Pentatonic Bass Masterclass (All You Need For Bass Solos, Fills & Lines)

Do you know the pentatonic scale inside out? If not, you're missing out. It's everywhere when it comes to bass! This bass tutorial will teach you everything you need to know about the major and minor pentatonic scales. Free PDF: onlinebasscourses.com/bass-li...
00:50 F Minor Pentatonic
02:13 Ab Major Pentatonic
03:05 Relative Major/Minor & Improvising
04:09 The 5 Pentatonic Shapes
08:28 Three Fingering Patterns
11:27 How To Memorise/Practice (Sequencing/Patterns)
12:43 Phrasing & Soloing, Articulations
15:36 Making Up Your Own Exercises
16:16 Slapping With Pentatonics!
19:23 Soul Style
21:21 How To Make Up A Bass Line
✅ If you like this video please like, comment, share, and subscribe. It really helps me keep this channel going.
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Help support Dan's lessons!
If you've ever got something from my lessons and would like to support my channel you can do so here: bit.ly/OBCSupport
It all goes towards helping me create the best bass lessons I can for you!
Many thanks,
𝄢Dan 🙏

[@ZEALusMusic]

Dan is one of the best sources for bass instruction videos. Taking the From Beginner to Bassist course and it is outstanding. He’s thorough and actually has excellent teaching skill on top of his bass mastery. Not all bassists can teach. He can do both.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

That’s very kind - thanks so much!

[@mozr5053]

Agreed!😊

[@nancydoane7864]

Hi Dan! I just found your channel about a week ago and subscribed immediately. I'm 63 years old and I started playing bass 2 1/2 years ago to play in church. I absolutely love the instrument! I'm all self taught by the Internet and KZbin, and have watched many different instructors out there. I've learned about the pentatonic scales both major and minor. But they were taught separately which made it so confusing for me and I felt like it would take forever for me to learn it all. In this lesson, YOU just connected them in such a practical way that it was a HUGH light bulb moment for me! I'm sure my playing will dramatically improve! I love your teaching style and I'm sure you are helping many bass players out there! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Nancy. Messages like this make me really love what I do. Thanks so much for the comment! You'll get a lot of mileage from the pentatonic scale. Keep it up! 👍🙏

[@tonycarel1785]

Dan Hawkins Thanks for the masterclasses!! I absolutely love the way that you teach. You're connecting the dots that make it relative to what you're playing and so many teachers do not do that so please do not change the way that you teach these classes it is absolutely helping me connect the dots and it's making sense. You are by far the best teacher on KZbin bar none!! Can not wait for your music theory course to come out.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Very kind of you to say, Tony; thanks so much! I'm doing a general beginners course before the theory one but I'll get straight onto that after...

[@DoomOfConviction]

People need a quick understanding and music theory knowledge to follow your explanations but what you teach is very important. I’m glad that I found your channel, thanks for teaching.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks so much. I have plenty of basic music theory videos for those people. Plus loads of other non theory videos.

[@mozr5053]

By far one of the best instructors who make it easy for the layman's. I thank you so much. Unfortunately, I am a very slow learner, and this is made easy! The fact that you're so clear and precise with your demonstration makes a world of difference.😅😊

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks a lot!

[@glennpolido4616]

hi Sir,,,Glenn from philippines,,,,thank you for the tuturial I always follow ur videos and theres so many learnings that I learn from u

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks, Glenn. Love the Philippines!

[@asdfasdas1703]

Masterclass! You are the best, Dan! Thank you soo much!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

You're very welcome!

[@freddylopez7536]

Brilliant my friend. I played bass in a band for about 20 years. I became a working guitar player after that for another 20. I’m romancing the bass again for recording at home and as writing tool. You reminded me of great exercises to get back in shape. Thank you sir. I’m in. F

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks very much!

[@joshuachanwj]

Thks for sharing this video Dan. I'm from Malaysia, the other side of the globe. It's not easy to get good bass lessons in this part of the world. Your tutorials are so refreshing. Thks for making this available online.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Cheers, Joshua. I'm actually in Singapore so next door! 😂

[@joshuachanwj]

Haha. Wow. So near 😁

[@hoyas1000]

This was very useful. Thanks!

