Ways to practice scales

This method is general - applies to all scales:

When practicing start reeeeeeeeeeally slow - its important that the notes sound long, full and clear.

You will then also have the perfect coordination between both your hands - when plucking the strings with the right hand (presuming you’re righthanded), the left hand fingers will move accordingly in sync

If starting out or generally playing to fast / beyond your actual ability, the notes will sound choppy, out of sync and generally just awfull.

Tip! For practicing slow, practice the scales as walking basslines (one note per beat)

You should practice the scales all over the fretboard, from the lowest note to the highest.

Try to memorize the note names while you’re at it (playing ot slow will definately help), playing scales are not only for building lightning speed but more important - knowledge of where the notes are on the bass, which notes to play over chords and progressions (the sequence of chords also known as songs)

You should practice your scales in many variations, not just going up and down, you must remember that you want to end up playing music, creating great basslines and hopefully great solos or at least nice fills

When you practice your scales (or chords and arppegios), remember to make them sound musical, alter the directions of the scale, vary the dynamics - go from soft to loud, imagine playing them for an audience (who wants to hear music not exercises)

Play the scales using different intervals, sequences (groups of notes)…

Here’s some inspiration using the A major scale:

 
icon for podpress  Practicing the scale in thirds up and down: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (4525)
icon for podpress  In fourths up and down: (Protected Content)
icon for podpress  Fifths: (Protected Content)
icon for podpress  Sixths: (Protected Content)
icon for podpress  Arppeggio up scale down: (Protected Content)

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bass6 said,


January 6, 2009 @ 1:08 pm

Hi marlow txn for give to us all this information…is great to keep learning…GOD bless u..
happy 2009. U are a exelent bassist.

3-d said,


January 6, 2009 @ 5:11 am

Hello Marlowe.
I just joined the website thanks to the videos in youtube. I have a question though. Do you prefer to play slap on a p-bass or just any bass? (for example a jazz bass). Are there any differences in sound and punch?
Thank you for your time.

chrisdavid42 said,


November 23, 2008 @ 6:53 am

great website. Keep it up.

normansanders said,


November 20, 2008 @ 6:15 am

IVE BEEN PLAYING FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR I PLAY WIT A KEYBORD PLAYER HE TRANSPOS A LOT CAN YOU TEL ME HOW DO I GO ABOUT PLAYING WIT HIM THANKS MARLOW HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
Learn the scale degrees as numbers Root is 1 , second is 2, third is 3 etc.
Then you have a easier time transposing and after all as bass players its relatively easy for us to transpose songs - we just move our hands to a new position on the neck - cant do that on ie a keyboard

major_bass said,


October 25, 2008 @ 7:09 pm

Just became a new member, love your playing dude. For me your next to Victor Wooten.
Appreciate your support, but cmon - im just an ok bassplayer on the net teachin bass!!

Jeremiah said,


September 25, 2008 @ 8:12 pm

Hey marlowe im new to this webpage,so i just wanna know…im kinda having difficulty learning every note in a maybe a certain scale…any advice?cos i dun wanna be disable as such…memorise them or shld i sing along to the scales or wat?hit me back

thank you
Memorize the major scale and more important the intervals of the scale root,second, third, fourth, fifth…
good beginner advise onstudybass.com
And singing is Always good

DBass said,


September 3, 2008 @ 4:17 pm

Great stuff, many thanks Marlowe.

macflapalicious said,


September 1, 2008 @ 6:09 am

Hi Marlowe,
Can you explain some of the basic theory behind practing and playing scales in thirds, fifths, etc. thanks

p1ppl said,


August 25, 2008 @ 7:47 pm

Hi Marlow, just joined the site after seeing your YouTube Vids - Excellent!

Any chance on some guidance about setting amplifiers etc to get different sounds?

Bullet said,


August 23, 2008 @ 12:22 am

Hi Marlow,

I’ve been playing bass now for two years. I am so glad to have found your site. Love your playing style. I have learned a lot from playing at my church with the pianist. He has taught me lot of different of chord progressions. I do not get the chance to shed with other bass players. Through just watching you, I have enhanced my chops. Thanks a lot for what you do.

NCPHIL

simonj said,


August 15, 2008 @ 10:07 pm

This is a great set of interesting practice scales Marlowe, Thanks

rebelsean said,


August 15, 2008 @ 6:07 pm

Hi marlow hope you are well, is there any chance that you would have a tab or the scales on down load so i can pratice ?? thanks Sean


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