'Zero-Scale' Bass Solos: How To Start Improvising On Bass [No Scales Needed]

Taking bass solos; improvising on bass - it can be scary, right?!? Nobody wants to take a bass solo and sound like a fool, but how do you even get started? Is it even possible to learn how to improvise on bass?

Do you have to learn a whole bunch of scales that don't make sense? Do you learn all of the arpeggios and use the notes in them? Do you just use the roots of the chords? Or just play the same bass line you've been playing the entire song?

No! You don't have to do any of these. In fact, there's a simple way you can start taking beautiful simple bass solos that you KNOW are going to sound good. You're guaranteed to never get lost and you can be sure that you'll never hit a wrong note.

After all, improvising on bass is supposed to be fun, right!? Using the method in this video will take all the stress out of it so you can have a ball making up your own bass solos and have the confidence to do it over and over again.

Now while you don't NEED to know any scales to improvise on bass, they can certainly help you to create more complex and more interesting bass solos.

It can be so confusing navigating all the scales and modes - especially if you're just starting out. That's why I created the Ultimate Guide To The Modes For Bass. It will show you exactly what you can play in nearly any situation, without confusing you with technical jargon. Having just a little bit of this knowledge can take your bass solos to the next level.

The guide also comes with 24 practice tracks you can use today to start your journey towards mastery over the modes and learn how to improvise on bass. To get started, just sign up right here:

The guide will be sent straight to your inbox.

Of course if you have any questions about the lesson, just let me know. I'd be more than happy to help out.

Good luck and happy bass soloing!

Cheers,

Luke

P.S. The track that was used in this lesson can be found right here:

[ckdwwmv]

Long time bass player and I say salute to you for taking the mystery out of good solos

[jhay]

"Playing wrong notes gets everyone's attention"
-Victor W.

[samstar]

Out of all the bass lessons on YouTube Yours have been the best Quality and most helpful

[emohawk]

at last someone who makes sense without confusing things (without feeding cats or talking to much about something completely different(sorry scott your amazing at bass but drag things out)) everything you say makes sense and isn't intimidating at all. taking out the stress of scales means a bassist can progress and get there as and when their ready while getting the confidence needed to move forward. good job buddy

[neildavidmorris]

What an eye opener, thanks a million Luke. Now I feel like I can become a bass player, a musician even, and achieve my ambition to play jazz. What an inspiration.

[timlorenz]

Luke, you've really helped me take my playing to new levels. I had to laugh on the second example, the "delayed melody". It's one of the only times I've seen your "bass face". We all have one. Mine is comical, frankly. But it always shows up when I'm concentrating really hard. Thanks for showing me that even seasoned pros, still strive to crush a groove. Cheers!

[jplater]

Love this lesson and your humility, being able to laugh about making mistakes while learning!

[davidreichert]

To be honest, I prefer bass solos where the bassist still keeps the groove.

[nick]

2:30 "We're not going to use any of this, at all" Thank God!! :D

[holdencaustic]

You’re a great teacher-great delivery, and you take what others would complicate, and simplify it- great channel!!

[richardchristensen]

Thank God
I've gotten so frustrated looking for the right bass lesson channel and had been watching another very popular ( full of suck up subscribers and comments) teacher whom spazzingly yacks your ears off for the first 3/4 of the video about nothing to do with learning bass which damn near had me ready to smash my bass into my iPad or stoke the fire pit!!
2 minutes into your lesson I have happily subscribed! Thanks for your content! I am again Whew!!

[jurgenhuman]

Thank you for this video. I've been guilty of overthinking it. It's such a great tip to just revert back to the original melody. You can embellish and play around the melody easier than you can think of chordal tones of each bar. It makes it more organic too, rather than just a mathematical solo

[iAlberto]

This approach was super useful to know which notes to play and then remixing them. Thank you!

[annetee]

What a bunch of cool ideas to work with! I will try them immidiately.. Thank you so much!

[ALTheFreeMan]

Thank you for this video!! Tonight at church, I was put on the spot for the first time in my short bass playing career. I just kept playing the bass line, lol, but next time I’ll be ready!!

[andresquintana]

Thanks Luke for another lesson that makes Bass playing much easier

[alonsolazz]

Great work and inspiration, am an intermediate bass player. I can identify with your advice, actually after all this theory we learn, the most appealing this we can do is to have a great melody going.

[nicgundy]

Interesting; when I did a run through of a guitar on scales when I was 13, it helped know where every note’s at on the fretboard. Ever since that day improv has been a strong suit & best friend to my playing today!!

[williamsederholm]

Thanks for these vids, Luke. I knew some of these concepts but this s great, real-world stuff that I can use within days.

[selfactualizer]

Wooten: if you hit the wrong note, either add it to the loop; or move up/down just 1 fret and you're back in key