I’ve been playing bass since 1994. I’ve gotta say that the lesson concept of this video is the best lesson on scales I’ve ever seen. Plenty of people teach about scales, modes and such, but the way it’s presented in this video with linking it all together is something I’m surprised I’ve never seen anyone else do. I wish I would have seen this 25 years ago. The younger me woulda saved many hours of practicing scales the wrong way.
This is the most motivating and accessible lesson I've found for learning these scales. You learn them and can be creative at the same time. Great work, super lesson.
There are tons of similiar videos on YT yet your videos always stand out for me. They are beginner friendly, clear, on target and organized; thank you so much.
Beginning bass player here. No musical education whatsoever. Have been practicing modes but didn't understand that much about them until I downloaded your Guide to the Modes. The one sentence that made a light bulb go off in my head was to start on the 2nd note of the C major scale, D, to get the 2nd mode. Then the 3rd note, E & so on to get the modes. So obvious but overlooked. Also, stating the 6th mode was the natural minor scale was another lesson learned. I assume everyone else knows these things but they really helped. Am working my way through the guide to learn more. Thanks, Luke!
At last I get it! Thanks Luke was wondering if anybody out there was going to demonstrate HOW use to them because NO it isnt obvious to a learner. You have provided the motivation to learn & master them. Excuse me I’m off to practice 😊
You’re a great teacher, thank you so much for allowing so much of your resources and material be available for free. it’s really been a life saver and you are great at explaining not just concepts but the logic behind them.
This hack is great! Would love to see a similar video on moving fluidly up the neck using the different fingering positions of the major scale. Thanks Luke!
This video helped me in a way other lessons have failed to until now - thank you so much!! I just solo'd in several different keys using these shapes for the first time in my life - super exciting!!
I’m so glad to find your channel!! Quite honestly this is the first time in 31 years playing bass that I actually feel comfortable playing the pentatonic scale all over the fret board!! The other videos are awesome as well!, Thank you so much!,
This is exactly the kind of thing I love to hear J. Long! Thanks so much for commenting - I love hearing how people use the stuff I talk about in the lessons.
This video is such a huge help. I was instantly able to make sense of seemingly random licks I’ve collected over time and see how they can fit together by shifting to one of these shapes. I’m no longer stuck playing only one box for major and one box for minor. My improvisation just got a huge boost and I’m finally using the entire neck with ease. You’re a great teacher. Thanks so much.
luke, believe me when i tell you that you are the best bass teacher around. simple, direct and with your image ... makes me more confident to start. do you have a structured course. as in first video then this next video. i desperatly want to start but i dont want to be the chicken that crossed the road. in fact i am willing to join your online course if you have one. no one is as good and clear as you. they dont incourage as you do.
You are helping a lot of people Luke. You’re easy to follow and you are digesting the topics very well. The support materials are great as well. More power and many thanks Bro 👍🏻👏
Hi Luke, I actually learned this scale from the E string, so going below the root in most shapes. I really liked the “hack”. Where you stay in one shape for a while then move to the next shape, etc. I like your teaching style it’s instructional, clear and concise, thank you for all your hard work.
Excellent stuff, I'm a (mainly) slap bass player and have been 'playing by ear' for years, it's great to see I've been roughly playing the right thing, but this seems to have given me a whole new outlook, hopefully I'll be playing like Marcus Miller next week! Great lesson, thank you
Great tutorial!! I've been looking for something like this forever with only limited success, and you have nailed it for me. Thank you. Clear sensible explanation, nice slow, easy-to-follow demonstrations. just what the doctor ordered. I have one question: when you change from one position to another, do you always go up the same interval, or do you need to memorize the intervals from each position to the next one above and below? thanks again, Luke.
Luke, I'm a little confused. Maybe this was in a previous lesson, but what is the Pentatonic scale? I know it is a 5 note scale, but why and when would you use it over regular scales? As for the exercise, is it all in C or are those just the notes for the Pentatonic scale? Thanks for your help. These lessons are the best on the internet!