[@LifeInLandscaping]

Awesome lesson

[@octaviusmccray1811]

Great lesson

[@robertlehane9955]

Brilliant lesson Dan, helping me break out of those boxed pentatonic patterns; the different fingerings is a must.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

🙏

[@groovybasslines]

This Lesson with your The Bass Guitar Resource Book on the side is just perfect !!!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

🙏🙏🙏

[@NicleT]

This is an excellent analysis video. Thank you.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

🙏

[@jimini5534]

Great work & very helpful! Taking it to the bass now

[@scottlooper3505]

Mind blown!

[@alxiroi]

Great looking bass

[@robertlehane9955]

It's one thing having knowledge about a subject and another being able to impart that knowledge to others. Dan's definitely a great teacher. No fluff or waffle. From what I've seen, the best on the various platforms.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

🙏

[@mainsblanches8793]

Getting straight to the point of things instead of noodling around with no real goal in mind!...great stuff!...

[@OnlineBassCourses]

I try! Sometimes I fail…

[@calebyeboahtv]

Thanks boss.

[@bouncingswordsful]

As always you always seem to know what lesson I want 😂. I have just been trying to work out how to break out of the pentatonic boxes on my own and this has helped to confirm I was heading in the right direction. Now just need to do it with the minor and major scales 😆

[@OnlineBassCourses]

You'll get it with a bit of practice!

[@user-fs6sd6pl5i]

Perfect

[@fueu2617]

Just quality, you are enlightening me big time sir. Thank you

[@scotthudson8363]

Another great lesson Dan! You have a fantastic teaching style that has taught me a lot about major/minor pentatonic scales and how to use them in a practical way.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks, Scott. It’s such a great set of notes to use!

[@spaceyroad4481]

Thanks for the pentatonic teaching, Jesus Bless

[@apterousgargoyle]

Very useful lesson! I have improved the way I get the groove running.

[@Followmeoutdoors]

Brilliant stuff. Thanks again for opening more doors!

[@marciosouza8656]

Great lesson Dan !! Thanks

[@OnlineBassCourses]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching, Marcio!

[@troublebrewing2121]

Very helpful Dan, thanks.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

You're welcome, Don.

[@bojoblanco68]

Excellent lesson!! Ready to use information!!!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Great, Eduardo. Enjoy making great music!

[@BigSwoleMusick]

Thank you so much! Keep up the great work.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks for watching!

[@CurtisGabrielMusic]

I keep coming back to this video! So good. The best pentatonic video out there!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks very much!

[@alaindeschepper69]

Wow this lesson is an eye opener to me ! Thanks a lot !

[@OnlineBassCourses]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching.

[@francois3001]

Merci!

[@noelmasih2130]

Awesome course, very well explained. Thanks .

[@OnlineBassCourses]

👍🙏

[@goatbeef1192]

great episode Dan!! thanks a lot!!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@zadokmotorfreight2423]

Fantastic lesson!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks! 😃

[@ryoshamo]

You are a fantastic teacher!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks so much!

[@MichaelStockwell1948]

Good lesson, thanks.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks for watching, Michael. 👍🙏

[@arneberg9072]

An inspirational and exploring morning, thanx to yor great effort ---

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks for watching, Arne!

[@stuartclarke8055]

Dan - just brilliant, and so enlightening. You convey the information in a way that really helps to make this all make sense - and fit together. Thank you so much!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks so much for the comment, Stuart! Glad you got something from the lesson.

[@rossmadden7240]

Hey Dan, Excellent video, I recently stumbled upon your channel and I must say that your teaching style really resonates with me. I have learned more in a few weeks from your videos than years of study. Keep the content coming and hopefully the algorithm picks up on your channel as it is seriously underrated! Happy New year

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks very much, Ross. Keep up the practice and you'll get even better. I've given up second guessing the algorithm! 🤣

[@BourdeoixEterno]

Huge fan! You’re my inspiration thanks for your playing 🙏

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks so much! Glad you’re inspired to play such a great instrument.

[@jrd259]

Thanks!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks, Jim!

[@wmkennard]

Happy New Year. I'm ready to jam and learn more from Dans awesome teaching.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Happy New Year!

