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Bass Chords sound amazing!!!
There’s just something about chords on bass that’s just so much more satisfying than when a guitar player plays them or a piano player plays them.
Maybe it’s just because you’ve heard a million guitar and piano players mess with chords – but very few bassists.
Well we’re going to have to change that today!!!
What Is “Bass Chord Pro?”
Try not to judge it on it’s cheesy name…it’s actually kinda cool!
The whole point of “Bass Chord Pro” is to give you everything you need to be able to put together awesome sounding bass chords that let you:
- Play “Solo Bass”
- Increase your harmonic knowledge
- Fill out the sound of your band
- “Plug And Play” all of the most useful bass chord shapes
- Increase your understanding of chords and intervals
- Get rid of bass chord ‘muddiness’
- Create “shell voicings of common chords
- Learn all about ‘voice-leading’
- Get crystal-clear bass chords
You don’t need to know any fancy theory, and you definitely don’t need to read any music – it’s all shapes and patterns that you can literally ‘plug in’.
I’m really excited to be able to bring this to you (and to be honest, I am kinda pleased with the cheesy as hell name – but I do love everything cheesy…)
And here is the first video in the series! We start off pretty basic, just covering the best major chord shape and how to create it…
FREE - Become A Bass Chord Pro
Get the step-by-step method for learning, playing and mastering all the chords you'd ever need on your bass
The next video is all about major chord inversions.
We get pretty intense from here on in. It’s a lot of knowledge and experience condensed into just 8 bite-sized videos.
If you haven’t already signed up for Bass Chord Pro, quite frankly, I’m shocked and amazed. How can you deprive yourself like that?!?!?! You must have amazing levels of self-control!!! 😛
But to get the other 7 videos in Bass Chord Pro sent straight to you, just put your name and best email address in the blue box at the top right of this page.
Then, over the next few days, you’ll see the videos showing up in your email inbox! These are exclusive to Become A Bassist subscribers! They’re not available anywhere else on the Internet.
I’m looking forward to showing you everything in Bass Chord Pro – so sign up now and I’ll see you in video #2.
Cheers,
P.S. To watch this lesson on YouTube, here is the link: http://youtu.be/k72yySB101c
Great! Really helpful…
Luke- I found you on the web. Do the base cords you have in PDF work for upright double bass?
Thanks Jack
Hey Jack!
These kinds of chords are a little bit trickier on upright bass – just because it’s a bigger instrument, the notes are further apart, and it takes a bit more physical effort to pull sound out of the double bass.
However, the shell voicings in the PDF work fairly well for double bass. Because there are only two notes, it’s much easier! Sure – you don’t get quite as rich a chord, but you save yourself from any injury trying to play three notes simultaneously on the upright. Also, it’s a lot easier to intonate 2 notes rather than three!
I have learned most of the chords and inversion, but you taught me the simple way. Now when do you use these chords. My real problem is two fold one is when playing over say a 1-6-2-5 to connect these together either by inversion or scales, arpeggio. My second problem I freek out when they ask me to solo. If you could help me out I would be forever greatfull.
Hey William – Thanks for the comment. As far as when to use the chords, there’s actually a whole video dedicated to that in the Bass Chord Pro series. It’s towards the end so you might not have got to that one yet. As far as freaking out when people ask you to solo, I can totally relate. I still get nervous soloing on a gig depending on the situation. I’d recommend checking out these 2 videos for some solid tips on what to do:
https://becomeabassist.com/bass-solo-how-to-improvise-on-bass/
https://becomeabassist.com/how-to-play-more-melodically/
Also, just know that whoever you’re playing with WANT you to sound good. It can sometimes feel like everyone is waiting for you to make a mistake so they can laugh or something, but this just isn’t the case! Everyone – the people you’re playing with, the people listening – they’re on your side! Nobody wants you to sound bad! If you can stop viewing people through the lens of them waiting for you to make mistakes, it’ll really help with not freaking out.
Re: William Rees, 5/17/2018
That’s so very true Luke. Bandmates do want you to sound good. They want you to sound really good. Encourage them to give you input: what they would like to hear, which version they liked better, play the roots of the guitar chords or play a line of some kind, etc. I’ve had too many people say nothing at all. When I ask they say something like “Haven’t heard any bad yet,” or “If I don’t like it I’ll let you know.” I find real input to be helpful.
what kind of strings do you use on the maple neck? Thanks, Carl
Hey Carl,
I can’t remember what strings I had on my bass when I shot those videos, but pretty much all the time I just use standard gauge roundwound strings. It’s just a preference for me. I like the sound of the roundwounds. They’re nice and clear for me!
Hope this helps!
Luke
So you like the round wound, better than the flat wound strings?
What is the difference? between them. Everyone is saying the sound is better than the round wound.
