Common Chord Progressions Every Beginner Should Know

In this lesson, James will show you common chord progressions that beginners should know. This concept will allow you to unlock a lot of variatons from even simple bass playing.
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About eBassGuitar
Hi, I’m James Eager, a professional musician & online instructor. Over the past 15 years, I’ve taught 1000s of students.
eBassGuitar is the only video bass guitar lessons website dedicated to helping startup & aspiring bassists develop into the musician of their dreams.
#eBassGuitar #bassguitarchords #chordprogression
www.ebassguitar.com

[@jasonwagster4376]

Dude thank for your channel im a life long drummer now trying my hand at bass at 44yrs old a great help ...peace!

[@ebassguitar]

My dad did exactly the same thing about 25 years ago!

[@brunocyclist]

44yo here too, first steps as a bassist after a decade of classical saxophone.

[@jennymowry226]

This sounds just like me too 👍🏻 drummer learning bass at 43. awesome channel, thanks

[@ebassguitar]

@@jennymowry226 Thanks Jenny! Cheers!

[@chriscurtis8344]

Maurice White of EWF said that drummers can hear bass lines really well. So Jason you’re on the right track.

[@nickcatalano8238]

Great lesson !! Thank you

[@davidncw4613]

Ty so much. I bought your Theory book and it is helping me put things together a lot. It is a lot easier to follow what you are presenting when I have a solid bit of background an everything is not totally new to me. Absolutely true; grasp the Major scale. It is the necessary foundation to build on.

[@ebassguitar]

Hey David! Thanks for sharing your experience with the book. Cheers!

[@mfC0RD]

Thanks for the lesson! Very useful! Also, my dream bass guitar is a Stingray. I just love their sound.

[@ebassguitar]

I’d love a stingray again

[@xaviergutierrez8786]

Great lesson. Thanks again!

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks so much man

[@willieb6993]

Sandberg 48. Looks awesome, just cant wait to play one!

[@ebassguitar]

I need to check one out to!

[@stevenmacdonald2205]

Hi, excellent content and delivery by yourself. Mustang short scale or Fretless J bass will be my next purchase 💪🏻

[@ebassguitar]

Cheers Steve!

[@narindersharma2616]

Another great lesson. Thanks James 👍

[@ebassguitar]

My pleasure! Glad you like it.

[@MrCalifornia0]

Great video. Currently I have a Sandberg California which I love, but I have my eye on a Sadowsky Metro Line!

[@doru450]

Thanks for the lesson

[@ebassguitar]

My pleasure!

[@billyjackson9107]

For years I had a Ernie Ball Musicman Sterling now I have a 1977 Fender Musicmaster short scale with flat wounds ,,,definitely my all time favorite !!

[@ebassguitar]

That's wonderful Billy! Thanks for sharing!

[@graemerobertson5160]

I once played a Flea bass and it felt amazing. I will say no more because you know my view on the numbers system!

[@ebassguitar]

One day you’ll see the light ;-) ;-)

[@graemerobertson5160]

A year on & my views are unchanged. However, for those who are interested, you might lose them when you talk about " building chords" without a bit of explanation of how that is done.I would have explained that you can only use the actual notes of the scale in groups of three to build the chords and that the fundamental use of the numbers system is to categorize and classify chord sequences. It is quite easy to see how triplet chords on a piano keyboard with the C major scale.

[@mezatron]

What a great video and channel. You got yourself another subscriber.

[@ebassguitar]

Welcome to the channel Daniel!

[@Dobroz99]

Favorite bass for blues G&L 1000, Jazz peavey Palladium

[@doofussays4313]

Love James playing.

[@ebassguitar]

Thank you J!

[@stephenthesaint9557]

Good job man

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks man! Appreciate it!

[@MartyWilson100]

Great lesson. My favorite bass is a Fender or Squier Precision or Jazz Bass, especially with flatwound strings

[@ebassguitar]

Great choice!

