Simple Pentatonic Bass Runs
Recently I’ve had a few requests for lessons on bass runs. So here are a few simple examples to get you started
Simple Pentatonic Bass Runs
The term ‘bass run’ covers a pretty wide range of stuff, so we are going to concentrate on runs that act as simple fills. That doesn’t mean however that they can’t be used just as easily in a variety of different settings. The runs in this lesson are all built from the A minor pentatonic scale and will work over most minor and dominant chords. If you did the previous lesson on this subject you will remember that the only non-chord tones in the scale were the 2nd, 4th and 6th. Notice that the pentatonic omits the 2nd and 6th so the only note we have to be careful of is the 4th. This is why the minor pentatonic works so well in loads of different situations. Familiarise yourself with the A minor pentatonic scale here: A C D E G 1 3 4 5 7
Run #1
This first run simply descends the minor pentatonic scale in 16th notes and ends on the 7th to lead it back to the root.
To apply this run to a bass line, we can create a groove by doubling the kick drum pattern and adding the run to the last two beats of the second bar.
(1) e (+) a 2 e (+) a 3 e + a 4 e + a (1) e (+) a 2 e (+) a (3) (e) (+) (a) (4) (e) (+) a ( ) – Bass notes Red – Pulse
Run #2
This run is very similar to the first, except we have added a chromatic note to the descent between the 4th and 5th (Eb). This adds a bluesy feel and is reminiscent of the A minor blues scale.
We can also add this to the same groove as the first:
(1) e (+) a 2 e (+) a 3 e + a 4 e + a (1) e (+) a 2 e (+) a (3) (e) (+) (a) (4) (e) (+) (a)
Run #3
To make it easier to learn this next riff, we need to look at an extended version of the A minor pentatonic scale – this gives us a few extra notes to play with.
(1) e (+) a 2 e (+) a 3 e + a 4 e + a (1) (e) (+) (a) (2) (e) (+) (a) (3) (e) (+) (a) (4) (e) (+) a
Run #4
This run is pretty similar to the previous, but it incorporates the chromatic note we used in run #2.
(1) e (+) a 2 e (+) a 3 e + a 4 e + a (1) (e) (+) (a) (2) (e) (+) (a) (3) (e) (+) (a) (4) (e) (+) (a)
I must say that i’m really enjoying these lessons learning a lot more than i expected thank you
I’m a beginner and I true appreciate you breaking so I can follow along.
Excelent lesson Mark. Thanks
Love your lessons. Thanks Mark
Mark
We really appreciate all that your doing. You are a great teacher and bass player.
Thank You
love the lessons but can’t hear your bass in his vid.
Great stuff! Time to work on those minor pentatonics!
Thanks for making learning fun and easy. You explain everything well enough for the beginner and the advanced player. Keep up the good work!
Exelente el material y muy buena la didactica de Mark. Es una lastima la gran barrera del idioma que no me hace aprovechar totalmente las clases. Un saludo desde Argentina
great lesson…. pushing me on in my journey, many thanks
simply freat… this lessons can take a beginner up to a satisfactory level…. to make you feel a musician some how. then it is up to us to keep on working out lesson after lesson. keep it up! ciao
What type of bass is that? I believe Ibanez but what model? Great lesson!
Thanks. It’s an Ibanez SR1000 I bought in about 1992. It’s just been fitted with some Martin Sims Super Quad pickups.
Another great lesson Mark. I have found your recent lessons on Pentatonic scales very useful. Keep up the good work!
Great Teacher….Great Lessons!!!! Thank you Mark
Very much appreciated….
Mark. I really appreciate you stating that this can be played in many different fingerings. I have been very confused about this and you just made a huge problem go away for me. I get it now. Thank you!!!
Thanks Mark this is Brilliant!
Thanks so much Mark, very helpful !
thank you mark, great stuff man
I have trouble getting the speed at 120bpm, is it simply a case of practicing over and over til I get quicker.
Nice post. I used to be checking continuously this weblog and I’m impressed!
Very useful info specially the last section :) I deal with such info a lot.
I was looking for this certain information for a long time.
Thank you and good luck.
Well yet again you make everything g cleat and undestanderble
It is so hard for an expert to bring themselves back tothe place when they were trying to understand
Thank you so much
Andy in France
As always, another outstanding lesson. Thanks, Mark.
Mark,
I’ve been playing for quite a while, but your lessons have been a great refresher course and has opened me up to many new ideas. Your lessons are great!
Great lesson. You said there was a free pdf file wich I can´t find. Please tell how to reach it.
All the lesson material PDF content is now all there below the video. No need to download
I have beginning with bass and I when to follow you so what should I do
I would like to talk directly to you I want personal lesson…. my name is Ricardo Johnson
Hi Mark, do you think it´s possible to play the 16 notes at the pace of 120 run with a pick? Or only finger technique can attain this properly?
Thank uuu! You are doing great stuff