The MOST Important Music Theory A Bass Player Can Learn

This week let's take a look at the most important music theory you can learn as a bass player. Learning the chords within a key will help with all areas of your bass playing. Harmony is the key! This is the basis of the popular Nashville Number System and will give you the ability to learn songs and chord progressions a LOT quicker.
Check out the Ultimate Music Theory For Bass Course for more details : members.talkingbass.net/produ...
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
2:09 How To Create Chords From A Scale
5:33 Triads Of The Major Key
7:45 Triad Exercise
11:11 How Progressions Work
12:25 Common Chord Progressions
19:01 The Big Mistake Beginners Make!
#bassplayer #musictheory #talkingbass

[@DavidGarcia-fe7lv]

I started playing bass almost a year ago, I am already 18 years old and one of the biggest recurring themes I have seen with all the bass players I admire is that they have been playing since they were in the womb, their entire family was very deep into music and they went to incredibly prestigious music colleges. Since I don't meet any one of those requirements I am always brought down thinking it's too late for me to become as good as they are/were. However, every time I watch anyone of your videos it seems to have the opposite effect , every technique, piece of theory or song you cover in your lessons feels so "possible" (not easy, but possible!). I'm not looking for a career in music but I have to thank you for all the effort you put into your work and for showing just how simple all this theory junk really is! Keep up the great work Mark!

[@talkingbasslessons]

Thanks a lot. If you're only 18 that's plenty of time to learn. You just need to practice a lot and have the correct path. I started at 15 back in 1990. Within 3 years I was at music college and could play pretty much any rock or pop bass lines (including Les Claypool stuff, Billy Sheehan solos etc). That's the easy stuff. The harder part (that took tens of years) was learning to read fluently, understand harmony, learn how to play walking bass lines through jazz charts etc. That was where music college gave me a huge wake up call. The stuff people think of as tough is often very simple with a little practice. Just repetition and general playing. The harder side of it is the actual 'learning of music' and then beyond that it's all about what I call 'bandsmanship'. Learning on the gig. That experience is invaluable and changes you as a player. So, 18 is a perfectly fine age to start learning.

[@Matthew-vh4ce]

@@talkingbasslessonsvery insightful. Im 20 and this helped tremendously thank you

[@garajplaz3513]

I agree with most of what you said. A trick my bass teacher taught me was this. Play a scale, Arpeggio , etc2 octaves until you’ve learned it. Then he would turn off the lights and make me do it again. It has been so important. You make eye contact with crowd and the band and you always know where you are. Never need to look at the fretboard

[@thomasfioriglio]

Wow, I was actually surprised I knew most all of this from when I first started watching your videos almost 4 years ago. There was an exercise you used going up the fretboard in the key of C and playing the arpeggios of the chords in all different ways. I still practice it. And now I know the theory behind it! I get it! I know the cycle of 4ths, again from a previous lesson of yours but never learned the cycle of 5ths. Starting on a C I was able to figure out the 5th of every next note and build it. And then as you were running through the roman numerals and chord progressions, I was able to get those too! Thanks so much Mark. I've learned more from you in the last 4 years, after picking up bass again, then I did playing for 20 years being self taught. Cheers!

[@Kaden_BASS_noob]

I hate music theory more than painful technique exercises but, yeah I'm gonna take this lesson anyway

[@omg_wtf]

Why do you hate theory bro?

[@dimplesmcgillicuddy4172]

@@omg_wtf I don't get it either. I guess some people just want to read tab and not do any composing/improvising?

[@fredla7353]

Ha! This is EXACTLY why I joined your Website, and pay for your courses! You make me FINALLY REALIZE how "what I have innately used/played for years fits together with theory, and WHY! Brilliant is NOT TOO high of an accolade for one with your musical knowledge; that also has an uncanny knack of making it understandable! I played Trumpet from 3rd Grade through High School, and took music theory classes in College; played guitar for 40+ years; but only NOW do they really fit together!! Thank you Sir!!

[@Keychain-]

Wow those examples of chromatic chords at the end all sounded so cool! THAT looks like a lot of fun to play with when a deeper knowledge of theory is attained. Very much looking forward to that part of my bass journey. Thanks for the video Mark!

[@JimTaillon]

Excellent lesson. Thank you!

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Thanks for Sharing Mark 🎸🎸🎶

[@UltimateSessionBassGym-ns2cy]

Great stuff 👍

[@keithbolger5152]

Thanks Mark I found that very useful. Great lesson.

