Miller as well. The beauty of this idea is that you can translate the coming idea/chord to anyone with good ears and they can hear where the song is going next. Pay attention guitar players, this is how the smart old guys expect you to pick these things up. Don’t follow your band. Drive with them. These musical moves are your roadmap. If you shut up and listen, a great band is telling you musically where to go. Then how you arrive is up to you. Not blind luck. Excellent explanation of a sophisticated method to keep everyone on track! Greetings from New Mexico!

[@scottybaby8246]

Somehow the KZbin algorithm bumped me into your channel and I am ever so grateful. I have played bass for 50 years as a second instrument to my guitar playing, and have always tried to separate the personalities that are required to avoid cliches in my recordings. So now I’m watching all your videos as a refresher course on everything back to the basics! Wow! A perfect balance of theory, both musical and artistic, is excellent! And then you have simple ways for beginners to understand and play quickly. Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing your talent and teaching!

[@BecomeABassist]

Thanks so much @scottybaby8246 - that's really kind of you to say! I'm so glad the KZbin algorithm served me up to you :D

[@mattgwardesq]

Amazing content as always. This is really helpful for me. Thanks!

[@PaulSchwarz]

i think the walking up to the minor chord in "i wish" works because the song is in dorian mode...it uses the natural sixth rather than the flatted sixth, so the bassline going 6-b7-7-8 works well in that context. great video!

[@BecomeABassist]

Exactly @PaulSchwarz! The Dorian minor is one of the exceptions to the rule of thumb - good pick up!

[@joycerichardson1810]

One of the best baselines ever!

[@caryheuchert]

Very cool lesson! Thanks, Luke 😎

[@mikegreenebass]

It gives your lines that forward motion feel and is so simple to do and thank god for that!

[@loremyster3631]

Glad to see you back!

[@bass_face]

great lesson, so easy but adds so much spice, thank you!

[@ZeroMod]

Been doing that since forever but didn't know it was "a rule" ! Great rundown of the idea.

[@1234drums]

Thank you Luke, this was really useful ❤❤❤❤

[@charleskleesattel6477]

It might be interesting to put the chords in a progression context rather than a chromatic up the neck move. Like Beginner level being I - IV - V - I. Add a 6th to tonic and a seventh to V. Then intermediate level would be close to the same thing but at a iv chord and perhaps a ii7 sub for IV. And the advanced level use I - viio - iii - vi - ii - V7 - I (add a little 'amen' at the end to include all the diatonic chords). There are hundreds of variation to these chord and finger exercises, but I personally feel that having a tonal center to the basic exercise and then moving that around the circle of fifths doesn't make the exercise more difficult, and it does teach the neck in a more musical context. Also, repeatedly moving around he circle of 5th (or 4ths, however you like to look at that) is a great foundation for further music theory training.

[@BecomeABassist]

Did you mean to put this comment on this particular video @charleskleesatel6477? All the examples of this device I mention in this video are placed in the contexts of chord progressions - they’re all real songs after all.

[@WilliamMartinez-lm1sk]

Hello, well explained, great job. 🎼🎶🎹🎵🎸.

[@douglaspate9314]

This is good!

[@troystaunton254]

Damn and here I was just using the base to add sentiment. Meaning the guitar plays the power chords. Use the bass drum time to hit the root on the bass and spend the rest of the chord sequence playing the 3rd or the mode note. So for a song in D mixolydian when the bass drum plays I’ll hit a root D. For the remainder I’ll either hit F# or C to emphasise that it’s in mixolydian it that it’s a major chord.

[@BecomeABassist]

For sure - that'd work great too @troystaunton254.

[@tomsabatino]

Awesome video, thanks for making it!

[@BecomeABassist]

Thank *you* for checking it out @tomsabatino!

[@laksman21]

Thanks! :)

[@danadane2501]

What I've noticed with all my favorite basslines. Which also includes the basslines you shared is there is a ton of chromatic runs.

[@danielpalmersofficial]

Mark King is my favourite bass player, his both his finger-style playing and slapping are insane!! 😀👍

[@peterbridge7940]

I just came across this and I've saved it to look up when I get back to my apartment. Out of interests where did Eb come from? I have very little musical knowledge the same lesson in E was a semitone (fret) higher? So it will be interesting and informative to know why Eb. Diolch 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 thanks

[@StephenMarkTurner]

I'm not a bassist, but I like to dabble. An example I like from 2 frets below up to a minor is Let The Sunshine In, where occasionally the bass comes off that D triad at the end of the pattern and then does a quick A A# B to get 'back' to the B minor.

