Today we’re going to take a look at a classically inspired etude I wrote for the Technique Builder course over at the Talkingbass website. The course contains 60 etudes covering a variety of different technical hurdles. There are major lines, minor lines, arpeggio based lines, intervallic lines and many more. Etude Performance This particular etude…
Here’s a simple beginner bass guitar exercise that you can use to test your fretting hand technique. It’s great for beginners, especially those of you that feel you’re lacking in hand size or general left hand mobility. We’ll look at 3 simple patterns that you’ll see in every bass line, scale and arpeggio you ever…
If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to improve your bass playing skills, learn how to create pentatonic fills and rip across the fretboard then this funk riff is for you! This riff is perfect practice for bass players of all styles, particularly Gospel and Rock. All those virtuoso Gospel Bass players like…
Hammer On’s and Pull Off’s are some of the best techniques to practice for developing strength and stamina in the fretting hand. This riff will use both techniques to give your fretting hand that workout that’s get you closer to your bass chop goals! The Riff Hammer On’s and Pull Off’s These techniques are super…
Fretting Hand Issues When You’re starting out on bass guitar, the fretting hand takes up a lot of your focus and many bass lines can seem out of your reach because of issues with strength, dexterity and stretch. When I started playing, I had the same issues as any other beginner, but what really helped…
Chord Breakdown This exercise can be played in any key, but we are going to play this example in the Key of G minor for ease of access to the middle of the neck and fretboard. The reason for this is so that you are not overly stretching or straining your fretting hand when playing…
The Secret to speed? – Relax the picking hand! Speed is a result of our touch in the picking hand and this all boils down to relaxation. Every wonder how players like Steve Harris and Joe Dart can play such fast 16th note drills? They keep their hand super relaxed. Keeping your picking hand super…
Today we’re going to look at the ultimate finger exercise for bass guitar. This exercise is easy to learn and will develop all the fingers of the left hand (fretting hand). You’ll also be able to work on your picking technique across strings, muting, your fretting hand technique, your stamina and strength. I guarantee that…