The perfect style for beginner bass?!

Ska

Ska bass lines are always melodic, interesting and just about the best demonstrations out there for the application of chord tones, and how they work in outlining a progression.

So, if you’re learning a little theory or harmony and you’re wondering how arpeggios (specifically triads), can help you with jamming or creating a bass line, then this is the style for you!

Message To You Rudy

This song by The Specials is actually a cover of a traditional Rock Steady track. This is in the Key of C Major and as you can see from the notation below, there’s a rest on beat 3 in bars 1 and 3. This rest is then moved to beat 2 in bars 2 and 4.

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One Step Beyond

This Madness classic has a busier feel and is in the Key of C minor outlining the chord progression. The whole bass line is built all aroud arpeggios, this line moves between the Major and minor triads.

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Lip Up Fatty

This much busier bass line by Bad Manners again features the use of Major and minor triads throughout. There are two ways of playing this line, you can either play it with or without the use of open strings.

Practice Track:

With Open Strings

Without Open Strings

Night Boat To Cairo

This the main verse riff to this Madness hit and again this is all based on Major and minor arpeggios outlining the chord progression, which based on a Phrygian Dominant scale.

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Hand’s Off She’s Mine

This song by The Beat is the trickiest of the bunch as it’s filled with 16th notes and tricky offbeats throughout, so take your time on this one!

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