Luke, I’d like to thank you for this invaluable lesson on learning the pentatonic shapes for bass. I just wish you would’ve incorporated open strings into your demonstration.
wow ! I am about 6-8 weeks in to the Bass. Getting a beginners handle on a couple easy songs. This lesson just blew my bass game wide open!! Learn scales and cool shapes at the same time, omg super cool, super fun. Plan at this point; 50% songs I want to learn, 50%playing with scales. I can't thank you enough for this new plan. I have no prob sending a little cash your way. How can I do this? As usual a pet for Fido in my name plz.
Very well presented. I recently discovered your videos and I really appreciate how much knowledge you're sharing with us. Each and every one of your videos is straight to the point, no filler. Thank you much for this, please keep doing what you are doing!!
Hi, I'm only new here. I've only found out your channel recently. And I'm a new bassist. I still don't know how to do some scales, and thank God I've found this video and I think I can do it. Btw, I'm only 16 and I'm a bassist in our church for almost 6 months and yet I still don't know to do scales and that's because I have small hands HAHAHAHA still, thanks for this video.☺
There's a couple of ways, but the simplest is to figure out the key of the song, then use that key's pentatonic scale. So if the song is in G major, use the G major penatonic. If it's in Bb minor, use the Bb minor pentatonic. You do want to make sure however, that if you're in 'bass line mode', you probably should outline the roots of the 4 chords, but any time you want to add a bit of flair to the line, the pentatonic of the key will usually work harmonically.
Sorry if I missed this in video but just curious why you aren’t using the e string and starting the shapes on the a string instead? I play guitar but am nee to bass
Hello this is good I didn't know pentatonic scales but through this video am good now. Kindly I need to know major and minor pentatonic scales where are the videos?
Hi may i know what body shape of the bass called? Because i saw a guitar version of it and i've been searching but i didn't know about the body shape of the guitar that is similar shape as your bass btw nice bass
Exactly! Just move the shapes around your bass to the new 'key' and you'll be good to go. For example, if the key you're looking to play in is 2 frets above, simply move all the shapes up 2 frets.
Luke from Become A Bassist Shall do. Your lessons have been brilliant so far. Very clear and informative for a beginner. The best I've found so far for my level.
That’s exactly what I like to hear friend! I’m glad they’re working out for you. If you ever have any questions, let me know. I’d be happy to help however I can.
Question, so regardless of what chord the progression is on I can use these patterns? Or must use pattern for the chord the progression is currently on? Most videos bi pass this assumption. Thanks so much, love the videos.
Good question @MrCotaman98. I cover that specific question in this video: ua-cam.com/video/oibOW-ICsbo/v-deo.html In short, you don't really need to worry about matching the different pentatonic shapes to specific chords, but if you want to start getting a bit more advanced and using modes, then *that's* where you can start assigning specific shapes/scales/modes/patterns to specific chords. Pentatonic are more 'vague' whereas modes are quite specific.
Do you know where to get.. the minus -1 beats, i mean it's really awesome if there's a beat then u can fabulously do whatever you want to do with this scales
do these pentatonic shapes have names? how are you suppose to distinguish between the shapes? i know you said one of the is the Eb Major pentatonic. another is i'm assuming the minor pentatonic. not sure about the other 2?
They don't have names as far as I know, but I could definitely be wrong. The one starting on the C is the minor pentatonic shape, and like you mentioned, the one starting on Eb is the major pentatonic shape. For the other ones though, it's just a matter of memorizing them however you like - whether that's through looking at the shapes visually or figuring them out through sound. It's totally up to you. I know some people think about them in terms of 'big boxes' and 'little boxes'. For example, the 4th shape spread across all the strings (G and Bb on the E-string, C and Eb on the A-string, then F and G on the D-string, and Bb and C on the G-string) you can think of the E and A-strings forming a 'big box' and the D and G-strings forming a 'little box'.