I listen to the different strings in a video on youtube over and over and I heard a little more punch and bass with the flat wound.
Close in the sound, maybe a little better. I;m still trying to see if they are worth the extra cash.
Are the flat wound feeling like a tighter string? Someone said that.
Hey Eddie. Roundwounds aren’t necessarily ‘better’ than flatwound strings – it’s just a matter of preference. Some people like the sound and feel of the rounds, others prefer the sound and feel of the flats. They definitely sound and feel quite different.
The flats are smoother to the touch and do usually have a higher string tension, so they are a little tighter. The rounds feel rougher to touch and aren’t quite as tight.
In terms of sound, the flatwounds have more of an old-school sound – they’re quite dark and mellow and because they’re flat, they don’t give a lot of squeaky string noise. The roundwounds on the other hand have a much brighter, more aggressive sound which make them perfect for slapping or any kind of music where you need that brighter sound. For example, lots of punk bass players have that very bright sound that you can only get from round wounds.
If you’re thinking about switching from rounds to flats, see if you can find a bass with flats and see if you like the sound and feel of them. If you do and can swing the extra cash, go for it! You can always change back later. Personally, I prefer using roundwounds – it suits the kinds of music I play, and the strings in the video are roundwounds.
Hope this helps Eddie!
Luke what amps are you using, especially on the plug and play video . It is the sound I’ve been looking for
Hey Louis – No amps in any of these videos. I just plug straight into my recording interface and use the ‘dry’ sound.
Sorry to hear that, I would buy that sound in a second.
Thanks for answering me
how do I adjust these lessons to a 5 string bass
Hey Jose,
These will still work with a 5 string, and in fact – they’ll give you more options. The shape can stay the same (as long as your bass is in standard tuning) and you can move it all over your fingerboard. If you’re playing with the root note on the E-string, just don’t play your low B. If you bring the shape down so the root note is on your low-B, all you have to do, is not play the G-string.
Does that help?
Luke
Great variation on the 5-string Luke, about to go home from office and will try this out at home. Thanks and happy weekend 🙂
These major chords will also, at least for now, work on dominant chords as there’s no 7th involved yet, right?
thanks for the series!
Hey Ralph,
You’re totally right. These will work for dominant chords, although as they are right now, they’re more like a shell of a dominant chord – but we’ll be ‘beefing them up’ in a few lessons time. Right now though, you can substitute the Type I Major voicing for a dominant chord.
Cheers,
Luke
and also, could i use, instead of fingers 1-4-3/2, fingers 1-3-2 to keep my pinky free to add the octave outside of the chord-usage?
ps, your pdf say A major on the first page
Yeah Ralph – that’s an option. If your hands are big enough and it doesn’t hurt, feel free to use the 1-3-2 configuration. Be careful about adding the octave in there though. You run the risk of the chord starting to sound a bit muddy. Experiment a little and see what you like the sound of!
In the higher register it’s not such a big deal, but down low, it can get a little muddy.
Cheers,
Luke
i am starting out and my hands tend to cramp while trying this what is the best way to get over this?
Hey Dizzy – great question. If you’re just starting out, rather than playing all of the chords in the lowest position, try going up your neck to around your 8th-10 fret. The frets will be closer together up there and it will make it a little bit easier.
The other thing to think about is your level of relaxation. If your hand is cramping, that most likely means that your squeezing pretty hard with your thumb and using WAY more muscles than you really need to. It’s a fairly common thing for people just starting out. Try finding the point where you can use the LEAST amount of force with your left hand and still get a good solid sound. And you do this by taking a note on any string, placing your finger over it, and slowly apply pressure. Eventually, when the string reaches the fretboard, you’ll get a buzzy, weak kind of sound, but when you apply a little more pressure, all the buzz will go away. THAT’S the least amount of pressure you need to use.
Obviously in the real world, you’ll probably end up using more, but the point of the exercise is to show you how little you have to do. Anything more than that is wasted energy and excess muscles being used, and that is what’s most likely cramping up your hand.
I was on your website some time ago and there was a few more videos on the different chords. I can no longer find them, Do I have to subscribe to somethin?
Yes you’re right – all the chord videos are exclusively for email subscribers. They’ve never actually been made public on the site, although there were a few upright bass videos that dealt with using chord drones to improve intonation. Could you have been thinking of those?
Hi, i can’t see your right hand on the strings. On these chord charts, Are you picking the strings with your fingers individually OR are you fanning across the strings with your thumb or pick.
Great question! I’m actually filming a lesson today that answers that exact question as a bonus to the Bass Chord Pro series, so if you’ve already subscribed, it will be showing up in your inbox very soon!
Hi Luke
I’m also interested in seeing this video about your right hand technique. I have a habit of muting with my right hand as I go up the strings.
