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Bass Teaching Resources
The following is an alphabetical list of contents and NOT the order in which the material should be introduced to a student
1 neck 3 lines staff and tab bass
A blank four string neck with three short lines of Bass Clef Staff with TAB underneath. Ideal for using songs which rely on a few repeated patterns
Remember with the blanks you can write down your favourite examples and then scan or photocopy them. That way you always have a ready supply of the stuff that you are comfortable with. The examples that make sense for the way that you teach!
1 neck 4 lines tab bass
Blank four string neck this time with four lines of tab. Again useful for songs which rely on a couple of repeated phrases or for showing how different riffs can be created from a single scale etc.
2 short necks 2 lines tab bass
Ideal for demonstrating how riffs and phrases can be created from scales and arpeggios
6-9 Chords Alternative Position
Another way of playing the 6/9 arpeggio using four strings
Blank Four String Bass Neck
Exactly as described. A blank neck just waiting to be filled in with scales, chords and fingerings as you need them
Blank Bass Grid With Markers (5 String Low B)
A 5 string neck with a low B string
Blank Necks Four
Four blank necks from the nut to the 5th fret with a space above for a title to the page
Blank Necks Two
Two blank necks side by side from the nut to the 12th fret
C6 Arpeggio
Handout featuring tab, notation and two necks side by side featuring the notes, scale formulae and fingering for a C6 chord. Once the fingering etc has been learned then the shape can be moved all over the neck to create other 6th chord arpeggios
C7 Arpeggio
Tab, notation and two necks side by side featuring the notes, scale formulae and fingering for a C7 chord. Once the fingering etc has been learned then the shape can be moved all over the neck to create other dominant 7 chord arpeggios
C7b9 Arpeggio
Tab, notation and two necks side by side featuring the notes, scale formulae and fingering for a C7b9 chord. Once the fingering etc has been learned then the shape can be moved all over the neck to create other 7b9 chords
C9 Arpeggio
Tab, notation and two necks side by side featuring the notes, scale formulae and fingering for a C9 chord. Once the fingering etc has been learned then the shape can be moved all over the neck to create other 9 chord arpeggios
C 6-9 Arpeggio
Tab, notation and two necks side by side featuring the notes, scale formulae and fingering for a C6-9 chord. Once the fingering etc has been learned then the shape can be moved all over the neck to create other similar chord arpeggios
C add 9 Arpeggio
Tab, notation and two necks side by side featuring the notes, scale formulae and fingering for a C add9 chord. Again when this fingering has been mastered then the shape can be moved all over the neck to create other similar chords as required.
C Blues Scale Formula and Fingering
Two necks providing the scale formulae and fingering for a one octave C Blues Scale
C Major Scale Single Octave Formula and Fingering
Two necks illustrating the formulae and fingering for a one octave scale of C major
C major 9 Arpeggio
Tab, notation and two necks side by side featuring the notes, scale formulae and fingering for a Cmaj9 chord arpeggio. As with the other arpeggios when the fingering for this shape has been mastered then it can be moved all over the neck to create other similar chords as desired.
C Pentatonic Minor Scale. One Octave Formula and Fingering
Two necks side by side illustrating the formulae and fingering for the One Octave form of the C pentatonic minor scale.
Cm7 Arpeggio
Tab, notation and two necks side by side featuring the notes, scale formulae and fingering for a Cm7chord. Again when the fingering for this shape has been mastered then it can be repeated all over the neck to create other similar chords as required.
Cm7(b5) Arpeggio
Tab, notation and two necks side by side featuring the notes, scale formulae and fingering for a Cm7(b5) chord. As always when this shape has been mastered then it can be moved all over the neck to create other similar chords as required.
CMaj7 Arpeggio
Tab, notation and two necks side by side featuring the notes, scale formulae and fingering for a Cmaj7 chord. As always when this shape has been mastered then it can be moved all over the neck to create other similar chords as required.
Constructing Major Triads
A handout featuring three necks. The first neck shows a one octave C major scale. The second neck shows the notes of the scale again but this time with the root, third and fifth notes highlighted and the others faded out. The third and last neck shows those highlighted notes (the chord tones) only
Dorian Mode Two Octaves
Two necks showing the formulae and fingering for two octaves of the dorian mode
G Major Scale Two Octaves Sheet 1 Fingering Exercise
The first of three sheets concerned with developing correct fingering technique using two octave major scales. The exercise illustrates how get from the G to be found at the third fret of the E string to the G two octaves higher on the 12th fret of the G string. The pattern shows how to ascend on the A string.
G Major Scale Two Octaves Sheet 2 Fingering Exercise
The second handout designed to encourage correct fingering technique by using two octave major scales. The pattern shows how to ascend on the D string.
G Major Scale Two Octaves Sheet 3 Fingering Exercise
The third exercise this time ascending and descending on the G string.