[@MartyWilson100]

@@ebassguitar Thank you

[@Rollingstone1958]

Gibson SG3 is my dream bass

[@aldoabronzino4115]

My favorite bass guitar is my Hofner Very Thin, but sitll love my original guitar of 50 years Fender Precision

[@ebassguitar]

A 50 year precision will be super valuable

[@craigholt71]

Have a Ibanez Talman30 and love the short scale tone

[@ebassguitar]

I’ll keep a look out for it!

[@paulhornbass]

Could this be the most useful bass lesson on the KZbin? Each of those chord progressions seems to have its own character. I can already imagine how useful practicing them and learning to recognise them will be for jam sessions and learning songs more quickly. In terms of a favourite bass, I like short scales - my Squier CV 60s Mustang with flats is getting a lot of love at the moment. Although this video has made me think about getting a Precision... 🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@ebassguitar]

You’re absolutely spot on…

[@firemedic105ns]

My favourite bass guitar(s) is/are my Yamaha RBX6JM, and my Jackson JS3V bass. I use them a lot. My dream bass guitar would be a Spector USA Custom Shop in 5 strings

[@ebassguitar]

Jackson - haven’t seen one of those in years!

[@alfredhabia9606]

Great rolling bass picker

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks! Glad you like it!

[@jas2819]

Gibson SG bass, with flatwound strings. They just sound so fab. 😊🤗🤗

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks for sharing that, Jas!

[@patriciamcknight5258]

favorite bass is my fender jazz.I play my Jp 90 some but practice mostly with with my JAZZ

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks for sharing that, Patricia. Cheers!

[@edwinbeavan7255]

A vintage Gibson EB2 cherry would be nice but i do like the fender p bass you have Have you tried the fender p bass elite or ultra with the jazz pickup in the back if so what did you think of them compared to your p bass Asking as im thinking of getting one Great lesson as always

[@ebassguitar]

I love the fender p bass I have... only borrowing it so looking for something similar - need to go shopping

[@nickcatalano8238]

I love my P bass !!

[@patrickhorner8270]

Speaking of Basses, I acquired a G&L Fullerton Jazz Bass that is the finest JB I have ever played. I bought my first JB in the Seventies, a Fender, and this is superior. Besides the single coil hum which is gets quite loud when turned up, the sound and playability is great. It was set-up for playing right out of the box.

[@ebassguitar]

Really want to try g&l

[@cousineddie7898]

I play a G&L short scale four string. Really like it.

[@doofussays4313]

Also. Squier jazz bass

[@rogerdshrubber6557]

James. Nice. More progressions would be sweet. 👍

[@ebassguitar]

What sort of progressions?

[@rogerdshrubber6557]

I’d say more Rock or funk type. Mainly. How to Navigate progressions in the moment Feeling the changes. Knowing and forming tension and resolve. Awesome stuff. Thank you

[@ebassguitar]

@@rogerdshrubber6557 I will definitely consider that in our future content! Thanks for the suggestion.

[@debbypetersen8421]

My favourite bass teacher 😎

[@eliseoalejos1865]

My dream bass guitar is an Alembic Epic 5 string, with Zebrawood top...

[@ebassguitar]

Alembic - awesome!

[@jmc2830]

my dream bass used to be a music man sting ray. but these days, i have to give it to the d-tuner custom shop lefay. to bad the likelihood of me having a spare 7-8k to spend on a bass is basically nil. good thing i lucked out and my 2nd bass (a japanese jackson hybrid p and j) is something i'm more then happy with.

[@ebassguitar]

I love to have a sting ray again. All the best!

[@zodak9999b]

I love my Ibanez Mikro with Labella white tapes.

[@ebassguitar]

Great... love inanez

[@brunocyclist]

I've got one as well. Absolutely LOVE it!! Awesome sound, lovely looking walnut finish. Still the original strings at the moment but come replacement time I'm considering Labella flats. If money were no object a P-bass, a neck-through design bass and a short or mid scale hollow body would be cool to form a collection. But I'm more than happy with just my short scale Ibanez.

[@dannance44]

Any bass made by Serek in Chicago or Birdsong down in Texas!

[@ebassguitar]

I’ll have to check that out!

