Creating Bass Lines – Chord Tones
This video is the second online bass lesson in the series on bass line construction. The previous lesson focused on doubling the bass drum and this lesson introduces the use of chord tones to create some interest in the line.
Beyond The Root
Let’s take a basic I, vi, ii, V chord progression in the key of C major: CMaj7 | Am7 | Dm7 | G7 Each of these chords is made up of four chord tones.
- Cmaj7 – C E G B
- Am7 – A C E G
- Dm7 – D F A C
- G7 – G B D F
If we play the tones one after another we have an arpeggio. Arpeggios are a fundamental aspect of bass playing as we are not often required to play block chords in a band situation.
Common Chord Types
This section contains three types of 7th chord that you are very likely to come across in a chart or song.
C Major 7
C E G B 1 3 5 7
C Dominant 7
C E G Bb 1 3 5 b7
C Minor 7
C Eb G Bb 1 b3 5 b7
Practice these arpeggios all over the neck until you really have them under your fingers. Now let’s return to the I, iv, ii, V chord progression from earlier: CMaj7 | Am7 | Dm7 | G7 Play each arpeggio in order and you will hear the natural progression of the sequence through the chord tones.
Just want to say THANK YOU for your great teaching skills. Simply Fantastic Mark.
Hi Mark, I would like to say thank you for your amazing bass lesson but i got a problem in this lesson.
Can you elaborate what did you play from 21.16min to 21.40min?
Kicking…
You’re vids are great. You say to use this technique sparingly. So what are you doing the rest of the time? Just roots?
one of the best lessons thanks mark
Thanks a lot Mark.
Saludos desde Oaxaca Mexico !
Great lesson. Thank you. But I need to see the rhythm (from about 9.32 onwards) written down. Is it written down anywhere?
Hi Mark, your step by step teaching is easy to understand and follow, it enlightened my way in learning bass.
thank you very much indeed !
Can you transcribe that last line you played? That is beyond me….
Hmmm, where is the backing track? Thanks.