Things You'll Need:
- Your bass
- This Ehow Article....of course! ;-)
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Step 1
Without getting too complicated, the easiest way to remember how to easily play any octave on a bass is to remember the fingering pattern shown in the picture.
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Step 2
This position works for any note played on the E or A string. In this case, I am using my index finger to press down a low G note (the third fret on the E string). Let's assume now that you have played this low G and you now want to play a G one octave higher.....
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Step 3
Note where my ring finger is positioned. It is located on the fifth fret on the D string. It is fretting a G one octave higher. If you play this note, you've played your octave!
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Step 4
This position works for any note first played on the E or A strings. For example if you play any note on the first two strings, then position your index finger two frets down and two frets to YOUR right, you'll have your octave.
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Step 5
If your first note (which is also called the 'root' note by the way :-) is played on the D or G strings you'll need to either 1) play the same string only twelve frets up (toward the body) from the 'root' note OR 2) If your first note or 'root' is on the D string, you could play eight frets up on the G string.
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Step 6
I hope that helps! Thanks for reading my How to Play an Octave on Bass Guitar .