[@bassomatic6055]

Is there a pill I can take for premature articulation?

[@BecomeABassist]

There is, but you need a prescription from Dr. Funkenstein.

[@davedave8608]

the red pill

[@cynnelson1]

That's a great T-Shirt😂 Bass Clef: No I don't suffer from...

[@joewehner9837]

Soo cool!

[@puregoll]

You havent posted for so long, I thought you were dead - murdered by scammers or something 😂

[@jj-eg5up]

This was an awesome video.

[@BecomeABassist]

I'm happy to hear you liked it @jj-eg5up!

[@LawrenceKennard]

This is genius!

[@davidgerrard8661]

Good lick like this in Heroes

[@markbass354]

very nice video kind sir

[@Jameson417]

I think the ascending 3 frets works well for I Wish because the 6-7b-7-root run in a minor key adds "the funk" -- but I know you were trying to stay out of the weeds of theory :) great video, great trick to have in toolbox

[@charlesmyers8150]

Hey Joe by Hendrix is the greatest lesson on chord changes and 3 step runs.

[@kristofwynants]

With a Dorian minor chord you could actually approche the root from below as well as above using the 3-fret rule.

[@BecomeABassist]

Absolutely @kristofwynants - that's exactly what's happening in the Nate Watts example. This is very much a video for beginners though, so I didn't want to get too into the weeds of all the exceptions to the rule of thumb.

[@martinheath5947]

Ha I thought you were going to include some lines from I Was Made To Love Her by Stevie Wonder. Excellent selection anyway and great lesson!

[@travisreed5965]

Dig The BLK & White - Another Righteous Tutorial Be Well, Cheers

[@DzeryB]

Interesting. I am using it, but never really thought about it.

[@BecomeABassist]

It's a super common piece of language @DzeryB - I'm sure you're not alone in using it without thinking about it. It's like using verbs; you don't really think about whether or not you're using them - they just come out when you talk.

[@harveylegs]

Did you meant E7b9 on that Beatles song?

[@nuvaco5]

top top top!!!!

[@SpanishPaulDank-lg3km]

Seems I have been doing that on the merit of it sounding good, glad to know I am in some great company though.

[@jamespatton2975]

Thank you Luke ! How is the 21 day lesson delivered ?

[@BecomeABassist]

No worries @jamespatton2975! And with the challenge, there's a private members' area and every day, I send you a new video with a quick challenge task that's designed to help improve one specific area of your playing. By the end of the 21 days, we cover all the essentials that a beginner needs to know. I hope this answers your question, but if you have any more, just let me know.

[@markwoodford1733]

Yep I've always done that lol

[@urfuturo6467]

We have to avoid that premature articulation. Thanks for pointing it out. 😂Great vid Luke. Thx.

[@thewomble1509]

Ah, you spotted that too! Naughty old Luke.

[@johnd942]

I guess he (Luke) has had a spot of bother in that area! :)

[@marshwetland3808]

New vocab for the day: Funky Funky Yo-yo. 😆😂😁

[@johnnydepp4866]

Grandpa, your favourite KZbinr has uploaded!

[@BecomeABassist]

Is this supposed to be a burn? lol

[@dabavog]

another example: Belly Button Window Song by Jimi Hendrix

[@user-vc6kj5qs1l]

"Hey Joe" comes to mind

[@BecomeABassist]

Just wait until the 6:10 mark @user-vc6kj5qs1l 😉

[@micheldindaine8403]

HI Luke ! " but without getting to deep into the theory..." I hear that sentence way too much on UTUB. now here is my question: could you please explain that "rule of thumb" by actualy using the theory behind it. thank BIGUP from France.

[@BecomeABassist]