Jumbo Staff And Tab 2 lines Bass
The “Jumbo” stuff is included because quite often an entire lesson needs to be built around just a few riffs or scales. The reality of this situation is that with conventionally proportioned manuscript or TAB paper you and your student often end up straining your eyes trying to make out what is written on the top line of an otherwise empty sheet of paper. The Jumbo sheets contain fewer lines of staff and/or tab but are quite simply bigger. No more eyestrain and a professional looking result. This stuff makes teaching (and learning) easier!
This example has two lines of bass clef with blank tab underneath
Jumbo Tab 3 lines 5 string bass
A single (landscape) sheet with three lines of 5 string big blank TAB on it
Jumbo Tab 3 lines Bass
As above but for a standard four string
Modes Aeolian one octave C Formula and Fingering
A one octave C Aeolian Mode. A representation of the neck is augmented by standard notation, scale formulae and tab.
Text is also provided pointing to the fact that the Aeolian mode is the same as a natural minor scale
Modes Dorian one octave C Formula and Fingering
A one octave C Dorian Mode. A representation of the neck is augmented by standard notation, scale formulae and tab
Text is also provided pointing to the fact that the Dorian mode can be regarded as being a natural minor scale with a raised sixth note
Modes Lydian one octave C Formula and Fingering
A one octave C Lydian Mode. A representation of the neck is augmented by standard notation and tab
Text is also provided pointing to the fact that the Lydian mode is the same as a major scale with a raised fourth note
Modes Mixolydian one octave C Formula and Fingering
A one octave C Mixolydian Mode. A representation of the neck is augmented by standard notation, tab and scale formulae. Information is also given with relation to the mode being regfarded as a major scale with a b7th note
Modes Phrygian one octave C Formula and Fingering
A one octave C Phrygian Mode. A representation of the neck is augmented by standard notation and tab
Text is also provided pointing to the fact that the Phrygian mode can be regarded as being a natural minor scale with a b2nd note
Moveable Blues Scales C To A Fingering
A handout illustrating the moveable nature of Blues Scales. The sheet features two necks. The first shows the correct fingering for a C Blues Scale (starting on the third fret of the A string) whilst the second concerns itself with an A Blues scale (starting on the fifth fret of the e string).
Moveable Dominant 7th Chords
Two necks showing how Dominant 7th shapes can be successfully transferred around the bass as required
Moveable Major 7th Chords
Two necks showing how Major 7th shapes can be successfully transferred around the bass
Moveable major Scales C Major to A Major
A handout featuring two necks designed to allow student’s to see how major scales can be transferred to other starting notes
Moveable Major Triads
A handout featuring two necks designed to allow student’s to see how basic major triads can be transferred to other starting notes
Moveable Natural Minor Scales Cm to Am
Another handout featuring two necks designed to allow student’s to see how scales can be transferred around the neck. This time minor scales are illustrated
Moveable Pentatonic Minor Scales C to A One Octave
The Pentatonic Minor Scale moved from one root note to another
Natural Minor Scales Cm Formula and Fingering
Formulae and fingering for a one octave C Natural Minor Scale
Note Finder First Five Frets
Invaluable handout letting students know the notes on all four strings up to the fifth fret
Scale In 3rds C Major Ascending
A fingering exercise designed to build basic technique. The left and right hand fingering along with standard notation and tab.
Scale In 3rds C Major Descending
A descending form of the above scale. Particularly useful for right hand technique
Scale In 6ths C Major
A great left hand workout as fingers always seem to be “going somewhere else” This chops builder encourages independent fretting hand finger movement and does not allow strong fingers to support weak ones.
Tab 8 Bars With Blank Neck
Eight bars of tablature and a blank neck!
Tab Full Page
Eight lines, each containing four bars of tab
Tab Three Sets Of 8 Bars
As described. Useful for providing variations on a theme.
Tab Two Sets of 12 Bars
Just made for the blues?
Two Octave Major Arpeggios graphic
A technique builder using the two octave G arpeggio (from the third fret of the E string to the twelfth fret of the G string). This one uses all four stings and some serious stretches.
Two Octave Minor Arpeggio
A technique builder using the two octave G minor arpeggio (from the third fret of the E string to the twelfth fret of the G string). This one uses all four stings and soas well as stretching the fingers students will benefit from compressing their fingers to accommodate position shifts on the neck.
Two Octave Minor Pentatonic Scale Gm
The two octave minor pentatonic scale explained with an exercise provided using all four strings and left hand position shifts.
Two Octave Natural Minor Scale Gm
The two octave natural minor scale explained with an exercise provided using all four strings and left hand position shifts.
Whole Tone Scale Of C One Octave
Scale formulae, tab, notation and two necks dealing with a single octave whole tone scale.