[@scottbubb2946]

My favorite bass that I own is an Ibanez fretless. I would love to have a custom Jazz bass. I have a friend who owns a J bass and a Yamaha Attitude. She says the Attitude is much better, but I've never tried it out, so I don't know. My main problem is that I live in a rural area where the one music store we have carries mostly guitars and usually only has about four basses in stock at any given time. I was in an accident and no longer drive, so I don't get the chance to try out anything besides J or P basses, as Fender is the brand our local place carries. I ordered the Ibanez online without trying it out. I needed a bass and that's the best I could afford.

[@ebassguitar]

Nothing wrong with Ibanez and fender!

[@melvinsabarillo2094]

Fender bass guitar is my favorite

[@ebassguitar]

Nice choice, Melvin! Thanks for sharing!

[@johnclement7473]

My favorite bass would probably be a Warrior I played it on a fender amp and it really sounded awesome. And I don't think it was because of the fender amp neither but it was plus.

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks for sharing John! Cheers!

[@howardperlin3016]

You rock

[@ebassguitar]

Most kind of you!

[@sigristclan]

My favourite bass is a LeFay Capone and my dream bass is an Alembic Rogue. Luckily I own both of them😉

[@ebassguitar]

That is very nice! Thanks for sharing, Chris! All the best!

[@TheYjmfan]

I would dream that one your holding I have a squire classic vibe 70s jazz bass.

[@ebassguitar]

That’s offender Japanese base from about 2005

[@TheYjmfan]

eBassGuitar - Online Bass Guitar Lessons that’s beauty looks brand new.

[@joannmannello9158]

I'M A LEFTY, ... AND THERE'S FEW BASSES I LIKE.... . I HAVE A FENDER PER, MAYBE JAG OR MUSTANG FEW OTHERS I LIKE... I LIKE THIS VID! CAN U DO MORE ON EXPLAING HOW TO CREATE SONGS FROM THE CHORDS. DEF LACKING ON THAT. THANKS

[@ebassguitar]

Show happy to do more of this kind of thing if it helps!

[@ErixSamson]

Hi James, great video as always, thanks for this. Just one note on your PDF, the first progression is wrong, it should say: I IV V IV

[@ebassguitar]

Yes... the final V got missed! Will get it updated

[@PatNetherlander]

Bass wish-list: B&G Big Sister Dingwall Lee Sklar signature Spector NS Pulse 4 Cinder Red

[@ebassguitar]

I quite fancy a Dingwall!

[@Kyomeimei]

I own one of my dream basses it is a Sterling by music man S.U.B. Ray4 in Black. My other dream bass would be a Gibson Les Paul Junior Tribute DC Bass in worn ebony. 🤩

[@ebassguitar]

Great choice love the stingrays

[@verbinjeremiahjames8503]

❤fender

[@tropicalhank]

1963 gibson thunderbird is my dream bass

[@metrosolve]

my dream bass player is simply a YAMAHA TRBX174EW.

[@ebassguitar]

Nice choice! Thanks for sharing!

[@iwasntfeelingcreative]

dunno about dream bass, but what kind of fender p is that there in your hands?

[@ebassguitar]

It’s a Japanese bass from about 2007

[@Kittygacha_playz]

Great lesson. But let me ask a dumb question as a beginner. What does all that "major" and "minor" mean?

[@ebassguitar]

The construction of major and minor chords are different. Major has a happy sound and minor has a sad sound. Check out my ultimate music theory bootcamp at ebassguitar.com if you’d like to learn how to apply music theory directly to the base Qatar

[@waynescally6615]

Just bought a Warwick Infinity, my search is over, thats my keeper.

[@ebassguitar]

Warwick are solid basis

[@johnberger7039]

James, what’s your favorite? Also,how many do you own? Looks like quite a collection on that back wall behind you!

[@ebassguitar]

Think I’ve currently got 5 to 6 basses Sadowsky is probably my all time favourite

[@jimmyjam5358]

Lately my dreams are torn between the Dingwall D Bass & the Apocalypse C5 by Schecter

[@ebassguitar]

Dingwall... 2nd time today

[@lawrenceallieu5754]

Please how to get your pdf notes

[@ebassguitar]

Just follow this link to download the PDF: ebassguitar.com/common-chord-progressions-every-beginner-should-know-yt188/ Let me know how it goes.