[@mtmeinardiful]

Another great lesson, you're one of the best !

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Too kind, Martin. Thanks for the comment!

[@berniegovernder9176]

Simply love it tutorials ""

[@stevielongworth6853]

Another excellent lesson i have just found from you Dan, i play totally in shapes and your teaching style is ideal for me. Thanks Mate.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

That's great, Steven. Thanks for the comment and glad to have you here!

[@user-vw7um9vv5p]

Hey man dig your bass tone!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks - I appreciate that!

[@thomasevans6468]

Hi Dan - many, many thanks for all your efforts here on YT! Your tutorials have been so helpful to me (and many others of course) and I shall certainly keep plugging away at them. Anyhow, have a good Christmas and see ya in 2023! Best Wishes, Tom.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks, Tom!

[@realtodd1969]

Amazing lesson, Dan! Just subscribed and bought the Creative Bass Technique Exercises book!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks so much on both counts, Todd! Hope you learn a lot from it.

[@mattyonke4922]

Great stuff as usual!! I found that "extra" shape you mention at the end on my own, mostly from listening to Paul McCartney's playing, but it's definitely my go-to when I'm reaching for a shape anymore. Thanks so much for the amazing content!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Nice one, Matt. McCartney’s amazing!!

[@lucapappalardo5574]

Absolutely top! I'll be watching for thousands of times 👍👍👍THANKS DAN!!!!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

No worries Luca. Make some great music with it!

[@lucapappalardo5574]

@@OnlineBassCourses some great learning for sure! 💪💪👍

[@luigirigattoni9648]

I was bassplayer long time ago and if i should recommend a teacher on youtube, it would be dan hawkins bass lessons. efficiant and very good explained. Compliment!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks very much!

[@thierrylemetayer3371]

good lesson Dan

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks 🙏👍

[@tonymusolino2369]

I really do love your teaching style. Detailed, and easy to wrap your head around. Thanks, subbed.👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks for the comment and for subscribing!

[@tonymusolino2369]

No… thank you for putting out this content. Everybody has a higher purpose, yours is to teach people how to communicate through music. The world could be coming down around me, but if I have my headset on, and a nice mellow groove…😉😉😉

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks Tony. It certainly feels like a worthwhile thing to be doing. Groove is everything - I agree: it's a life-enhancer!

[@cashel6834]

Easy to understand so its all good. ♥.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

🙏

[@wedda8201]

❤thanks sr

[@cejpta4789]

such valuable informations for intermediate self taught bass player ! thank you oh so deeply for this free content that goes beyond the simple excercices you commonly find on youtube from teachers, and thank you deeply for all the grooves you come up with.. figuring them out is one hell of a great excercise

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks for the comment! Glad you’re learning from the lessons.

[@SpeakerBuilder]

Instead of trying to learn those five shapes for the minor key and five shapes for the major key, I find it is much easier to learn just two full or pentatonic scales that can be used for both major and minor keys. The first you showed with the middle finger on 1 for the major scale, and this one is used for a minor scale by going down one string with your pinkey now on 1. The other scale you also showed with the index finder on 1 for the minor scale, and three is now on the pinkey which starts the major scale in this fingering. When playing either full scales or pentatonic scales, I attend to where the root is and play the pattern according to where my fingers are landing. I am learning to see the patterns based on the position of the root while fingering. So you only really need to learn two patterns. With the major scale, you start with the middle finger and go up an octave and land on the pinkey, or start with the pinkey and go down and land on the middle. You can also start on the pinkey and go up to the middle, or start on the middle and go down to the pinkey. I would practice going either up or down starting with either the middle or the pinkey to get these patterns down. Then do the same for the minor scale, same patterns but a different starting point, index going up to the 3rd finger (and switching when convenient to the pinkey), then pinkey going up to the index, then index going down to the pinkey, and pinkey (or third finger) going down to the index. All you patterns are found in these two sets.

[@godwinmrema8239]

Thanks Mr Dan for your time .