So are pentatonic scales static? How would i transpose them if not? Ihave the shapes memorized but im not sure how to apply them to the key of the songs i play
It's the same shape across different keys the same way the major and natural minor scales are. Pentatonic scales are just broken down major/minor scales
You start the minor pentatonic from the key you're playing (D minor is the same thing started from 5th fret). If it's a major key start the rotation from major pentatonic rather than minor pentatonic.
I’ve been playing bass since 1994. I’ve gotta say that the lesson concept of this video is the best lesson on scales I’ve ever seen. Plenty of people teach about scales, modes and such, but the way it’s presented in this video with linking it all together is something I’m surprised I’ve never seen anyone else do. I wish I would have seen this 25 years ago. The younger me woulda saved many hours of practicing scales the wrong way.
Thanks a lot Luke. You're a great teacher. We all really appreciate the time and effort you put into these videos.
Thanks so much Joseph - I'm glad you're finding the videos useful!
This is the most motivating and accessible lesson I've found for learning these scales. You learn them and can be creative at the same time. Great work, super lesson.
This has definitely unlocked playing minor pentatonics/ blues all over the fret board alot for me. Cheers to you mate!
There are tons of similiar videos on YT yet your videos always stand out for me. They are beginner friendly, clear, on target and organized; thank you so much.
Beginning bass player here. No musical education whatsoever. Have been practicing modes but didn't understand that much about them until I downloaded your Guide to the Modes. The one sentence that made a light bulb go off in my head was to start on the 2nd note of the C major scale, D, to get the 2nd mode. Then the 3rd note, E & so on to get the modes. So obvious but overlooked. Also, stating the 6th mode was the natural minor scale was another lesson learned. I assume everyone else knows these things but they really helped. Am working my way through the guide to learn more. Thanks, Luke!
At last I get it! Thanks Luke was wondering if anybody out there was going to demonstrate HOW use to them because NO it isnt obvious to a learner. You have provided the motivation to learn & master them. Excuse me I’m off to practice 😊
You’re a great teacher, thank you so much for allowing so much of your resources and material be available for free. it’s really been a life saver and you are great at explaining not just concepts but the logic behind them.
This hack is great! Would love to see a similar video on moving fluidly up the neck using the different fingering positions of the major scale. Thanks Luke!
You simplified this seemingly scary concept of improvising in pentatonic scales so well. Thank you so much. It's fun to play over a backing track
This video helped me in a way other lessons have failed to until now - thank you so much!! I just solo'd in several different keys using these shapes for the first time in my life - super exciting!!
How do you use these positions in different keys?
Thanks for another great tip! I like these combos as you can play in whatever time signature you want and still come out with a great sound!
I’m so glad to find your channel!! Quite honestly this is the first time in 31 years playing bass that I actually feel comfortable playing the pentatonic scale all over the fret board!! The other videos are awesome as well!,
Thank you so much!,
This is exactly the kind of thing I love to hear J. Long! Thanks so much for commenting - I love hearing how people use the stuff I talk about in the lessons.
This video is such a huge help. I was instantly able to make sense of seemingly random licks I’ve collected over time and see how they can fit together by shifting to one of these shapes. I’m no longer stuck playing only one box for major and one box for minor. My improvisation just got a huge boost and I’m finally using the entire neck with ease. You’re a great teacher. Thanks so much.
Peter Del Gatto, I like the way you explain the pentatonic scales by playing them at the same time, thanks "Luke"
Awesome lessons, not only basic musical skill but also proper mindset to play
luke, believe me when i tell you that you are the best bass teacher around. simple, direct and with your image ... makes me more confident to start. do you have a structured course. as in first video then this next video. i desperatly want to start but i dont want to be the chicken that crossed the road. in fact i am willing to join your online course if you have one. no one is as good and clear as you. they dont incourage as you do.
This lesson is very eye opening for me. Thanks so much for putting it together!