Great question @micheldindaine8403! I would probably answer this different depending on how much music theory you already know, but I'll assume for this answer that you know what the major modes are. If you don't know how those work yet, a good starting point is this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHmloYabYs5onbM If you are across that stuff though, here's how I might explain it. If the target chord has a major sixth in its corresponding mode, you can approach that one very safely from three frets below. For example, a Dorian minor chord has a major sixth, so approaching from three frets below works well (three frets below the root IS the major sixth). This is why the Nate Watts example works so well. Even though it's a minor chord, the mode associated with it uses that major 6th, so it fits perfectly to approach from 3 frets below. If you were approaching a 3-chord in a major key (a Phyrgian minor), then that one has a minor 6th, so approaching from below might not be the best choice. It would actually give you the flat-2 of the key that you're in. That's not to say that this CAN'T work; it totally can. You just need to be more careful about how you approach the idea and where you place the 'outside' notes. It doesn't work as well the other way so much: approaching from 3 frets above to a major chord. The reason is that you end up accenting the minor 3rd of the target chord, which is a major chord. One possible exception to this might be if you were approaching a major chord that was associated with a Mixolydian mode. Because of the inherent 'instability' of this chord created by the 3rd and 7th of the chord being a tritone apart, it can usually handle a bit more instability sprinkled over the top of it. This is why blues music, which is built on these 'unstable' chords with a major third, sounds good with the blues scale, which uses a minor 3rd (plus other notes that are 'outside' the harmony). Now all this being said, these aren't 'rules' you need to follow. They are very soft guidelines. Music theory doesn't tell you the rules of what to play; it _explains_ what's already been created and gives reasons for why something sounded the way it did. I hope this answers your question, and I hope you understand why I didn't want to get into these weeds in what I wanted to be a very practical lesson.

[@stormbringer67]

Does it matter if the chords of the song are major or minor? I can imagine that the 3 notes of the 3-fret-rule don't sound good in one of two cases?

[@BecomeABassist]

If you go to the 6:03 mark in the video @stormbringer67, I cover a rule of thumb that answers this question specifically.

[@stormbringer67]

@@BecomeABassist thank you!

[@cmonster67]

Any songs by Rush where this is used?

[@BecomeABassist]

Definitely @cmonster67. Geddy Lee is a huge fan of doing these kinds of chromatic runs. I cover one of them in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHfUZaZuf6mmapo

[@gilbertspader7974]

In the 70s when Paul Simon won a gramy he thanked Stevie Wonder for not making an album that year wich made his win possible.

[@rozzgrey801]

I often have problems with premature articulation.

[@WolvesValleyFarm]

"premature articulation" LOL

[@swagner89]

The graphic at 6:57 says above twice. Major should be below

[@BecomeABassist]

Whoops - you're totally right @swagner89. Thanks for noticing!

[@swagner89]

@@BecomeABassist I'm a professional video editor/motion graphics, and I'm available!

[@krisgrainger5770]

I was just about to say the same. Confused me for a minute until I wound back and listened to what you said. Amazing idea and video, thanks Luke.

[@gparkerarkerdoo]

Walking bassline is what it’s called. No magic “trick$”

[@BecomeABassist]

If you sustained this through multiple chord changes for an entire song, then I guess it'd be a 'walking' bass line, but that's not what I'm talking about in this video.

[@scottkretsch4887]

Yeah, that’s the difference Luke.

[@Panufo]

Oops, you played the Paul McCartney thing wrong. It’s supposed to go G F# F E B E D B. But the three fret rule is still pretty cool.

[@TheScepticalThinker]

Yeah? Yeah!

[@BecomeABassist]

Yeah!

[@sensitiveissues3671]

Ultimately let your ears decide if it sounds and feels better to move up or down to the target note.

[@scottkretsch4887]

True because using chromatic approach notes don’t always sound good. I’ve tried and sometimes it doesn’t fit the song or the phrasing or whatever.

[@jj-eg5up]

Practice?

[@user-sh5ol2rw9n]

Guy literally explains chromaticism within diatonic chords in 8 mins.

[@BecomeABassist]

That’s pretty accurate @user-sh5ol2rw9n

[@user-sh5ol2rw9n]

Great video to share knowledge! @@BecomeABassist

[@cykoniko6412]

Congratulation, my good sir. You just invented the chromatic approach.

[@BecomeABassist]

I think you might have missed that all the examples I used were from other bassists (Jamerson, McCartney, Kaye etc.) I didn’t ‘invent’ anything in this video @cykoniko6412

[@anthonyrussell4888]

Great video, sir. However, Carol Kaye was Wrecking Crew not Motown.😊

[@sornord]

Carol Kaye will chew you a new one if you use the term "Wrecking Crew" with her. I complimented her on the Wrecking Crew movie and got a ration of shit from her.

