The ‘3 Rule Fretboard Formula’ to Master the Bass

Learning the fretboard is one of the simplest steps you can take to elevate your bass playing. It can seem pretty daunting when you first start thinking about all those notes, on all those frets, on all four strings! But it doesn’t have to be that way…

In today’s video, I’m going to show you 3 secret shapes that you can use to totally unlock your fretboard. We’re also giving you a free PDF workbook with all the bass tab and notation, so you can have each shape nailed to the wall in no time!

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Video Breakdown:

00:00 - Introduction
00:38 - The Epidemic
01:03 - The Three Key Areas of the Fingerboard
01:47 - The 3x Major Triad Shapes
02:02 - Second Finger Form
03:01 - First Finger Form
03:40 - Fourth Finger Form
03:52 - Exercise #1 - Zone 1 (Frets 1 - 5)
07:18 - Exercise #2 - Zone 2 (Frets 5 - 9)
09:18 - Exercise #3 - Zone 3 (Frets 8 - 12)
11:05 - Exercise #4 - All The Way Up the Fingerboard
12:48 - Summary

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[BYLRPhil]

Ian is my hero for playing a Squire instead of some super vintage/artisan unicorn.

[MONARDAMUSIC]

Oh man.. Scott’s 70’s jazz bass is to die for 🤤

[krzmi]

that is by far one of the best way of learning how different chords work together in different places on the fretboard! combining it with minor, diminished, etc. feels like really unlocking it. Do more of these!

One thing you could follow up on is to find an exercise to combine chords in the same key in different positions to kind of lock in these harmonic relations

[rome]

I'm liking the skits you've been starting the videos with lately. In general, Scott's chemistry with Ian is awesome. Sharon and Ian also have great chemistry, tbf.

[mrash]

wow that Squire of Ian's looks great!

[Aliveinloma]

Been "using" SBL since 2010 or so, I really like what it has become now.
I never learned theory but had some success playing clubs and events. I've since become visually impaired and no longer play out.
I am now interested in "learning" my instrument from scratch. I receive no income, so will not be signing up for your courses, but find you offer a ton of free stuff. Thank you for all you do for the bass community.

[Sinista-Beatz]

I have a customized Raspy Spectpr Legend 5 Standard Wth a HipShot KickA$$ Bridge Hipshot Treble Tuners and Factory Bass side tuners
I've played on and off for almost 38. years so what I do is just play every fret
I start from B -> C -> C# --> D // E -> F -> F# -> G /// So On...
Index Middle Ring Pinky (Repeat Across BEADG) All The Way Down Starting again at the top of the next descending scale
until I hit the 24 and I pick spots
Where I'm having trouble and go back and forth 12 times Going faster and faster

I do this for up to an hour
Then I practice songs and explore the board

This is the most Classic Formula described in this video; You learn where the notes repeat etc.
One string scales etc

[yaroslavtkachenko]

Thanks Guys! That'a an amazing exercise for understanding the fretboard

[maco]

you guys make a great duo, no ego, just vibes.

[andrewloya]

Just started lessons after 13 years of playing. Always knew about the "cycle" but never understood how to utilize it correctly. This practice is my instructors number one daily routine for me. Thank you for adding this little challenging tidbit to my brain hole!!
#SBLOVE

[paulrevere]

For the first position, I found it easiest to learn how to walk down the fifths by themselves first. There is a nice pattern to it.

Staring from c then: up one string, back and down two frets, up one string again. This is all basically a square.

Then jump to A minor and repeat the square. Then jump to E and repeat the square.

After learning that descending circle of fifths, adding the arpegeggios was actually pretty easy.

[brianstidd]

This triad exercise is something I play everyday as a warmup. It really does work. Aslo the 3 finger position for the scales really opened it up for me. SBL is the best 🤘

[lewisgreenhowe]

I can't believe brother Scott and Ian, how well-rounded you guys execute the lessons, beautiful my Bass Brothers

[VictorDulaney]

I absolutely love love love this video! I’m definitely downloading the PDF and adding this to my warm up routine. Thank you for all the information and value you add to the bass community. I’m already apart of multiple accelerator programs on the SBL network. It never ceases to amaze, every time I jump on YouTube SBL has another amazing video posted.

[ManoBey]

Nice thanks for the exercise!! As a visual learner it'd be great if you guys could incorporate the visual aid at the same time we go through the exercise :-)

[johng]

I just got a 6 string bass after years of playing 4 string and have been using this extended to 2 octaves, combining 2 finger forms in each position, to get more comfortable with the fingerboard.

[essenzale]

Hi Im taking english classes and just found your channel im a begginner bass player and I will star to learn with u

[ember]

i got a bass 5 days ago and this is the first thing i'm doing. i can play all the natural notes up to the 5th fret. today i'm going to work on the flat/sharp notes.

[paulhine]

Great video, the humour works well and has more than a hint of truth behind it. Bookmarking this one

[timothysmith]

the best thing anyone can do is to take the FRETBOARD ACCELERATOR course.... I did and it was amazing. I am not a professional or anything but the course really opened up the fretboard with the triad exercises and the continuous movement exercises.. this vid seems to be a minute part of that course.. please consider.. you will NOT regret it.