This bass lesson covers how to play two-octave scales on the bass guitar.
When we learn scales on bass we often stick to learning the standard one octave root to octave shapes. But what if you need to learn a 2 octave scale? In this lesson from you’ll learn a two octave pattern based on the original one octave shape you already know so you can simply create other 2 octave scales on the fly without having to worry about memorising more patterns.
Two Octaves Of The C Major Scale
Knowing how to play scales over two octaves is hugely beneficial for a number of reasons:
- It enables you to switch positions easily (good for moving up or down the neck)
- It helps you visualise the scale across the whole of the fretboard rather than in a single position
- Music exams often require you to play scales over two octaves
Let’s begin with a common fingering of a one-octave C major scale:
If you look at each string separately, you can see that there are different finger patterns on each of the three strings. To extend the scale, shift your hand up so that your 2nd finger lands on the C on the 10th fret of the D string. Now you can start the second octave by using the finger patterns you noticed at the beginning.
To complete the whole two-octave scale, shift positions again so that your first finger lands on the A on the 14th fret of the G string.
To recap, the position shifts are:
Between the B (3rd finger) and C (2nd finger) in the first octave
Between the G (fourth finger) and A (first finger) in the second octave
Other Two-Octave Scales
This technique can be applied to any scale if you follow these tips:
- Isolate the position shifts
- Know what finger you are aiming for before the shift
- Start on the E string if you can (otherwise you will have to cram more notes onto each string, although this is ok if you have to)
Scales Starting On The A String
Playing scales on fewer strings forces you to change positions a lot more than you usually would. Try playing both versions of the C major scale starting on the A string and concentrate on figuring out the position shifts before you jump straight in.
Amazing lesson. I’m just getting back into bass again after a 28 year break so finding your site on the web was a revelation. I thought I was ok but these lessons are really teaching the stuff I need to know to get back up there again. Thanks.
Always enlightening! I’m just breaking into solo riffing up and down the neck with modes. Two octave scales is another route to open up the neck.
THANKS MARK FOR YOUR AMAZING LESSONS AND SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE! BRILLIANT STUFF!
THANKS MARK FOR THESE FANTASTIC LESSONS! AWESOME!
Another great video, many thanks Mark.
Another pukka lesson Mark, cheers for this. I will be combining it along with scale spelling so I can work on a more rounded and fuller understanding of where the notes actually are on the neck, and then finding their interconnections. it is truly eye-opening for me.
Always great watching your lessons. You break it down perfectly. The rest is up to you to practice slowly and build up speed. Thanks.