Here’s a quick exercise you can use for developing your speed when crossing strings on Bass. Take it slow and gradually build up speed. It’s a circular exercise in that it ends back at the start so you can keep going round and round and round. There’s also a few tips on technique and how to increase your fluency.
Crossing Strings
Playing across strings can bring about all kinds of problems when you are trying to develop your technique. You might find that it is more difficult to work across the neck away from you than it is to travel down them towards you – this is because your right hand fingers will naturally fall onto the string below after plucking a note, so you don’t have to move them into position.
You will probably find that a lot of bass fills are descending as it is easier to play down the strings quickly.
It pays to practise moving both ways across the neck so you don’t get caught out by tricky jumps. This next exercise is a simple four-note sequence using the notes of the C major scale in one position from the E to the G string.
Try transposing this line into a different key – getting used to transposing things will make it a lot easier to do on the spot at gigs and rehearsals.
Tips
- Start slowly! Don’t increase the speed until you can play it fluently otherwise you will end up reinforcing mistakes without realising
- Play each note for its full duration
- Use alternate picking on the right hand
- Accent the second note of each group on the descent
The purpose of this exercise is to build accuracy and muscle memory, so rushing through it will defeat the purpose. Concentrate on clarity and accuracy and the speed will come naturally.
Thanks Mark, you’re really helping me.
Hi Mark, Where can I buy the study book of scales for bass guitar here in the Philippines.? Thank you
Thanks man!
Good lesson! I would help if we could see your plucking hand, though.
You make it really easy to grasp, Mark. Awesome!
Thank you Mark for being a great blessing in the teaching of this wonderful instrument, (the bass guitar)……. You are a great great blessing, thank you and Shalom my friend.
I love you mark I’ve been subscribed you i thinks 5 months agod i watch your videos, first i really don’t understand but the time that i understand it’s really help me it’s only month but i can see my progress and still help me by your exercises and your tips i’m from Philippines but because of you i think i really improve my skills and still hungry and still listening in your advice thank you so much mark
Nice exercise Mark
Thank bro nice exercises
You a real quality fellow haha
Thanks mark, but mine issues are, I can play all play his runs as fast as possible and accurate as necessarily but am not still statisfy with the way I play and sometimes forget what to play when am in band playing, Especially on stage. Don’t know what to do!
Awesome exercise. Thanks!!
Thanks
Thank you