Using SHAPES to create INCREDIBLE Bass Lines (Noob to Badass)

Not all bass lines are created equal! In this video, we’re going to explore the process of creating a great bass line. These aren’t exactly bass player secrets, but techniques that can be recycled and reimagined whenever you write your own riffs. We’ve also got note-for-note snippets of each idea so you can see exactly what we’re playing. You get the idea! So let’s get started…

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Video Breakdown:

00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - The Chord Sequence
02:00 - Ian’s Writing Process
06:09 - Shape #1 - The Box
06:45 - Shape #2 - The Not-Box
07:10 - Shape #3 - The Little L
08:20 - Utilising The Entire Fretboard
09:40 - Practice Tips
11:24 - Using ‘The Box’ In Practice
18:45 - Chromaticism
23:20 - Rhythm, Chord Tones & Chromatics
25:48 - Displacing The Chords
28:00 - Summary

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#bassguitarlessons #bassshapes #easybasslines

[apostlezairemthomas]

One of the best lessons I’ve heard so far!

[st-voxv]

I love when you guys work together like this. I feel like I’m in the shed with you. This is really good core teaching to help jump start people. It’s great to see you guys playing unedited so we can see your human too. You guys together are magic. Thank you! ❤

[abentevent]

This was elevating to watch for me. I recently picked bass up after a 20 year histus, and i never was even good at it. But ive learned so much by just playing what sounds good. I understand time signatures and real, real basic note stuff, but ive got a good ear and a sense of rythm. I found these shapes and have just been playing with them, and im proud of how far ive come, and that my intuition led me on the right path.

[GrahamSharpe-yv]

I just learned more about playing bass in half an hour than I have in years. Thank you.

[robertmolin]

40 years drummer here, no longer playing due to back problems. 4 years playing (trying) bass. 2 years wondering why I can't improvise on the bass like I do on drums "why can't I get this? Why does anything other than learning riffs and scales seem impossible?" UNTIL NOW!!! Thank you so much guys! You gave me new hope and energy with this video. Question, what happens when we change the chords? If we no longer play CADG, I guess the "box" (rectangle) no longer works and we need to revert to the non-box?

[Monkeywrench]

I wish my h.s. and college music theory classes were even a fraction as fun as these guys make it. Awesome video guys.

[thomaseast]

As a guitarist learning bass, this is the best lesson ive seen.

[alancarlton]

I love how all this teaching ties together. Been through the fretboard accelerator class in the last couple of years and this just confirms a lot of what I've been doing since. Thanks so much you two! Last thing. Somewhere in your text, you should (at least from time to time) tell the audience what you're playing and maybe even more about your rig. It looks like Scott is playing an F bass there (absolutely too gorgeous to be legal!!) but what model. Doesn't need to be a bunch of words, but something would be awesome. Thanks again!! SBL student for life.

[andyletissier]

Gents this has to be one of the best videos of this type .... would love to see more of this

[shanealleman]

I've been following SBL for a couple years now and learned so much from both you guys. I enjoyed this teaching a lot. Nothing like good simple basics that many bass players today skip entirely. I appreciate you guys and what you do.

[glaucocarminucci]

I've always wondered how great bass players can cut through different lines without dispelling the vibe. Those look like functional and enjoyable exercises to add to my daily routine! Thank you so much; I love this kind of content.

[PAULMCMILLAN-wphc]

Fantastic. I’m a senior with mild arthritis in my hands, but with this technique, I feel I can be more creative without ending up with aching fingers.

[pronerone]

I’ve just started playing bass. So everything that you do seems so logical and clear yet feels like magic 💖🙃

[AndreHodgesFurniture]

Loved this content, so organic and really useful tips for us who would return a blank stare at the band member suggesting augmented seventh chords in the next jam.

[emmiejonesmusic]

LOVED this video. YES, please, more of this.

[jamiewalters]

This video, is the best bass lesson ever. We need more like this....excellent.

[wsellers]

"GROOVE IS IN THE HEART!" ....in the fingers too! --- Great video folks! :)

[crazy_good_media]

This was so helpful and informative. I feel like I actually understand what you’re talking about. Thank you for this!

[lheggestad]

Awesome! I realized that adding the 3rd turns the box shape into a major pentatonic. Or, if you're thinking of the the box as a minor then you're adding the fifth. Either way, starting with those 4 notes makes it so much easier to understand pentatonics!

[JoolsParker]

This demystifies what you see some YT Bass players doing when they're doing a cover or something. Their fingers are doing things that you can't work out, but I'm guessing a lot of it will be along these lines - using shapes on the fretboard, and then adding different types of complexities on top. Nice work boys, I liked this one a lot.