How To Use Modes/Scales/Chord Tones/Theory For Bass Guitar

[@andyhbassman]

Hi Dan - another ripper of a lesson! Just one section confused me - why aren't measures 13-15 in the key of EbMajor (which would follow the logic of measures 9-12 being in FMajor)? You have measures 13-15 annotated as being in AbMajor.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Well done - stupid typo from me!! Thought I checked that but hadn't... Thanks, Andy for spotting this! Bars 9-12 are the IV and iii chords from Eb MAJOR (not Ab Major).

[@tuxjunkie]

Dan - I've been a guitar player for 30+ years and have just recently picked up the bass. I have watched so many teachers here on YT, and I have to say that your style and approach has advanced my playing dramatically in just a few short weeks. Another spot-on lesson. Thanks fro doing these videos!

[@JOHNNY1971ism]

Hi Dan, I am really loving your stuff and it's helping my next level of bass playing. Are these changes based on BREATHE ? Also, isn't it true to say the key is actually Dm with Dm being I and G7 being IV ? The Bb being the chord derived from flattened 6th of the home key? So much content in this lesson, gonna take a while to get through. Thanks so much*

[@PushSueAside]

That’s crazy, I had to look twice...I was thinking when did I write this comment? Same boat tuxjunkie! Cheers, mirror experience mirror results!!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

@@JOHNNY1971ism Thanks! It's not deliberately based on Breathe but it is similar. The key is not D Minor as that would be Dm (i) to Gm (iv), however, you could say the key is D Dorian (the first section anyway...). Even though I teach this stuff, I didn't think too much about the analysis when writing it. The number one focus was - does this sound any good??? If so, it's in.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Fantastic - that's great that you're improving so quickly. Keep up the playing!

[@JohnnyBoy1982]

Hey, I just want to say thank you so much for posting all this content. I recently got back into playing after about 18 years and these videos have been an unbelievable help. I used to play in a garage band in high school but ultimately gave up because of the demands of going away to college and of architecture school and figured I'd never play again. Fast forward many years later, and my wife and I have just started my young daughter with piano lessons (we inherited a wurlitzer spinet from my wife's family) and for fun I dug out my old Fender Mexican P-bass, got new strings, adjusted the action and started to (try) to play with her... but I realized I know nothing... and I don't think I ever really understood what I was playing when I was younger... I actually bought your creative bass technique book a couple weeks ago to try and get back into playing before I found your channel the other day and realized you're the same guy. Anyways these theory/mode videos have literally exploded/expanded my brain. After watching these, years of not really knowing what I was playing clicked and it made sense... MODES! They're great. Thanks again - keep up the awesome work.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

I'm so happy to hear that. Keep up the hard work you're obviously putting in. My aim is to explode brains so I'm happy!

[@TerryD23]

Absolutely love your teaching style. clear, concise and targeted. I bought your Music Theory course and am learning new things every day. With your course I feel that I’ve come along fairly quickly in a relatively short time. Having a regimented study approach is a must and that’s what you provide. Thank You

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Nice one! Thanks for letting me know; that’s great. 🙏🙏👍

[@PushSueAside]

First off, I’m loving this groove. What a brilliant lesson, I can’t wait to get home and try this. You always have the funniest lessons. Cheers

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks so much for watching, Tommy!

[@PushSueAside]

And thank you for making these incredible lessons

[@jasoncherry5849]

I don’t always leave comments when I watch you video lectures but I have found them to be extremely helpful in learning how to play bass. I’m just getting started so any help I can get is useful and your lectures have helped me break past a lot of barriers that have held me back. Thank you

[@OnlineBassCourses]

I’m happy to hear that, Jason. Keep at it with your practice and you’ll continue to see improvements. 👊👍🙏

[@petemorton4578]

Hey Dan!....Just found this and i'm blown away with the way you explain you're playing technics. I've never had the time to learn through an instructor, so just "winged it", the past 7 years that i've played my bass's...(Schecter 1st, and now a Fender Jazz 2019). I work 5 nights a week, so as you can imagine, it's incredibly difficult to get practice in!...(I did try a number of years ago around 5.30am, to the announce of my wife...oops!). I found this particular video extremely valuable, with your precise instructions and i am going to try these out, so BIG thanks to you sir!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Pete. Really happy you found it useful! I have a few more like this that will help you. Huge respect to you for finding time in your crazy schedule! A tiny bit of practice done regularly will improve you no end. 👍👍

[@22singhisking]

So far the best class........ thank you...

[@OnlineBassCourses]

You're welcome - thanks for watching!

[@jonbeck6623]

Excellent tuition and revision, it's amazing at what you can learn, or realise what you have forgotten or missed in the first place! Your classes are a great help. Cheers.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks for watching!

[@marcjonesartist]

This was extremely useful. Thank you

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Glad to hear it!

[@kastu4life656]

your bass is so awesome!!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks! 1982 Ibanez Roadster with DiMarzio DP126 pickups

[@kastu4life656]

@@OnlineBassCoursesThank you!!!

[@grizelda4526]

Great lesson. Thank you

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks for watching!

[@rossbushell9310]

I'm so thankful for your lessons, they're so interesting and informative.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Cheers, Ross. 👍🙏

[@hank3266]

...a pleasure to learn from you. many thanks

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks so much for watching 👍🙏

[@laurens.mulder]

Another excellent lesson Dan! I learn so much of them !!!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks for watching them. Keep up the practice!

