How to Understand Pentatonic Variations on Bass Guitar

Bass guitar is one of the most widely known and played instruments in rock, jazz, R&B, rockabilly, and other kinds of music. It has drawn kids and students back to the world of music with its expansive use in modern music and theatre. Pentatonics is just one of the techniques you should master when learning to play the bass guitar.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Consider the two ways to set up your pentatonic scale on your bass guitar. There is a more basic way and an advanced method for doing this. Match the best method with your experience level and understanding of music theory.

2. Start your basic pentatonic scale on the seventh fret of A to give you E. This allows you to move up to the position that starts on the 12th fret of the E string. This involves playing on the mid-point on your guitar, which is similar to the notes you play on the bottom of the guitar, only an octave higher.

3. Use the advanced technique after you have the simple one done. Perform the following: E string, open string, fifth fret, seventh fret, fifth fret of the A, seventh fret of the A, fifth fret of the D, seventh fret of the D, ninth fret of D, seventh fret of the G and ninth fret of D.

4. Practice this technique until you feel you understand the different notes it makes and the finger moves. You should know how to do this smoothly, in order to use it properly and at the right time.