Chromatic Scale On Bass: How To Use It

The chromatic scale on bass – you’ve probably heard of it as some point, right? But how are you actually supposed to use it?

While it’s possible to just go up and down the chromatic scale, it may not be the best option.

Sure – there are some songs that do that, but what is much more common is having sections of chromaticism. Instead of using the whole scale, we get just a part of it.

So how does this apply to your playing? Well you can use the chromatic scale on bass in the same way; using parts of it to make your bass lines smoother and more interesting.

Check out the lesson here:

Video Not Showing Up Here? Watch On YouTube

You’ll notice two functions of the chromatic scale in all the examples. Firstly, it adds extra colors to the lines, and secondly it solves rhythmic problems.

This is a huge help when you’re making your own lines or even improvising. It lets you put all the important notes in all the right places.

Of course if you use the chromatic scale in another way that I didn’t cover in this lesson, let me know! Leave a comment below so everyone else can learn from it as well – myself included!

Of course, feel free to ask any questions in the comments as well. I’m always happy to help out.

Good luck with the lesson and happy playing!

Cheers,

P.S. If you’re interested in making your own bass lines from scratch, I have a whole series about that exact topic. You can get started with the first lesson here:

Bass Lines From Scratch Lesson One

If you’re more interested in the theory and scales side of things, make sure and check out my Ultimate Guide To The Modes For Bass. It’s a 2-part video guide that comes with a PDF booklet as well as practice tracks for you. You can get started with it today and it’s all totally free:

Get The Ultimate Guide To The Modes On Bass