Pentatonic Scales for Bass Players | The Practice Room #86

I am so exited, super proud, and a little exhausted still from the process, to present my brand new book Bass Player's Guide To Pentatonics. It's been some months in the process, and today's episode of The Practice Room takes an in-depth look at my practice routine, and how I use pentatonics for bass lines, melodies, composition, soloing, and technique building.
The book comes with over 100 video examples, and over 50 play alongs, all available for streaming or download with your purchase. Don't forget to leave some pentatonic related questions in the comments below, and enjoy the episode!
Pentatonic book digital: janekgwizdala.com/
Pentatonic Book Physical: tinyurl.com/y8oq5o36
Check out all our bass books: janekgwizdala.com/store
Study with Janek ► www.janeksbassstudio.com/
Barefoot Buttons: barefootbuttons.com/
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[@pkossen]

Janek, I almost never comment on videos but it's so inspiring and real to see someone with your profile posting mistakes, imperfections and getting frustrated. This is what musicians deal with everyday while practicing but it's rarely shown. Huge respect.

[@hahabass]

Totally!!! Thanks, Janek.

[@jacklambert4958]

I have to apologize for my ignorance Janek. I was trying to use that link in the book from my phone. I typed it in on my desktop and it brought me right to the lessons. Thank you. Your book is amazing and I’ve been using your warm up book as well and my playing is improving. Again, thank you, Jack.

[@dcross8034]

It's beautiful how the pattern changes sound against the change in harmony whilst staying the essentially the same against the track

[@user-ct9id3cq4j]

Got the pentatonic book. I had the pleasure of attending lessons with you in Sligo a few years back, still working on those ideas.Thank you for your inspiration!

[@31416]

Thanks for showing the real work and keeping the "difficulties" you had in this video and how you approached them, resolve them. Very informative!

[@Funkybassuk]

Nice to see a player as good as Janek struggling from time to time. Gives the rest of us hope! 👍🏽

[@monierb8984]

Janek you were in the zone there at the end and holding a straight vibe....amazing!!

[@mahdisharegh7220]

I got the book and its Fantastic , Thank You Janek!

[@CarlosCastilla]

Just bought the bundle with the ii-V-I. Looking forward to studying both books. I'm a guitar player who loves bass and was looking for material to get me started. I love your content! Thank you:)

[@midplanewanderer9507]

Man I gotta get your books. Even Mark Smith at TalkingBass was pushing your stuff. I hope I can snag some before the 2nd wave comes and sequesters me in lockdown, so I can woodshed until my fingers seize or I go blind (whichever comes first). I'm still high on and playing that classical-sounding minor/diminished exercise you presented in one of your earlier vids last year. It sounds so cool pushing that all around the fretboard, with a splash of reverb and chorus.

[@benvanduzen6358]

Love the book and the demos!

[@keziahj]

This book is such a great tool (because the stuff WORKS) for every stuff, that I could play… ❤

[@tabonejohann]

I got this book really amazing . Thanks Janek

[@squidito2534]

man that bass you’ve been playing more recently sounds so good

[@tabonejohann]

Next monday i buy this book . I had buy two books in past and find them very well. Thanks .

[@mark-stefaniw]

Sensei! I love getting a glimpse into your practice.

[@georgegeorge2898]

Thank you... George@San Diego

[@manuelmendizabal5942]

This bass sounds killer

[@dcross7366]

Beautiful

[@ndiego0]

Great afternoon

[@jasonmitsch]

Love your content and have followed you on and off for years (Off years were because I had limited data on my phone). I purchased and really enjoy the content of All The Good Stuff but I have a music degree and I was a little underwhelmed with it being the same thing in every key. I can do that on my own if I choose to. Will the Pentatonic offer a different presentation? or are you keeping consistent with your teaching method of providing an idea and 11 modulations to match it?

[@ironxmike83]

Just purchased the book. Arrives soon. Purchased physical. How are the playa-longs accessed? Thanks, Janek!!!

[@esthergregory6092]

good video

[@ajadrew]

It was the camera that got you janek! Good stuff here, I played along all the way through coming up with great ideas I've not had before. Cheers!! 😊 Where do I get the videos from please? Best wishes

[@TheMahaffeymg]

There is a link in the beginning of the book that takes you to the page with the videos.