[@sidneymorris2254]

Very new to your channel, Dan and pretty new to the bass. Really enjoying the lessons so much packed in every one. Its so kind of you to pass this knowledge on. Thank you so much 👍 🙂🙂

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Really happy you’re enjoying the lessons, Sidney!

[@goatbeef1192]

that was a great class! thanks dan!

[@meganmortimer9544]

This is so helpful

[@OnlineBassCourses]

🙏

[@bassman4588]

Yep yep! Well explained!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

🙏👍

[@kcjones2737]

Thanks once again brother!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Any time! Thanks for watching.

[@ralf5489]

Dear Dan, 'feel free to rewind (the lesson)' - I had to smile a little bit, in a friendly way ofcourse. Today I saw you posted it quite excalty year ago and I still benefit. I come back here so many times (like today) but still not reach the 'botton' of this treasure box. (^_^) with kind regards, Ralf

[@OnlineBassCourses]

I’ve just seen your kind donation, Ralf. I hope you’re doing well and thanks very much for that and the lovely comment! Dan.

[@dlisaac50]

Really really useful lesson Dan. Finally (and I really must be very slow at understanding this) I'm getting to understand what modes are about: if you know what number chord you are playing you can play notes from the related mode and they'll fit. Just gets extra tricky when the key changes during the tune. Is it common to find the key changes a few times? I sort of thought that most tunes are written in a key that stays the same throughout the piece...hence the key signature stays the same throughout etc

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Good question. It really depends on what music you listen to. In pop, it’s common as a cheesy arrangement towards the end of a song, otherwise the last tends to stay the same. In jazz it’s very common to change as it is in some other styles. Once you understand how to harmonise a scale, everything starts to make sense!

[@hilarytoussaint3359]

CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE JUST BEEN APPOINTED "MUSICAL SERGEANT OF ARMS ; EVERY THEORIST NEEDS SUCH. IT REDUCES STRESS AND PROMOTES NIGHT SLEEP. POINT IS OFTEN TIMES IT EXPECTED THAT THE THEORIST TAKE CARE OF OTHER'S PRACTICAL MUSICAL PROBLEMS.

[@KlevonOfJesup]

Nice playing, Dan! I thought the chord progression sounded a lot like Breathe by Pink Floyd (in Emi instead of Dm). Transposing to Dm (or C maj if you insist), you would have Dm to G and then four beats apiece on Bb maj, Ami, and Eb maj, before Fmaj 2 beats and a chromatic quarter note walk-up to D (C C# D). These are both interesting chord progressions to study and try to attach labels to what is actually going on. Bass on!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks very much!

[@captainbeyond165]

Great lesson, it seems the inspiration here was Pink Floyd’s breathe right?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

I love everything Pink Floyd so probably!

[@22singhisking]

That bass tone sounds really good. Which processor do u use or what is the setting

[@OnlineBassCourses]

For this one I did use an amp sim: The Universal Audio Ampeg SVT 3 Pro plugin. Sounds great. Otherwise it's bass into Avalon U5 into Apollo 8 into Logic.

[@22singhisking]

@@OnlineBassCourses thanks...God bless you..

[@Joey0367]

Dan thanks again for your very informative lessons. Could you please tell me where I can purchase an Ibanez like yours, she is absolutely amazing?! 🙂

[@OnlineBassCourses]

That's a good question! I lucked out with mine in a very random shop in Singapore. It was pure luck but then I changed the pickups and got it set up well too which helps. Try Reverb, and the usual marketplaces. See if any shops or dealers can source you one.

[@toppepp]

Sounds like Breathe by ,Pink Floyd.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

A little, yes.

[@arneberg9072]

Hej Dan, as Costa noticed: plz turn up the valume. (Sure it's okey 4 those tha have knowledge, but to us who have to Hear n' See- well ... Btw - all the Best ---

[@OnlineBassCourses]

There really is nothing I can do about this video now. It’s edited and live. I clearly got the bass audio wrong on this one! Mistakes happen. Also, are you listening on a phone?

[@arneberg9072]

@@OnlineBassCourses It is a deplorable manner to complain to a person who filled your life with clarity of the most important matter. (No mobilphone no ----

[@neverusingthisagain2]

Ehat happens if you dont follow the modes and just assume the full scale of each chord change

[@OnlineBassCourses]

You can do that too. There’s usually more than one way to think about these kinds of things. Do what works for you.

[@neverusingthisagain2]

@@OnlineBassCourses does that lead to more sour notes?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

@@neverusingthisagain2 Depends on how you play and what notes you use! It's all about your ear and what sounds good. Using the full scale won't sound 'sour' unless you hang out on notes you don't like the sound of. The key is to listen to music and transcribe what you like. you'll learn loads that way.

[@Peterickenbacker1]

Great lesson, but I know he would have preferred his bass to be a bit louder.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks for the comment Peter. It's possible I misjudged levels on this one. I'll take a listen.

[@Peterickenbacker1]

Apologies if my post was curt. I’ll edit. I think you’re lessons are great. You’re knowledgeable and easy to listen to and follow. Thank you

[@OnlineBassCourses]

It's good positive criticism. I have no problems with that! Thanks.