[@jasminduncanson1557]

My favorite bass would be a ibenez

[@ebassguitar]

I like Ibanez too

[@dennie1285]

my Sandberg California

[@ebassguitar]

Sandberg are great basses Always fancies the model they did with p bass pick up and a mm pickup

[@ultimatefab]

Atelier Z jazz bass !

[@ebassguitar]

I haven’t heard of that - will check out

[@lawrenceallieu5754]

My favourite bass guitar is a 5 strings bass

[@ebassguitar]

That is very nice, Lawrence! Thanks for letting us know!

[@marvelousmaurice3223]

Fender 5string jazz bass

[@ebassguitar]

A classic that’s for sure

[@silentyouber2816]

I'm starting to think this Bass is yours lol. Regardless, that was an amazing lesson. Keep it up!

[@ebassguitar]

One day I’ll give it back!

[@fredericbarenghien2789]

My favorite bass world be a music man stingray !

[@ebassguitar]

I would also love that! Thanks for sharing!

[@andyhinds542]

My favourite bass guitar??? Hmmmm. It depends on who's playing it. I'd love a Rickenbacker 4003 or 4001 for playing Beatles stuff, but then again I'd love a whole load of other basses for different reasons.

[@ebassguitar]

Great basses!

[@joskaethoven3240]

fender jazz bass

[@chrishenningsen9179]

Hofner 500/1 Violin Bass

[@ebassguitar]

Old school!

[@ZPX945]

Fender P bass! :-)

[@ebassguitar]

A classic again

[@EJamesParis]

My Gibson Thunderbird.

[@ebassguitar]

That's wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

[@josephmiller1576]

Music Man 4 and 5 string

[@ebassguitar]

Yeah I’d love a five string stingray to.

[@johnnystiner8995]

I like a jazz style Bass

[@ebassguitar]

What brand?

[@johnnystiner8995]

@@ebassguitar ive had many different ones but right now its a Mexican Fender, i even prefer it over the USA one.

[@ebassguitar]

@@johnnystiner8995 Thanks for sharing, Johnny!

[@mimoochodom2684]

Gibson Junior Tribute bass.

[@ebassguitar]

Nice like it

[@theGreyhoundKeeper]

I'm dying to get my hands on a Warwick Nobby Meidel

[@ebassguitar]

Imagine that will be great

[@nirajrayker9282]

Musicman Stingray!!

[@ebassguitar]

A classic!

[@TheChristianherud]

A 66 P with a 70 J Neck. Or a 59 P

[@ebassguitar]

Beautiful!

[@terrancecopley3978]

My trusty Hofner

[@ebassguitar]

I need to try one after all these years

[@terrancecopley3978]

@@ebassguitar what??? You haven't??? At least once in your lifetime... 😆

[@RockerProf]

Shouldn't the minor/dim chords be small Roman numerals rather than capitals? I ii iii IV V vi viiø

[@ebassguitar]

I’ve seen it written both ways…

[@mikemcconville2495]

Hofner 500/1

[@ebassguitar]

That's great! Thanks for sharing!

[@Rockson920]

X factor

[@ebassguitar]

What do you mean exactly by X factor I’d love to know!

[@Rockson920]

Kubicki X. Factor bass. The X is for a low D

[@ebassguitar]

@@Rockson920 That is very nice!

[@arneberg9072]

Neve in millions year I would see me playing Lambada, n' enjoy --

[@ebassguitar]

Never say never!

[@heigoensling]

Kala U-Bass Journeyman

[@ebassguitar]

Nice!

[@viclobocga2615]

Marcus Miller P7

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks for sharing!

[@jonswift7174]

A WAL

[@ebassguitar]

I remember going to the factory in the 90s in a place called high Wycombe!

[@jonswift7174]

@@ebassguitar Very pricey though !!!!!

[@LeDank]

I have no idea what is going on.

[@chriscurtis8344]

One day you will brother.

[@davidbrown6415]

1961 Fender Jazz Bass

[@ebassguitar]

That's a great choice, David! Cheers!