[@peterstone2597]

The 1st Line is in Paul Jackson sprit with his fill color.

[@nemanjamilosevic2739]

that strap is awesome

[@marcelodelpaggio7469]

janek,what do you thing about Brgonzi series book of imrprov? hugs from Buenos Aires

[@ikechukwuokorielong8443]

Greetings Janek, Is the new book basically jazz vocabulary for soloing or does it deal with walking and jazz basslines? BTW...I love your Pentatonic book.

[@jacklambert4958]

Janek, I received this book for my birthday and I’m excited to get started with it. I do have a question about the video guide link. I typed in the link and it brought me to your bass studio site. How do I get to the play along content? Thank you, Jack.

[@franksmith4383]

I know this is an old vid, but didn't know where else to put the comment. I really dig your instructional books and have a few of them. I know you're working on a new book, I think about warmups, but I'm REALLY interested in you doing a treatment of Melodic Minor information.

[@janekgwizdala]

Then you're in luck... lots of Melodic minor coming in the new book. It's not a warm-up thing, but rather a Practice-to-performance guide. It's all about how I take fragments of things like melodic minor content, turn them inside out, and then apply them to real-life musical situations. It comes out black friday, so stay tuned!

[@franksmith4383]

@@janekgwizdala you made my day, bro! BTW, I just finished the pentatonic book yesterday. So now, gonna start it again from the beginning and soak up the stuff I might have missed.

[@monierb8984]

Do those background track you were playing with the pentatonics patterns come with the book and/or ebook from your site?

[@janekgwizdala]

yes!

[@dantelamusta]

“Is that a problem?” - Sir Kermeet le Frog 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@matgfunk]

Oooooohh I want the book! When can we get it??

[@edpromusic]

store.janekgwizdala.com/products/bass-players-guide-to-pentatonics-w-video-masterclass-play-along-package?variant=32314692534354

[@halcop]

That groove sounds like Paul Jackson from the Headhunters.

[@thomasdoherty5230]

This seems like a great book can I ask are the exercises in tab format or is it just notation?

[@janekgwizdala]

All the exercises are in both standard notation and TAB.

[@stephenmcgrathbass]

Do you find it useful to visualise a pentatonic in two string patterns across the neck?

[@janekgwizdala]

Not necessarily. That can be one option when you're starting out, but my goal is to always be able to play any material through the maximum amount of range, without being tied to a specific position, string set, or fingering. It's just a case of spending the time to work on as many combinations as possible.

[@JustMyTwoCentz]

is it in tab notation as well ?

[@alexsausl]

Is the physical book spiral-bound? That would really help while practicing.

[@janekgwizdala]

They're not yet. Amazon doesn't currently offer that option in print on demand production. I'm working on making it happen though. I agree that spiral bound is the way to go.

[@bassm302000]

I have purchased this book (physical copy on Amazon). Where can I find the videos/audio that accompany the book please?

[@janekgwizdala]

They are linked inside the front cover of the book.

[@bassm302000]

@@janekgwizdala thank you!

[@noahmast4888]

I want the physical copy, but does it come with the chord sounds on a CD or USB format? I don't have a disc drive and cannot play a CD.

[@janekgwizdala]

Everything is available for either streaming or download. Nothing comes on a CD.

[@nyambe]

how are the digital assets handled in the book. I don't think I have a DVD player in the house anymore

[@janekgwizdala]

They are linked inside the book and you can either stream or download them. 👍

[@nyambe]

@@janekgwizdala I already bought a 4 book bundle. Lol Lots of good stuff

[@bobstorck2647]

Janek, have you checked out Leland Sklar's KZbin page? He been giving a daily demo of the bass lines he's played on the bazillion recordings he has done. Worth taking a look at...and perhaps a Practice Room interview in the future?

[@janekgwizdala]

Yes! I've been loving Leland's uploads. The stories are worth their weight in gold.

[@patbassman8251]

Plug Plug Plug , did you get $12000 for your Fodera in the end cheap at the price right

[@janekgwizdala]

If you're going to post something like this, can you at least make it a complete sentence?