You are fantastic teacher - thank you so much for these great lessons and for creating so many helpful, free resources for people!
learned these shapes couple months ago and they have been really helpful on moving around the neck.. thank you so much
Luke , this is by far the best video on this topic. it has really opened up the fretboard. your teaching style really made it clear.thanks
Awesome to hear Lawrence! Thanks so much for letting me know - I never get sick of hearing things like this!
Thanks a lot Luke. been stuck at practice of the scales up and down. this is a new direction.
This just transform my improvisation.. I'm grateful
I'm glad you got something valuable out of it Nero.
Thanks for the comprehensive training materials! Ego free, teaching for free. Following !
Thanx Luke For taking the Time!!...Totally ROXX!!
You are helping a lot of people Luke. You’re easy to follow and you are digesting the topics very well. The support materials are great as well. More power and many thanks Bro 👍🏻👏
Thank you so much for your willingness to share your knowledge.
Give and it shall BE GIVEN UNTO YOU...
Thank you very much
Even though I knew these shapes, I've had a hard time linking them up in live situations. This helped a lot! Cheers!
Hi Luke, I actually learned this scale from the E string, so going below the root in most shapes. I really liked the “hack”. Where you stay in one shape for a while then move to the next shape, etc. I like your teaching style it’s instructional, clear and concise, thank you for all your hard work.
thank you so much, this video is exactly what i was looking for, thank you for the time you spent doing it
Awesome lesson Luke - I have been playing the same tired Pentatonic lick for years :} You've opened up a new world for me. Thank You !
That's great Richard! Let me know how it goes over the next little while!
Will Do Luke - Thanks again ! Knowledge sure is power.
Luke, I have been playing for 8 years and could never solo, this video has changed everything for me.... thanks
That's so awesome @Adrian F - how does it feel?
@@BecomeABassist like a new door has just opened!! thanks Luke. First gig since Covid in 1 month, plenty of time to nail it.......
Hey @Adrian F - it's been a while since this comment. How did your gig go?
One of the best examples of how to learn this and apply it
So easy to understand, You're the best teacher man. You are a blessing to beginners
Thanks so much @Navarro Basse - really appreciate that!
This is my go to for noodling practice. Thanks Luke. You have a generous spirit.
After checking out 3-Bilstering yesterday, I realized I had not worked through your pentatonic cheats.
Thanks for the great work you're doing.
I'm glad you're getting something out of it all @John Whitney!
Excellent stuff, I'm a (mainly) slap bass player and have been 'playing by ear' for years, it's great to see I've been roughly playing the right thing, but this seems to have given me a whole new outlook, hopefully I'll be playing like Marcus Miller next week! Great lesson, thank you
🎯Absolutely Great Lesson!🎯
That's a fantastic lesson. Gold dust, to be honest - that's really helped. Cheers, Luke.
Thanks Luke, this is a great way to learn to incorporate the pentatonic into my playing 😁
You are he best. I have learned a lot watching your videos. Thank you.
Great tutorial!! I've been looking for something like this forever with only limited success, and you have nailed it for me. Thank you. Clear sensible explanation, nice slow, easy-to-follow demonstrations. just what the doctor ordered.
I have one question: when you change from one position to another, do you always go up the same interval, or do you need to memorize the intervals from each position to the next one above and below? thanks again, Luke.
this is so fun and easy to follow, oh my word!!!
Thanks Luke. These lessons are so much help, i am making more progress than i imagined.
Luke, I'm a little confused. Maybe this was in a previous lesson, but what is the Pentatonic scale? I know it is a 5 note scale, but why and when would you use it over regular scales? As for the exercise, is it all in C or are those just the notes for the Pentatonic scale? Thanks for your help. These lessons are the best on the internet!
Luke, I’d like to thank you for this invaluable lesson on learning the pentatonic shapes for bass. I just wish you would’ve incorporated open strings into your demonstration.
I love it. Thank you. Could you make a video for each note?
