3 Must-Know Bass Licks

►► FREE: Get the tabs, notation and practice tracks for all three blistering bass licks in this lesson → becomeabassist.com/3-blisteri...
I know I’m guilty of this…
I’ll be teaching some concept or idea and say something like, “It’s just the pentatonic scale…” and then play something that I think sounds really cool.
But then some students will try to do the same thing and play the pentatonic shape and it just ends up sounding…
Un-musical…
‘Scaley’...
Robotic…
Maybe this has even happened to you - where you’re playing the ‘right’ thing, but it doesn’t sound nearly half as cool as what it’s ‘supposed’ to sound like. Now there’s a very specific reason this happens, but the important part is that:
That changes TODAY
Today, I want to show you how you can actually use the pentatonic scale to make music - rather than it just ending up sounding like note salad.
How?
By giving you 3 specific pieces of musical language (that just happen to use notes from the minor pentatonic scale). It’s about how the notes are put together in a phrase rather than the specific notes or shapes.
It’d be the difference between giving you a few ultra-useful phrases in Italian vs. giving you the Italian dictionary. One is going to be a lot more useful than the other.
So if you want to use scales and shapes that you probably already know, but make them at least 50% more musical, then check out today’s lesson.
One of my favorite things about learning musical language vs. just learning scale shapes or music theory is that you can tweak the phrases in an almost infinite number of ways.
And in fact, you absolutely should make your own ‘versions’ of these phrases, add your own flavors and spices and tweak them to how you like them.
That’s probably the most important part of the process I show you in the video because that’s how you can start to develop your own ‘voice’ and get a sense for how you want to sound.
And if that’s something you want to do for yourself, then just head to this page:
becomeabassist.com/3-blisteri...
Fill out the form on that page and you can download all of the different ways of playing all 3 licks in tab and notation form as well as the practice tracks from the video.
So have some fun with these, good luck and happy playing!
Cheers,
Luke
Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:36 Blistering Lick #1
6:08 Blistering Lick #2
10:01 Blistering Lick #3
13:56 Using Language To Create MUSIC
#pentatonicscale #becomeabassist #basslicks

[@BecomeABassist]

What songs/melodies/solos/riffs use the phrases from this video? Let me know - and drop a link if you have one so we can all see these licks in real-world songs.

[@bassistamirul2326]

you bastard bass lesson in no talk

[@devinfrench4924]

I love how you geek out when you play a fill you like, it's cool to see the passion

[@JohnGieschenJr]

I gotta say man I’ve been learning last five years and your videos are always spot on. You and Josh made me what I am today 😎🤘

[@BecomeABassist]

Thank you *so* much @john gieschen jr. - I can't tell you how much I appreciate that! It's *_always_* awesome to hear.

[@jameskowalkowski2334]

Possibly the best explanation and demonstration (IMHO) for separating scales from language and telling a story! Thanks!!

[@BecomeABassist]

Absolutely! Story telling is a great way to think about using this language - especially in a bass solo context. Thanks for sharing @James Kowalkowski.

[@joewehner9837]

Gotta love the dog trying to steal the show!

[@BecomeABassist]

Haha! He deserves to steal the show - he's a very good boy!

[@davidreichert9392]

"The People's Key of E"... I love that.

[@tennysonwilliams6856]

This is a fantastic lesson. As a newbie to music and the bass, this will a lesson I’ll never forget

[@robertmock4146]

Really great lesson Luke. I'm just starting to explore putting a bit more flavor into the songs I have to play. This gives me not only ideas but confidence as well. Keep it going.

[@BecomeABassist]

Amazing @Robert Mock - the confidence will absolutely help inject your own personality into things.

[@pierreblanchette6026]

Superb tutorial, Luke. Thanks!

[@thomasfioriglio]

Another great lesson Luke. A fun one to explore, especially with those supplied drum tracks. I can groove on these all afternoon. Cheers!

[@BecomeABassist]

Awesome @Thomas Fioriglio - you can definitely get pulled into the rabbit hole with this stuff, and that's certainly a good thing.

[@nadmarchal]

Very helpful the way you show it:) Thanks

[@tommymassey1275]

Another great lesson thank so much!

[@elmelmon]

I enjoyed this because it makes so much sense to me. So you get my subscription!

[@wmkennard]

Great playing n lesson Ty 💯❤

[@MsRouder]

Спасибо Люк, отличный урок 🎸!!! 👍

[@travisreed5965]

How Cool Is This - Excellent Tutorial And Welcome Back Brother Man Cheers

[@BecomeABassist]

Thanks so much @Travis Reed - so happy you're into it!

[@tubatim333]

Thanks. Super helpful. I'll be watching your video on pentatonics. Thanks.

[@BecomeABassist]

Awesome to hear @Tom Griffin.

[@JohnFossbass]

Beautiful bass

[@franshallar]

More than 20 years ago I played bass but due to getting sick I started back a few months ago and yes I miss the good old things that are now explained again by Luke. In other words, super video.

[@BecomeABassist]

In that case, welcome back to the world of bass @Geen Nog minder!

[@MustangEd]

Great videos Luke thanks.

[@BecomeABassist]

You're very welcome @MustangEd - glad you like them.

