How to Master the Fingerboard (like the Pro's) with Felix Pastorius

In this lesson I’ve got a VERY special guest with me.

The one and only, Felix Pastorius.

Yep… I’m guessing you’ve at least heard of that surname before ;)

In this lesson Felix is going to teach you:
- How he approached learning he fretboard in a really deep and methodical way
- Why he uses symmetry in order to organise his fretboard
- Why he uses 3 note per string scale groupings
- How to NOT make the number one soloing mistake most bass players make
- And way more juicy bass shenanigans…

If you’re ready to start levelling up your bass playing, you know what to do! ;)

As always, see you in the shed…

Scott :)

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[gonzajs]

"Just do the work" best advice ever

[robertcarlclayton]

Love this! In '81 or '82 I saw Jaco play in the back parking lot of Musicians Exchange in Ft. Lauderdale. Mid song someone came out & whispered to Jaco. He stopped playing & exclaimed "my wife just gave birth!". I think he said twins. He then ripped thru the most amazing bass run I have ever heard!

[martinheath]

Props to Felix. That's some hard act to follow and he's found his own way to do it brilliantly. Great stuff!

[RJRonquillo]

Yeah Felix!! We used to jam together in Miami Beach way back in the day, i think he was 19 or 20 at the time. I still have recordings of some of the gigs on Mini Disc.

[eyeofbass]

Felix seems like a nice, down-to-Earth guy, and what a talent. Jaco would be proud.

[malicant]

That major arpeggio over the minor chord sounds so cool.

[Phaser]

Arpeggios... *heavy breathing intensifies*

[alessandroborghese]

Never heard of him and i'm completely blown away, man he is amazing

[franktalarico]

Glad he uses a six. No one better use that "jaco only needed four" line anymore

[FidgetTheMidgetP]

Scott: "Don't look for shortcuts; do the work" Also Scott: *5-10 videos with "shortcuts" to learning the fingerboard*

[brettmarlar]

I think the reason behind so many bass players gravitate toward the root when launching into a solo, is that after we've been supporting everyone else all night, and suddenly when it's our turn everything else just drops out. So for us to start on something that isn't the tonic, sounds glaringly wrong to the non-musician types in the room. Now if we had something under lying our solo that gives continuity to the progression, I think more bassists would be more willing to seemingly go "outside" in this manner. Just my 2 cents.

[sitizenkanemusic]

Hey Scott. I like to consider myself pretty advanced in music theory (going to apply for my doctorate in the fall).

What Felix is talking about the iii/III and vi/VI degree modulations (flats or natural)- that's called the chromatic mediant- and they can be SUPER EFFECTIVE when approached the right way.

Quick and simple lesson- when thinking of a chord progression for a musical phrase in the key of C Major, you can either modulate to these triads/scales- a Major/minor third UP, which is E-flat (Major or minor), or E (Major or minor), or go a third backwards and play A (Major or minor) or A-flat (Major or minor).

Beethoven often did it in his music, which was a huge reason the Romantic Era spawned from the Classical era in terms of technique.
Love your videos!
Cheers!

[jimle]

I lived in Melbourne, Florida a few years ago and had the pleasure of meeting and seeing David Pastorius perform, Jaco's nephew. An awesome bassist in his on right also. Think the name of his band was 951 or something like that. Runs in the family I guess.

[modulationmusiclibrary]

I watch this video constantly, such a great breakdown of amazing things you hear in jazz. Different movements, and of course, do the work!

[merqury]

Im not really a proper bassist, but even if I wasn't at all I would still watch your fascinating interviews.

[stuartholme]

Stop looking for shortcuts and just do the work. That is TRUE GOLD right there. If there were any shortcuts that actually worked, they would just be "the way" rather than being a shortcut.

[brianwilliams]

Been playing for the better part of 25 years (theres a long hiatus in there).
Never did the work earlier on. Now I'm scrapping everything I thought I knew and starting over... this time, Just doing to work:
Learn the frettboard
Learn the scales
Learn the arpegios
Learn the chords
but most importantly,
PRACTICE! Every. Single. Day.
💪 😎 👍

[gazells]

The bit about avoiding the root blew my mind. Thank you Scott + Felix!

[TheJazzmoose]

This video alone is worth a £40 bass lesson. Thanks Scott for all that you do

[jodyhendrix]

Awesome video, absolutely love the tips on staying away from the root!