[@OnlineBassCourses]

🙏

[@nacholibre1030]

thank you

[@OnlineBassCourses]

You're welcome. 🙏👍

[@robertosinglemalt]

The best!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

👍🙏🙏

[@AlexiKaruna]

This is badass and it was my goal this weekend to finally understand how the two pentatonic scales are connected. It's amazing how long I've played the major a minor without realizing they're actually the same thing :) I'm subscribing to this channel and really I think you're the next step for me. Cuz a lot of the things are talking about aren't necessarily even things you get taught in private lessons much less on the internet. I think this is going to help me evolve my playing and get out of boxes!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks, Alexi. I really hope you can take your playing forward. As long as you’re consistent with your practice and keep learning new things, you will! Keep it up. 👍👍

[@VeganStance]

Im a beginner and this is excellent. Very well explained.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Glad it was helpful!

[@joemiller8482]

I wish you were here in toledo ohio. . You have the excellent teaching skill. . .

[@OnlineBassCourses]

🙏

[@frodo6363]

At last I understand relative major and minor keys and how to move them around the neck by moving over one string and 6 notes up. Thanks so much Dan. This has escaped my understanding for ages! Great lesson.😀

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Glad you get it now! 🙏👍

[@001dharma]

Very helpful! I'm just leaving a short note, because I'm going to start practicing!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks! Good on you…

[@hakanlindberg1102]

I like this channel very much and for first-time music theory end up understandable for me the way you show it. By the way, I love the sound of your old Ibanez bass. Very good.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks very much. 🙏

[@michaelkailus6021]

That was a lot 👀 THX

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks for watching, Michael. 🙏👍

[@Abbynorml1979]

Best Dan online bass lessons on KZbin!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

🙏

[@leonjohnson5539]

Wow that put it all together 😍 for me after years of playing in band's learning songs by ear not knowing what note or anything U just put it all together minutes U told me what it was and showed me how to use it 😂 U showed what I love about the 💓 bass things I love to hear on the bass and most of all How to play it God 🙌🙌 U 💯🔥 thanks again for all your help

[@OnlineBassCourses]

That’s great, Leon. Keep it up! 👊👍🙏

[@frodo6363]

Woops, I meant finding the root note by moving over one string and 6 up. The relative major/minor key trick has somehow eluded me and has opened up so many possibilities I just didn't see before. Cheers Dan.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Nice one - that’s a great trick you can use a lot! 👍👊

[@deotechmechanicalengineeri4545]

Im noe. Thank you for sharing this video!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

My pleasure!

[@esa4141]

Thanks. Excellent lesson. You bass just sounds amazing. Please let us know the secret of it

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks very much! I’m not sure there is really much of a secret. I’ll do a video on how I record the audio soon but I do have before and after videos on this bass (I put a couple of upgrades in that contribute to its sound).

[@esa4141]

@@OnlineBassCourses cant wait. You have soo nice growl on that clean sound, even on moderate touch, it really says on every note. Been trying to get similar output on amp/cabs (currently Hartke LX8500 +4x10 and 1x15) live, but what amazes me is that how much room I am rehearsaling affects the sound.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

@@esa4141 Yes. The room has a huge effect on the sound!

[@matthewreel7395]

Great videos, Dan. Which Ibanez is that you're playing in this video? Great sound!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks, Matthew! It’s a 1982 Ibanez Roadster with DiMarzio DP126 pickups.

[@sebsteyn1592]

Cheers Dan. I’ve gotten interested in bass recently and have been bingeing your videos lately, although I don’t own one yet. Any specific videos or concepts of yours that you recommend I should learn when I finally get my bass?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Great to hear, Seb! Bass is great, you'll love it. I'd say get some basic technique together, and focus on playing simple lines in time with a good sound. Above all, learn to play bass lines and music you like. That will sustain your passion and keep your interest up. You'll learn loads from learning and playing music. I have plenty of free lessons and a course if you're interested in seriously learning bass.

[@JustBrewing]

Man!!! What model Ibanez is that???? Sounds awesome!!🔥🔥🔊

[@OnlineBassCourses]

1982 Ibanez Roadster with a few modifications. I got lucky with this one. Cheap too!

[@martinfechino2214]

I would like to learn the open pentatonics in every key and different shapes can you recommend a book or you have a course of this let me know thanks 🙏

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks. I’m not sure what you mean by ‘open’ pentatonics - with open strings?