Glad you like the video Emmanuel. I’m not sure what you mean about making a video for each note though. What exactly do you mean?
Luke from Become A Bassist I think he's saying transposing it from C to
B etc
Maybe include low E into the shapes?
I'm just starting and does the low E not get used in this scale or???
Thank you Luke !!! You have helped me a lot.
Great teacher
wow ! I am about 6-8 weeks in to the Bass. Getting a beginners handle on a couple easy songs. This lesson just blew my bass game wide open!! Learn scales and cool shapes at the same time, omg super cool, super fun. Plan at this point; 50% songs I want to learn, 50%playing with scales. I can't thank you enough for this new plan. I have no prob sending a little cash your way. How can I do this? As usual a pet for Fido in my name plz.
Haha! Always @David NCW!
fabulous,from Teesside North East England hope for me yet at 67 !
I'm a year younger Steve, we are young in spirit mate...
Les 69 now guess we got old but never grew up
Brilliant yet in a way so simple, thanks a bunch!
So does this only apply when playing over the Key of C or a C chord?
I just discovered your videos and I’m absolutely loving them!!! Thanks for your great teaching and awesome tips!
So sick I can’t wait to hit sick fills
GREAT SITE!!!! I love the tutorials, very explanatory
Very well presented. I recently discovered your videos and I really appreciate how much knowledge you're sharing with us. Each and every one of your videos is straight to the point, no filler. Thank you much for this, please keep doing what you are doing!!
Thanks so much +Tom Tom. Glad you like the lessons and I'll most definitely keep making them!
Hi, I'm only new here. I've only found out your channel recently. And I'm a new bassist. I still don't know how to do some scales, and thank God I've found this video and I think I can do it. Btw, I'm only 16 and I'm a bassist in our church for almost 6 months and yet I still don't know to do scales and that's because I have small hands HAHAHAHA still, thanks for this video.☺
Thanks Luke I feel energised again.
Very good mate! You are one of the 3 teachers I use (other 2 are Scott’s bass lessons and talking bass.net) and I’m learning so much!
Scot never helps me do anything. Just kinda like hanging out with a dude who's really good, but doesn't help or teach anything. Cool dude tho
Check out become a bassist..
Finding this exercise a whole lot of fun, learning it then kind of doing it. Thanks great instruction.
One of the best teachers thank you sir
Solid lesson,Thank You
GREAT video, so is this major or a minor pent c scale, because the blues backing track was in c major i think you said
This is so helpful. Thank you 🙌🏾
I truly enjoy working on your ideas!! Thank you very much!
Thanks a lot for the cheat, it was really helpful 🎉
Thank you very much. Luke is the best
Thanks for this video. I learned a lot. And hopefully also major pentatonics ;)
Thank you so much Luke, now can you tell me how you would use that formula within a song that has four chords?
There's a couple of ways, but the simplest is to figure out the key of the song, then use that key's pentatonic scale. So if the song is in G major, use the G major penatonic. If it's in Bb minor, use the Bb minor pentatonic.
You do want to make sure however, that if you're in 'bass line mode', you probably should outline the roots of the 4 chords, but any time you want to add a bit of flair to the line, the pentatonic of the key will usually work harmonically.
Thank you for making this video, it's extremely helpful!
Sorry if I missed this in video but just curious why you aren’t using the e string and starting the shapes on the a string instead? I play guitar but am nee to bass
Hello this is good I didn't know pentatonic scales but through this video am good now.
Kindly I need to know major and minor pentatonic scales where are the videos?
great job Luke, the graphics I don't understand. what does the numbers mean?
They’re just suggested fingerings Darrel, but they’re not ‘rules’ to follow or anything like that.
Very good video, helped me a lot. Btw what pickups do you use?☺️
Very impressive and inspiring...thank you!
