by One big problem that bass players run into when they start to improvise is always coming back to the root over and over again.
This makes sense, right? That’s what we’re doing most of the time when we play bass lines, so this habit carries over into our solos.
The upside of this is that it’s familiar, and you know it’s going to work.
The downside? Your playing becomes predictable – WAY too predictable. Everyone who’s listening will know roughly what you’re going to play before you play it.
But how are you supposed to break away from relying on the root of the chords too much? This is exactly what a subscriber named Sarah asked me a while ago, so in this lesson, you’ll learn:
- How to break away from just using the root
- Why some bass players cling to the root like their lives depend on it
- How to gradually add new sounds to your playing in a very systematic way
Check out the lesson:
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Stop Struggling With The Modes On bass
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- Get a full explanation of the modes in simple, easy-to-understand terms
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- Download the free PDF guide plus 24 practice tracks that will have you using the modes TODAY
You’ll notice it’s all about expanding your ‘vocabulary’ – just like speaking. If you only knew how to say a few sentences, you’d probably just use the same words the whole time.
But if you had a massive vocabulary, you could say whatever you wanted in whatever WAY you wanted to. It’s the same with improvising.
That’s why in this lesson, I showed you a process for consciously adding in new sounds one-by-one in a very gradual process.
You don’t have to go from only knowing the roots to playing absolutely everything in the chromatic scale. We’ll just start with adding one note that ISN’T the root and then go from there.
There’s no secret to adding these new sounds to your playing – you just have to do it and do it deliberately and methodically. The process I show you in the video is a great place to get started.
If you need to take things further, check out my Ultimate Guide To The Modes For Bass. Instead of targeting just one new note over every chord, you can target a whole family of notes.
Plus, you’ll never have to wonder, “What can I play in this song?” The modes can answer these kinds of questions for you.
To get it, just fill out the form above and I’ll send it straight to your email address. You can get started with it right away.
Good luck with the lesson and happy playing!
Cheers,
This was very informative and helpful Luke, I totally understand the importance of adding style and class with a great sound. I will definitely incorporate this to improve my bass playing. Totally AWESOME!
Great to hear Ella. Let me know how you go with it.
Great video, thanks Luke, your lessons are simple and easy to understand