[@ChigerG]

Thanks so much Dan, great lesson! Is there a reason why those particular 5 notes sound good and why the excluded 2 of the scale are "less good"? Is it also theoretically correct to play the related pentatonic scales of each root of a chord progression (e.g D minor pentatonic, G major pentatonic, C major pentatonic in a C major song with ii-V-I progression)? If so, does that become a bit too much to remember and it's easier to just think in C major/A minor pentatonic for said song?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Cheers! I think it’s because the notes that are removed make up the interval of a tritone. That’s a tense, dissonant one. Without it, everything is much more open and pleasing sounding. You’re right - what you mention is a GREAT use of pentatonic scales.

[@cocoiz3549]

I think that one reason for exclusion may be to allow each pentatonic form to take on the mode of the performative root. With this in mind, a ii-V-I would be played with the respective forms in relation to the key of the song.

[@franktreppiedi2208]

I like those old Ibanez bass from the 80s. Are they heavy?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

This one's great! I mostly play it sitting down but mine doesn't feel heavy to me.

[@inthepocketbass]

I'm currently using Ableton Live Lite and struggling to get a decent bass tone. Do you have any tips for someone getting started recording?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Maybe try this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWGpioiIls1opLcsi=90RsDpxyEZCJLIn-

[@danushkahemarathna2968]

🙏🙏🙏

[@RaeiEscudero]

hi.. may i ask, if the song is in major chords, can you do pentatonic minor scales or is it best to do pentatonic major scales???

[@OnlineBassCourses]

You can do if they’re relative and if you want to highlight different chord tones. If it sounds good, do it!

[@RedArrow73]

We're gonna call this your 'Eight Miles High' bass.

[@bede2800]

Thank you very much pro. Type Sudanese music on KZbin. And let me know what you think

[@daffyduck3496]

👍🏿

[@larsmusee5429]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@OnlineBassCourses]

👍🙏🙏

[@kevendonga7966]

i gotta a question, one year later😅 do all pentatonic scales have that 1-4, 1-3, 1-3

[@OnlineBassCourses]

No! There’s a major and a minor pentatonic and they each have different shapes. Download the free PDF and have a look.

[@kevendonga7966]

oh, thank you very much sir

[@stevotisdavis2462]

I play bass and I'm giving up I feel like I've gotten to a point of where I'm stuck, . At one I would practice for hours and for too or three years I still can't learn song's by ear it's been eight years now and I've gotten faster but me ear is still bad , l love the bass what should I do... Please help

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Firstly. Don’t give up. You’re being too hard on yourself and I bet you’re better than you think you are. Work on your ear. Choose some very simple songs and work them out by ear. Don’t try anything to difficult or you’ll get frustrated. Try these: onlinebasscourses.com/learn-basslines/easy-songs-for-bass-players/

[@sergiomolina8522]

Traducing in hispanish please!!!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

I wish I could! Sorry.

[@markbass354]

THAT BASS IS A WORK HORSE

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Funnily enough, it's one of the only ones I own that I've never gigged with (blame the pandemic), but for KZbin, it's definitely the workhorse.

[@markbass354]

COOL

[@nonymous1852]

Ughh. I can't get out of the pentatonic scale. It is a trap.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

What music are you playing/want to play?

[@nonymous1852]

@@OnlineBassCourses Jazz

[@OnlineBassCourses]

@@nonymous1852 learn the modes of the major scale (especially Dorian), then the melodic minor scale (the 7th mode is used a lot in jazz). Harmonise major, melodic minor, and harmonic minor scales. Listen to the greats and transcribe!

[@wannaride54]

You are playing way too fast for me to follow!!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

KZbin has a pause and rewind button and a slow down feature. All very useful. You’ll speed up in time. Good luck!

[@jackadogoff8677]

If you find the relative major by playing the 2nd note of each pattern, and you do that through all the patterns, the relative majors end up being the notes in the scale. Look at the chart he has up around 5 minutes and play all the notes he has marked on the E string. Those are all relative majors and the scale in order. Thanks Dan.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

👍

[@funkstermak]

I’ve always thought you were a bit shifty ! 🫢

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Now you know. 😂