[@1234drums]

As always, thank you Sir ❤❤❤❤

[@florencedoberman8336]

Thank you Mark

[@aaiidt5770]

Just purchased the music theory 1&2 as well as the bundled basics course. I got the confirmation email and emails linking to the course but they are not showing up on my courses and I emailed customer support and left messages for other members and nothing, it's been several hours. Not trying to diminish this because I believe Mark is incredible and I want to learn from these courses but would like any help in understanding why I can't access my courses.

[@kevingage4157]

In the video you mention previous lessons. It would be really helpful if you linked to them when they are mentioned. Great video

[@talkingbasslessons]

Hi there. This lesson is taken from the new Ultimate Music Theory For Bass (as stated). The previous lessons are in the course. You can find it here: members.talkingbass.net/product/ultimate-music-theory-for-bass-complete-vol-1-vol-2-pre-order/

[@kevingage4157]

Great thanks. I would recommend throwing a link to the course in the video descriptions so people can find it easily. Can't wait to check it out!

[@talkingbasslessons]

@@kevingage4157 Thanks for reminding me. It was on my to-do list!

[@alpa4736]

Ciao Mark! nice video, as always!! I really like to learn the bass line from Ida Nielsen - Fake the funk/Positivity. There are no tutorial with this! could you make a video tutorial? I think lot of bass slappers would enjoy this!!!

[@Smokeslikelightningband]

love your lessons. Can we do one on rhythm changes?

[@talkingbasslessons]

Check out the Ultimate Music Theory For Bass Course for more details: members.talkingbass.net/product/ultimate-music-theory-for-bass-complete-vol-1-vol-2-pre-order/

[@rahinc]

Mark, I wonder if a non-pure-white background is in order. Cheers, Rick

[@slawekiwanek402]

I not only use upper and lower case roman numerals but also upper and lower case for chord names/signs. This way you can get rid of maj or min for simple triads, e.g. : C d e F G a hdim. The only chord, h, has to have "dim" added. Of course two "seven" chords need "maj" back : Cmaj7 d7 e7 Fmaj7 G7 a7 hdimb5 but it is more for the type of seven/septima than for the triad.

[@talkingbasslessons]

Yes. I go through that in the video.

[@graemerobertson5160]

I had never heard of the Nashville numbers system for most of the years I played bass and was told I was missing something really crucial. So I found out about it and learned it. I played guitar before bass and knew it all along,just never came across anyone who referred to it or used it. But I have to say personally I don't subscribe to it for a number of reasons. However, you are explaining it very well so well done.

[@celaka7481]

Hey mark what happened to the slap bass into?

[@talkingbasslessons]

Hi there. Not had the intro for about 3 years now (maybe 4) . Wanted to get straight into stuff a bit quicker.

[@celaka7481]

@@talkingbasslessonsThat is understandable, i love playing along with it since i watched the video where you explain how it's played

[@Tup0007]

What if the key is minor? What’s the triads of the minor key?

[@ctodd122]

Same as the major only start on the 6th of the major. The Roman numerals are i ii* III iv v VI VII

[@talkingbasslessons]

That's in the course. You perform exactly the same process of applying diatonic tertian structures to the natural minor. Bear in mind, if you're just learning the list as I showed it without understanding how they were created, that will be your problem. You need to understand the construction principles.

[@caniican]

LOOKINT THE CAM ...this is wierddddd

[@buettstube]

Every word you say ist important and true. (and the design your bass is highly irritating)

[@meh3247]

I can't concentrate on this mans words when he has such weirdly overt flamboyance, emphasised by such a perpetually wobbly head. He distracts me from what he's trying to teach me.

[@talkingbasslessons]

Lol. I guess you’re new here.

[@zombiespock4512]

"If your eyes can deceive you, don't trust them." -- Obi-Wan Kenobi

[@munkombwestanley5692]

Too much talking and less activities! KZbin teachers should know what the audience wants. Most of the time is spent on talking.

[@Tup0007]

It’s a theory course, duh!! He has to talk.

[@ctodd122]

You could have chosen the wrong video to watch. Mark does have other videos that are full of activities. From my experience Mark puts out videos that are very complete in concepts and that's why I think he's one of the best out there.

[@simona4693]

Sounds like you need a video for people with a shorter attention span. There are teachers just for you on KZbin, but perhaps Mark is not the one that you need right now...

[@talkingbasslessons]

lol. You would HATE music college!

[@saulojr.p.biscoto]

KZbin videos shall be just a flavor of the course the professionals offer. That’s right and if you understand it this way, things get clearer since you get what you pay for. Want more, buy the course and be happy. I have bought 4 of Mark’s courses and couldn’t be happier!

[@222rich]

It's all Greek to me. Not your teaching but just my stupidity. I kind of almost get it? It's only a first view though.

[@zombiespock4512]

It's easier to see and visualize the diatonic scale in the key of C on a piano since all the notes in the key are white.