[@14threshold]

This was an exceptionally good lesson. I had so much fun exploring all the fretboard and used my playlist on You tube with all my E minor keys to improvise with. Really rocked it and feel confident now on moving around fast without thinking. It brought all my knowledge together in a fun way. Now to do this in another key. Not today though !!

[@BecomeABassist]

This is *fantastic* @nola baylis! So cool to hear you putting the language to good use!

[@ohadnetz]

Great lesson Luke!!! Give us more of these stuff Learning language and making it your own!!

[@BecomeABassist]

Anything in particular you'd want to learn more of @Ohad Netzerel?

[@ohadnetz]

@@BecomeABassist yes pentatonic licks like these , jazz licks , blues , rock Not too long 3-2 bars max I have experienced with these 3 licks like you have explained and it was pure joy creating your own language out of it This is real excitement from music You are great have been watching your videos almost 3-4 years now and i m getting so much out of it without being overwhelmed.

[@asansone57]

Another very useful lesson!

[@BecomeABassist]

Glad you think so @tony sansone!

[@mjmorgan-maloosefingers9135]

you are so good

[@jameshunt3434]

Thanks!

[@BecomeABassist]

Thank YOU @James Hunt - really appreciate the generosity!

[@tonysimmons5729]

Great stuff Luke! All of it reminded me of Pink Floyd, Roger Waters licks.

[@BecomeABassist]

I'm sure he used some variations of these at some point @Tony Simmons.

[@delineater]

Great lesson, Luke. Lick #1 - Al Di Meola, Black Cat Shuffle Main riff, especially guitars. Lick #2 - Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here Can't say exactly where, but this lick reminds me of that song. Lick #3 - No idea, lol

[@BecomeABassist]

Great examples @delineater! Thanks for sharing.

[@mattyr5323]

Lick 2 reminds me of a different Pink Floyd song, Young Lust.

[@MegaMajo24]

Luke thanks

[@davidvitale9338]

Lick Number 2 - Queen's first album - I think the song is Son and Daughter

[@trimsolguy06]

Luke, love your lessons!! So well-taught and easy to understand! And your dog in the videos is the best!! What breed is he?

[@BecomeABassist]

He *_IS_* the best. His name is Arnie and he's a cavoodle, but a big one. He managed to grow bigger than both his parents.

[@trimsolguy06]

@@BecomeABassist No kidding, we have a cavoodle (or Cavapoo) too! Thought yours kind of looked like our Tucker, except he is ruby color! Best breed! Ours was supposed to be 12-15lbs and just weighed in at 34 lbs! Thanks for such great lessons and the Duff one didn't disappoint! Cheers!

[@jmd01]

Nice! :-)

[@BecomeABassist]

Nice...

[@BenD_Bass]

Doesnt that one Green Day song you did in your "5 more beginner bass lines" video use the major pentatonic? Im a noob lol, I was learning those bass lines and stumbled on this video and realized the notes in the example seemed familiar

[@PhatBazz4]

Great Lesson! What program are you getting the drum loop? Looking better drum loops to practice with. Thanks for sharing!

[@BecomeABassist]

I usually just make my drum loops in Garageband @PhatBazz4.

[@PhatBazz4]

@@BecomeABassist I'm on a PC and no Garageband Program. Appreciate your response!!

[@joeblues5515]

Good lesson,mate.But I also liked the dog.

[@BecomeABassist]

He's the *real* star of the show. Lol

[@andreasseiler1192]

the dog is very cool

[@donnailtidwell7150]

Great lesson,teach more language it’s great stuff.

[@joaoericocaldasdelima7735]

I was facing this exact problem. I know the scales, the modes, the notes in it but, when I try to execute, despite the right notes, it doesn't feels right.

[@BecomeABassist]

This is super common @João Érico Caldas de Lima. Hopefully focusing on *language* over theory can help solve this problem for you.

[@jonathanjonnymambo64]

Lick #2: Long Train Running first bass lick! Quite similar intervals kzbin.info/www/bejne/foHCf3hqjb96d8U

[@BecomeABassist]

Absolutely @Jonatha jonnymambo - it definitely hangs out on that 7th of the pentatonic. Very similar to Lick #2. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@gadgetbass9175]

Wild Cherry: Play that funky music. Bar 35 and 36 might fit this, don't have a full grasp on this lesson yet but it seems like that part of that song is similar to what you are talking about.

[@BecomeABassist]

Absolutely @Gadget Bass - it's definitely in that ballpark.

[@peggyangelena]

❤🎉

[@tommymassey1275]

I'd like to learn sweetchild of mine I like the Lil solo at the beginning of the riff

[@BecomeABassist]

No way - I'm working on a lesson all about Duff McKagan that will definitely include that bass solo line.

[@tommymassey1275]

@@BecomeABassist can't wait!

[@theRollingStingRays]

I like Luke

[@BecomeABassist]

I like you!

[@jdb123ize]

Lick#2 have a drink on me-AC/DC

[@Zizou-Ya]

Lick N#2, Down by the river - Neil Young

[@BecomeABassist]

Nice!

[@nanda51249]

Lick 1 suumertime blues

[@bassistamirul2326]

you no talk

[@BecomeABassist]

Incorrect.