Cyborg Bassist Vol 3 Triad Mastery preview

The Cyborg Bassist – Triad Mastery (Ebook & Course)

This is the latest in the Cyborg Bassist series of Ebooks from Talkingbass. In the previous books we looked at the Major and Minor scales in all keys. In this volume we’re moving into the realm of chord tones. Specifically, Triads!

The etudes in this book will improve every area of your technique. Your fretting hand, your position shifts and your fingerpicking will all improve as a result of working through the lines. You’ll also improve your knowledge of chord tones through every triad: Major, Minor, Augmented and Diminished from every chromatic root note.

Book Breakdown:

Part 1: Study Tips & Primers

1: Introduction – An overview of the book and how it will improve your playing
2: How To Use This Book – Tips on how best to integrate the book into your practice
3: Fingerings – Guidance for following the fingering indication throughout the etudes
4: Triad Construction – Guide To how Triads are formed. This is the ‘Theory’ section of the book!
5: Positions – Information on how to view the bass fretboard and transit through the areas within each etude
6: Triad Spellings – Spelling reference for every possible Triad.
7: Playing Through The Cycle – Guide to the Circle Of Fifths and how both cycles are used throughout the etudes
8: Tips For Practice – Details on how best to approach the learning and practice of every etude
9: The Five Core Exercises – Explanation of the melodic sequences for each Triad

Part 2: Bass Lines & Analysis

This is the core material of the book. There are five etudes per Triad type:

Etude #1: Major Triad In Two Octaves
Etude #2: Major Triad – Three Note Sequential Inversions
Etude #3: Major Triad – Four Note Sequential Inversions
Etude #4: Major Triad – Sequential Lower Turns
Etude #5: Major Triad – Sequential Upper Turns
Etude #6: Minor Triad In Two Octaves
Etude #7: Minor Triad – Three Note Sequential Inversions
Etude #8: Minor Triad – Four Note Sequential Inversions
Etude #9: Minor Triad – Sequential Lower Turns
Etude #10: Minor Triad – Sequential Upper Turns
Etude #11: Augmented Triad In Two Octaves
Etude #12: Augmented Triad – Three Note Sequential Inversions
Etude #13: Augmented Triad – Four Note Sequential Inversions
Etude #14: Augmented Triad – Sequential Lower Turns
Etude #15: Augmented Triad – Sequential Upper Turns
Etude #16: Diminished Triad In Two Octaves
Etude #17: Diminished Triad – Three Note Sequential Inversions
Etude #18: Diminished Triad – Four Note Sequential Inversions
Etude #19: Diminished Triad – Sequential Lower Turns
Etude #20: Diminished Triad – Sequential Upper Turn

Sample Etude #1

Below we see Etude #1 taken from Cyborg Bassist Volume 3. This is the most basic of etudes running a basic Major Triad in two octaves through the Cycle Of Fourths.

The Etude is in 5/4 to allow for a smooth transition from one arpeggio to the next. No tempo marking is given since speed is not the main concern here although you can perform the line up to any tempo.