No worries! I had a few people ask about the right hand technique, so I made a bonus lesson about that and I’ve included it as part of the Bass Chord Pro series. If you’ve signed up for Bass Chord Pro, you’ll be getting the right hand technique lesson very soon!
Cheers,
Luke
Hey Luke,
Is video 2 out yet? Searching the site, and I can’t find it. the shapes in this video helped a lot.
Thanks,
The Old Guy
Hey Danny! Yes – video two is ready for you. I see you signed up to the newsletter. Video two is right in that first email you got after confirming your subscription!
Glad you like the lessons and the shapes!
Luke
Great website, and awesome content. I’m happy to see you doing so well. Keep up the great work. Cheers!
Stacey – so good to hear from you! I’m glad you’re liking everything here. That’s great – I will most definitely keep at it. I’m going to have to hit you up next time I’m in the States for a hang!
Hey Luke
I have just subscribed and run through Bass Chords 1 & 2 …. and all I can say is this is brilliant, I love this stuff and the way you explain matters is superb. I’ve tried to understand books on bass chords for years but you’ve got me hooked & underway, I cant wait to master these 8 videos.
Thanks again
Ray
I just want to say thank you very much so many other bass players play only scales and that’s it I’ve always felt there was always more to a bassguitar then just playing One route note and a scale thank you so much for your wisdom and your knowledge this will help me put it altogether thank you Bill
Glad you like it all Bill – and you’re right. There is much more to bass than just roots
I am new to bass guitar and I want to be a professional and great bassist.
Awesome David – you’re in the right place. Let me know if I can help you at all with any and all things bass-related!
Luke
Will we automatically be sent lesson 3 when it’s ready for viewing?
Thanks Luke
Hey Glenn – Yes it will. As long as you’re signed up, all of the lessons will be emailed to you automatically.
Hey Luke,
I enjoyed the first bass chord lesson. I play both the string bass and electric.
THANKS!!
Gil
Glad to hear you liked it Gil! That’s fantastic news – I’m sure you’ll like the rest of the series too!
Luke
Love your teaching style Luke, I was an educator for 25 years and you have the knack. my bass playing is improving in leaps and bounds.
That’s great to hear Frank! Let me know how you go with all of the lessons!
Luke
Luke,
thank you for the videos and very helpful.
Thanks a bunch Saulomn – I’m glad you’re finding them helpful!
Hi Luke!! Alex Nine here. Your site rules!!! I downloaded all the chord charts awhile back. Starting to study them again and I was hoping to see the videos for Major add 9, Augmented, Fully Diminished, etc. Can you point me in the right direction? Thank you so much for doing this site :D!!!
Hey Alex! Thanks so much for the kind words – and no worries. I can email you the link to that video directly. If you have any questions about anything, just let me know.
Cheers,
Luke
Hi Luke, thank you a ton for providing free videos and pdfs. Extremely generous and kind of you. The lessons are fantastic. Very easy to understand and follow. Anxiously looking forward to the rest of the lessons. Cheers
No worries at all Ben! I’m glad you’re getting something out of all the videos. If you have any questions, just let me know.
Thank you so much Luke, I m willing to learn more and more in playing bass
Hey Luke!
Great lessons but I need help finding the pdf chart for the minor chords.
Thanks a lot for a great course.
Best regards, Janne
Hey Janne – No worries at all. The PDF charts are linked underneath each of the videos. The minor chord PDF is under lesson 3 of the Bass Chord Pro series and it looks like that lesson was sent to you in the last 2 weeks. Send me an email if you can’t find it and I’ll make sure you get it.
Thanks for your reply! I still can’t find any pdf links. Maybe it’s because I’m watchong the videos on my iphone. I’ll make a try on my laptop instead and get back to you.
Thanks again for helping me become a bettet bassplayer. You’re doing a fantastic job! Keep up the good work.
Best regards Janne
Hey Luke,
Thanks for your great videos and cool attitude! Could you tell me which recording interface you use?
No worries George – I’m glad you like them! And on this video, I was using a really old Alesis iO2 interface to record with. Since them, I’ve upgraded to a little 4-channel Yamaha USB mixer and I’m really enjoying it.
Thanks brother!
Do you give private lessons in Los Angeles?
Hey Sal – Unfortunately, no, but if I’m ever giving lessons in the area, I’ll be sure to send an email to the email newsletter.
An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a co-worker who had been doing a little
homework on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I discovered it for him…
lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the
meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending some time to talk about this subject here on your
site.
Hey Luke,
Thank you so much for this video! It was really helpful! Is it still possible to sign up for Bass Chord Pro and get the other 7 videos? I can’t see any blue signup box on the page…
Hey Rainie – no worries. I did a site redesign a while back and some things must have slipped through the cracks. I’ve put a new signup box underneath the video. You can sign up there and get the whole Bass Chord Pro series – still 100% free and 100% awesome!