[@wilsonzock4150]

the book is ok but I didnt see any practical improvisation examples in it. and to my taste its for beginner to early intermediate players ( no challenging phrases ), and I really dont understand how we can talk about pentatonic scales without adding the blues scale which is not discussed in the book

[@janekgwizdala]

Let's start with the fact that the blues scale isn't a pentatonic scale. That would disqualify it from being in a book about pentatonics right away. The book also isn't called "practical improvisation using pentatonic scales", so being disappointed that the book doesn't contain something it didn't advertise is a bit of a head scratcher. And despite it not being called that, it does actually contain dozens of practical applications of the pentatonic scale both in bass lines and melodic lines. There are sections on how a single pentatonic scale can be used over multiple chords, which is a great starting point for improvisation and the more fluent navigation of chord changes. It also has a complete chapter on soloing including odd note groupings, harmonic application, and exercise building techniques. And just so the concept of the book is crystal clear, I include a "closing thoughts" section at the very end which states the following: "As I’m sure you’re aware, this book is truly just the beginning. These are tools and concepts from my musical world that I’m presenting to help populate your practice routine, and give you a better understanding of melodic and harmonic possibilities surrounding pentatonic scales. My hope is that these exercises, bass lines, and melodies help the connection between what you hear in your favorite music, and how you transcribe and assimilate that language into your playing. At the end of the day, the only tried- and-true method for fluency with music-as with any language-is immersion and repetition. This book, like my others, can serve as a gentle guide and explanation of some basic technical components; but the heavy lifting must always be done by you, the player. The size of the goal dictates how heavy the lift. The level of calm and focus you bring to your practice will help you fall in love with the work, and make that weight seem light. I’ve spent 25 years working on this so far, and know there are a finite number of years left to continue the work. Knowing the work is never over helps to ease the stress of feeling like I’m not getting anywhere. Whenever any self-doubt creeps into your head, know that every single musician on Earth goes through it at some point. But the best ones are those that can let it go the fastest, and get right back to being in love with the process." The process of learning music should not be something that is delivered in bite-size chunks that the student must put zero thought or work into themselves. The role of the teacher is to open doors to new musical landscapes, inspire the student's curiosity, and encourage them to ask questions and do the work. If a book simply gives you a bunch of licks with no context, concept, or value beyond regurgitation, you should ask yourself what on earth you are doing buying it. I proudly stand by the fact that none of my books do that, and all of them are very much rooted in experience and practical application when it comes to sharing my learning process.

[@wilsonzock4150]

I appreciate you took time for replying and I well noted all the advices you mentioned as an experienced musician. Talking about the blues scale, despite not being a five note scale, Its derived from the pentatonic scale and I think students should at least know it when taught pentatonics. I had not gone through all the contents of the book the time I wrote my review ( about the improvisation ). there are actually some good lines that one can use when building grooves and fills. I now have a better understanding on pentatonics uses over different chords qualities in order to create new melodic ideas. the audio and video files are just great. I really want to learn more about improvisation and I'm hesitating between three courses in the studio including ...rhythmic development for lines and solos, improvisation masterclass and bebop vocabulary.... I d please like some advices

[@janekgwizdala]

@@wilsonzock4150 If you want to start really working on your fundamentals of improvisation and how to navigate harmony, I would actually recommend my book on ii-V-I's: janekgwizdala.com/store/p/jazz-vocabulary-251 Or the bundle that includes Iconic Lines: janekgwizdala.com/store/p/triplejazzbundle As that really gets to the history of improvised music, and is a great guide to how improvisation has developed over the decades, while giving you the opportunity to figure out who you like to listen to and who you might like to emulate to improve your playing. All the books come with videos and play alongs.

[@wilsonzock4150]

@@janekgwizdala thank you I'll get the books.

[@safisweetkeyz]

That’s cool, and Imma let you finish. But Ruslan just ROASTED us on KZbin for messing with pentatonics and honestly, I’m a little traumatized...

[@janekgwizdala]

Yep. He called me about that last night. And I agree with him in the context he was talking about it in. That's why I wrote this book. So pentatonics aren't a cop out, and are actually understood and can be used over changes, both for bass lines and melodically, with ease.

[@safisweetkeyz]

Love your work, Janek!

[@seancushnie974]

I bought the book. Did it not occur to you to use a bass with fret markers, so much easier to comprehend the fingerings, and positioning. Annoying and frustrating in a way

[@brandonmalone1893]

Ligma