[@BecomeABassist]

I’m pretty sure playing on Temptations and Four Tops sessions counts as Motown@anthonyrussell4888. (Source: www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-society-for-american-music/article/reconstructing-the-history-of-motown-session-musicians-the-carol-kayejames-jamerson-controversy/57ACC9F2F2411AF36EB905769E1E53C3 )

[@lucianogoyenechea8704]

i can understand paranoid android more,,,

[@RH-xs8gz]

Can’t you get medication for premature articulation? 😂

[@waynemiller7382]

hardly (not) beginner material.....

[@BecomeABassist]

How so?

[@rod_andrade]

Again?

[@BecomeABassist]

I’m not sure what you mean @rod_andrade.

[@selfactualizer2099]

Just make up a sound in your head and play it....really you're just over complicating things... As soon as you pick the setup and start playing, all the notes ahead come automatically if you let it

[@gianthills]

Its not a trick. Its just playing bass. They're called passing notes.

[@ErasmoManzo-sv4ls]

For me, there are no tricks in music and you should stop Say that... With the bass you can chromatically cross all twelve western notes in order to fill what's missing around... You know, Major scale, minor scale, chromatic scale, modes... No tricks, just play around the fret board and don't stay only on the root note... but really there are no tricks in music, Is Just Melody putting together ... You have to train ears before hands ... You have to listen to the Melody and see what fills the chords

[@BecomeABassist]

I actually agree @ErasmoManzo-sv4ls, but with what you said in mind, what do you think would be a more appropriate title for this video?

[@BecomeABassist]

Curious to hear what you have to say @ErasmoManzo-sv4ls :D

[@ErasmoManzo-sv4ls]

I don't know, maybe musical solutions or musical thoughts, maybe I Simply don't like the word trick... Or maybe I'm only a jerk and you should continue to call it like that 😂

[@BecomeABassist]

I don't think anyone is going to be watching a video with a title 'musical thoughts'...

[@hoshisato2687]

Why make up a new name? Just call it a chromatic approach.

[@BecomeABassist]

Because the people I'm trying to help the most (absolute beginner bassists) get super intimidated when people start throwing around jargon like 'chromatic' and 'approach tone'.

[@carlmatthews985]

YOUR tutorials are awesome and you a lot to offer , but ... to be honest your videos are completely inundated with adds , so no subscription from me Just couldn't be bothered with so many adds . . . what a pity , MY LOSS I GUESS . Best of luck CHEERS

[@BecomeABassist]

If you never want to see another ad on KZbin, I’d recommend using AdBlockPlus.

[@McDoinky]

CHROMATICISM is the term you were looking for. You're not re-inventing the wheel here. Also, you played McCartney's line wrong

[@BecomeABassist]

lol. It's almost like there was a reason I didn't use the word 'chromaticism'. @McDoinky. I never claimed to be "re-inventing" anything; that's why the bass line examples are from *other* bassists - not ones that I created myself.

[@McDoinky]

@@BecomeABassist But why make a lesson on something as essential as chromaticism and not include the actual theoretical background to it? It’s the same as demonstrating a c major scale without ever naming it. People wouldn’t actually know what they’re doing and how to put into context

[@BecomeABassist]

I specifically made this lesson for absolute beginners who get intimidated and overwhelmed when people start using jargon. So while I 'could' have called this lesson "Utilizing A Triple Chromatic Approach In Bass Lines Across Diatonic And Modal Harmony", if I did that, the very people I'm trying to help most would get the least out of it. I'd rather people learn to play first, then learn what it is they're doing theoretically. That's how we all learned to speak, so it makes sense to learn to speak the language of music the same way. The ones who are curious and want to learn more will likely find their way to some of the 30 videos in my Music Theory For Bass playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4PWl6GJoaicq68 But including a ton of theory in EVERY video isn't something I am willing to do because it alienates some people at the start of their bass playing journey. It sounds like you already have experience with the musical language and the jargon @McDoinky, so this video wasn't really made with you in mind. It really is for beginners who don't need to learn the grammar yet; they just need to learn to speak first.

[@JKavalier76]

Nice video but can't help but think the title is so click-baity and cringe - almost didn't want to watch. I guess you know what works to get you views so I get it.. next up: Pro Bassists don't want you to know this one WEIRD trick!!

[@BecomeABassist]

What's the trick @JKavalier76?

[@alexslinin9976]

@@BecomeABassist ha ha. Practicing with a drum machine? That and eating fried chicken and not wiping your hands before playing like Jaco supposedly.

[@metalmaggot]

Luke, Where have been?

[@BecomeABassist]

Becoming a dad @metalmaggot! :D

[@unclemick-synths]

​@@BecomeABassist congratulations 🎉