Ultimately, the total freedom to play what you want is what we all want to do. Start simple though and master that before you move on. When you feel comfortable, always push yourself to the next level. Related Lessons By comparing the two scales the distinctive blues sound of the blues scale should be instantly apparent. Here are some of those patterns, scales and phrases you can use. These are moveable shapes and can be applied to whichever root note you are on (5th fret A, 5th fret D or 7th fret E). The above TAB shows how Pattern 1 from the Blues Scales Bass Patterns section below can be used to play an F blues scale. Below is a comparison of an A pentatonic minor scale and an A blues scale on bass guitar. The additional ‘blue’ notes have been circled.

It’s this note, which goes by several names, including: flattened fifth, flat five, diminished fifth, or simply the ‘blues note’, that gives the blues scale its distinctive ‘bluesy’ sound.Frankly, the 4003S isn’t everyone’s cup of Lapsang Souchong, but bassists who become smitten will go to the ends of the earth and beyond to buy a good one. Which is just as well, because the 4003S is made in small, seemingly inconsistent batches, which plays havoc with both supply and pricing. You can go beyond simple quarter notes here but remember the blues uses a shuffle feel (see ‘Groove: 6 Examples Of Different Feels’) so make sure you know how to play that. Note: this is an example of how Pattern 4 from the Blues Bass Scale Patterns section can be used to play a B flat blues scale. Below you will find TAB for playing Blues scales with various common tonic notes. The Blues scales shown below are in open position (i.e. played in the first 4 frets, often incorporating open (unfingered) strings). E Blues Scale Bass TAB – Open Position

Once you are comfortable try switching between the various ideas within one blue sequence. I do this all the time! It ain’t cheap but the smart new finishes, the player-friendly amendments (improvements?) to an all-time classic and the tones are worth it. The blues scale is in fact no more than a slightly modified pentatonic minor scale. By comparing the two scales you’ll notice that the only difference between them is that the blues scale contains an additional note. The following movable bass scale patterns can be used to play any blues scale on bass guitar. The green notes represent the tonic notes* of the scale. Note: this scale is the same pattern as that used in the E blues scale open position scale, but played on the adjacent strings.Traditionally a bass guitar has four strings, tuned E, A, D, G. However, you can get 5 and even 6 string basses (and more!) that extend your frequency range. Basses with additional strings have a lower bottom string, so a 5-string will usually be tuned B, E, A, D, G, though of course you can pretty much tune it how you want. Read more about our rating system, how we choose the gear we feature, and exactly how we testeach product. Related buyer's guides Since its introduction in 1976, the Music Man StingRay has come to define the company’s bass-making. It is the most-recognisable model – well, the Bongo might be more of a head-turner, but this is the one that made it famous. You can also use these shapes while improvising or composing. This is why additional notes outside of the octaves are provided. Using them you can extend the single-octave scales so that your lines don’t have to end on a tonic note. Knowing where to start when finding the best bass guitar for you can be a pretty daunting task. There are many factors to consider, especially if you’re looking for a beginner bass guitar to start your bass playing journey on. Here are some of the most important things you’ll need to decide on, before you go looking for your brand new bass guitar. Long scale vs short scale bass guitars