Using Triads to

create bass lines

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C Major Triad Fingering 2

Using Triads to Create Bass Lines (L#57)

Scott Devine

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Understanding triads will help you grow as a musician. Triads are chords inUnderstanding triads will help you grow as a musician. Triads are chords in

their most simplistic form. Remember, it's important to understand why we playtheir most simplistic form. Remember, it's important to understand why we play

the notes we do and not just play by ear. All it takes is a little practice and you'llthe notes we do and not just play by ear. All it takes is a little practice and you'll

get it. So get in the shed! get it. So get in the shed!

Scott Devine Scott Devine

Fingering 3

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"Start by keeping it simple""Start by keeping it simple"

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06:08

C Major Triad Full Bass Line

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Fingering 1

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Fingering 2

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09:02

C Minor Triad Full Bass Line

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Cmajor Triad D minor Triad E minor Triad D minor Triad Cmajor Triad

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11:46

Triads over chord progression

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Copyright © 2013 Scott’s Bass Lessons

Using Triads to Create Bass lines (L#57)

Your Action Plan

1. Your first step is to simply start viewing bass playingin a different way. Here's the thing. Great bassplayers are thinking about ‘chordal’ function, andtheir representation of the chords all the time. WhenI say 'chordal' I don't mean playing chords the way aguitar player would play them. A bass player mustuse the notes of the chord but instead of playing allthe notes at the same time, we need to play them ina more linear fashion, one note at a time. This is howbass players represent the chords within their basslines. Using linear chordal lines.

It was this realization that changed my approach as a bass player. Before, like many others I viewed bass lines to have only a supportive role to ‘chordal’ instruments such as guitarists and pianists. When I realized that bass players have the exact same job as guitarists and pianists, as in, our bass lines must represent the chords as they go by, it was a huge 'a-ha' moment for me. I then knew exactly what I needed to work on to be able to put this into action. Triad's, Arpeggios and chord tones!

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2. Next let's dig into the lesson. Familiarize yourselfwith the C major triad and C minor triad shapes.Once you have learned the shapes within the firstposition start to investigate other positions and see ifyou can create similar bass lines with those newshapes. Constantly experiment with differentrhythms too. Simply changing the rhythm can add somuch to a bass line.

3. And lastly. Listen to Motown. In fact, listen to JamesJameson! The bass lines that James Jameson playedon the old Motown records are simply some of thebest and well crafted bass lines you'll ever hear.Period.

He used a lovely mix of chord tones and chromatic approach notes (that we'll cover in other lessons), and his bass lines are a great example of how, as a bass player you can provide support to the rest of the band but at the same time represent the chords within the song.

I'd recommend making a study of James Jamesons' bass lines and really get into his playing style in a big way.

Scott Devine