Hi may i know what body shape of the bass called? Because i saw a guitar version of it and i've been searching but i didn't know about the body shape of the guitar that is similar shape as your bass btw nice bass
I don't know if the body shape has a specific name, but the bass is a Spector Euro LX.
thank you sir very much appreciated salute to you sir Luke so informative🥰💯
I absolutely love this lesson!
You have a great teaching style.
Thanks Luke this is brilliant. But i wanted to ask these 5 shapes work in same key am I right?
Thank you so much for sharing this!!
Hi Luke, I want to know how can I change it to another key, like is it the same just like the what you taught but in a different location?
Exactly! Just move the shapes around your bass to the new 'key' and you'll be good to go. For example, if the key you're looking to play in is 2 frets above, simply move all the shapes up 2 frets.
Thanks Luke this is really helpful
Wow! Very informative. And very helpful. Can't wait to get home and onto my bass guitar.
Awesome! Let me know how it goes for you!
Luke from Become A Bassist Shall do. Your lessons have been brilliant so far. Very clear and informative for a beginner. The best I've found so far for my level.
That’s exactly what I like to hear friend! I’m glad they’re working out for you. If you ever have any questions, let me know. I’d be happy to help however I can.
Luke from Become A Bassist Brilliant. That's very kind of you.
A great video, as always! This helped a lot. Keep them coming Luke!
Thanks Nihal! And the videos will definitely keep coming!
Oh man, great lesson. Subscribed!
Thanks so much.. for this awesome cheat sheet.. 👍👍👍👍
hi luke .. how about if the root key is change into G what scale Am i ganna use ? and... is that pattern or scale usable for other root key ?
This is the best Bass Video thanks LUKE
Do the shapes stay the same for every key. Major and minor pentatonic scales?
Yes
Nate Lockwood just shifted up and down the neck
Thank you
@@sebastianrothman2871 lol
Thank you Luke! God Bless
Question, so regardless of what chord the progression is on I can use these patterns? Or must use pattern for the chord the progression is currently on? Most videos bi pass this assumption. Thanks so much, love the videos.
Good question @MrCotaman98. I cover that specific question in this video: ua-cam.com/video/oibOW-ICsbo/v-deo.html
In short, you don't really need to worry about matching the different pentatonic shapes to specific chords, but if you want to start getting a bit more advanced and using modes, then *that's* where you can start assigning specific shapes/scales/modes/patterns to specific chords.
Pentatonic are more 'vague' whereas modes are quite specific.
Thank you for this good lesson.
thank you good exercise 🎉🎉🎉
You my friend just earned a subscriber...good job!
Do you know where to get.. the minus -1 beats, i mean it's really awesome if there's a beat then u can fabulously do whatever you want to do with this scales
do these pentatonic shapes have names? how are you suppose to distinguish between the shapes? i know you said one of the is the Eb Major pentatonic. another is i'm assuming the minor pentatonic. not sure about the other 2?
They don't have names as far as I know, but I could definitely be wrong. The one starting on the C is the minor pentatonic shape, and like you mentioned, the one starting on Eb is the major pentatonic shape.
For the other ones though, it's just a matter of memorizing them however you like - whether that's through looking at the shapes visually or figuring them out through sound. It's totally up to you.
I know some people think about them in terms of 'big boxes' and 'little boxes'. For example, the 4th shape spread across all the strings (G and Bb on the E-string, C and Eb on the A-string, then F and G on the D-string, and Bb and C on the G-string) you can think of the E and A-strings forming a 'big box' and the D and G-strings forming a 'little box'.
So are pentatonic scales static? How would i transpose them if not? Ihave the shapes memorized but im not sure how to apply them to the key of the songs i play
It's the same shape across different keys the same way the major and natural minor scales are. Pentatonic scales are just broken down major/minor scales
You start the minor pentatonic from the key you're playing (D minor is the same thing started from 5th fret). If it's a major key start the rotation from major pentatonic rather than minor pentatonic.
Excellent, thank you Luke
This great Luke. TY.
Excellent just what I was looking for.