The Ultimate Fretboard Exercise For Bass

This fretboard exercise for bass is one of my favorites. Not only will it help you master your entire fretboard and help you break out of playing the same shapes you always play, but it’s more like a game than an exercise which makes it a bunch of fun.

It’s an exercise I learned from my first upright bass teacher, Brett Hirst. Originally, I used it to try and get more comfortable playing in all areas of my upright, but it’s just as useful for electric bass. 

It’s the kind of bass exercise you can feel working for you – similar to when you do a hard workout at the gym or get runner’s high.

There are 3 levels to it; Level 1 is a single octave, Level 2 is two octaves and Level 3 is over your entire fretboard, so no matter how much experience you have, you’ll be able to find a version of the exercise that works well for you.

Nail all 3 levels and you’ll have a truly deep understanding of your fretboard and be able to play yourself out of any sticky situations you find yourself in.

Check out the lesson here:

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Of course, some of the ways you end up playing the exercise won’t be practical. You’d never play that way if you were playing a real gig, but being able to do it in the practice room is an incredibly valuable skill.

If you can do this exercise and do it well, you’ll never get ‘stuck’ while you’re playing; you’ll always be able to play your way out of tricky situations. It’ll also really highlight any areas of your fretboard where things might be a little ‘fuzzy’. 

By the way, if you need help with learning your fretboard, be sure to sign up for my Ultimate Guide To Learning Your Fretboard. Just fill in the form up above to get started.

Good luck with the lesson and happy playing!

Cheers,