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Bass Lesson — 1 string scale! bass tabs

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Bass Lesson - 1 string scale! Bass Tab Bass Lesson - 1 string scale! Bass Tab


(submitted by just3boyz) 
This lesson is going to focus on playing a Major Scale…
on one string!

Why would we do that?
simple…
helps you learn the fretboard
helps you see the scale in new ways (making you more creative!)

Here’s the G Major Scale:
 |G   A   B   C   |D   E   F#  G   |G   F#  E   D   |C   B   A   G   |
G|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|

D|————————————————|————2———4———5———|5———4———2———————|————————————————|

A|————————2———3———|5———————————————|————————————5———|3———2———————————|

E|3———5———————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————5———3———|

 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |


Here’s The G Major Scale on the E String: 
  |G   A   B   C   |D   E   F#  G   |G   F#  E   D   |C   B   A   G  |
 G|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

 D|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

 A|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

 E|3———5———7———8———|10——12——14——15——|15——14——12——10——|8———7———5———3——|

  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +| 
LH:2   4   1   2    4   1   3   4    4   3   1   4    2   1   4   2

(Using the proper left hand fingers will help a lot!)

Here’s the G Major Scale on the A String:
  |B   C   D   E   |F#  G   A   B   |B   A   G   F#  |E   D   C   B  |
 G|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

 D|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

 A|2———3———5———7———|9———10——12——14——|14——12——10——9———|7———5———3———2——|
 E|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|
  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +|
LH:1   2   4   1    3   4   1   3    3   1   4   3    1   4   2   1

Here’s the G Major Scale on the D string:
  |D   E   F#  G   |A   B   C   D   |D   C   B   A   |G   F#  E   D  |
 G|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

 D|0———2———4———5———|7———9———10——12——|12——10——9———7———|5———4———2———0——|

 A|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

 E|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +|
LH:0   1   3   4    1   1   2   4    4   2   1   1    4   3   1   0

Here’s the G Major Scale on the G string:
  |G   A   B   C   |D   E   F#  G   |G   F#  E   D   |C   B   A   G  |
 G|0———2———4———5———|7———9———11——12——|12——11——9———7———|5———4———2———0——|

 D|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

 A|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

 E|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +|
LH:0   1   3   4    1   1   3   4    4   3   1   1    4   3   1   0
*Challenge: try finding ALL THE NOTES in G major on each string*

Once we play each scale on each individual string,
we can start to experiment with chords!

G major Scale on the D and G String (3rds):

G|0———————2———————|4———————5———————|7———————9———————|11——————12—————|

D|2———————4———————|5———————7———————|9———————10——————|12——————14—————|

A|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

E|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +|

G major Scale on the D and G String (4ths):

G|0———————2———————|4———————5———————|7———————9———————|11——————12—————|

D|0———————2———————|4———————5———————|7———————9———————|10——————12—————|

A|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

E|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +|

G major Scale on the D and G String (5ths):

G|2———————4———————|5———————7———————|9———————11——————|12——————14—————|

D|0———————2———————|4———————5———————|7———————9———————|10——————12—————|

A|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

E|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +|

G major Scale on the A and G String (6ths):

G|0———————2———————|4———————5———————|7———————9———————|11——————12—————|

D|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

A|2———————3———————|5———————7———————|9———————10——————|12——————14—————|

E|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +|

G major Scale on the E and G String (10ths):

G|4———————5———————|7———————9———————|11——————12——————|14——————16—————|

D|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

A|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|———————————————|

E|3———————5———————|7———————8———————|10——————12——————|14——————15—————|

 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +|

This are just a very few of the many combinations you can do!
experiment and have fun! 
you’ll find some really cool stuff!

as well as being a creative exercise,
playing these chords also helps you see the notes in a new way,
which will also help you become more familiar with the fretbord!

I encourage you to do this stuff in all 12 keys!
pick ONE KEY PER DAY and just find all the notes on each string!
then experiment!
this kind of practice makes learning all the keys fun and interesting!

please give me constructive criticism!
thanks!
—Just3boyz
Tablature player for this song:
Bass Lesson - 1 string scale! Bass Tab

How to Read Bass Tabs

Bass tablature (tabs) is an easy way to learn songs without needing to read traditional sheet music. Here’s a quick guide to understanding the symbols and techniques commonly found in tabs:

1. The Basics

  • Strings and Frets:

    Each line in a tab represents a string on your bass:

    • The top line is the highest-pitched string (G on a 4-string bass).
    • The bottom line is the lowest-pitched string (E on a 4-string bass).

    Numbers on the lines indicate which fret to press. For example:

    G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|---3---------------|
E|-------------------|

    This means you play the 3rd fret on the A string.

2. Common Techniques

  • Hammer-On (h):

    Play the first note by picking it, then press down on a higher fret with another finger without picking again.

    G|-------------------|
D|-------5h7---------|
  • Pull-Off (p):

    Pluck a note and then "pull off" your finger to let a lower fret ring.

    G|-------------------|
D|-------7p5---------|
  • Slide (/ or \):

    Move your finger up (/) or down (\) the fretboard while maintaining pressure.

    G|-------------------|
D|-------5/7---------|

3. Advanced Techniques

  • Bend (b): Push the string up or down to raise the pitch. Example: G|-------7b9---------|
  • Vibrato (~): Shake the string slightly after playing a note to create a vibrating sound. Example: G|-------7~----------|
  • Muted Notes (x): Rest your finger lightly on the string without pressing a fret and pluck for a percussive "click" sound.

4. Rhythm and Timing

Tabs don’t always indicate timing, so listen to the song while reading the tab. Wider spaces between numbers mean longer pauses, while closer numbers indicate quicker notes.

5. Slap and Pop

  • Slap (s): Strike the string with the side of your thumb for a percussive sound.
  • Pop (p): Pull the string away from the fretboard and let it snap back.

Practice Makes Perfect

Tabs are a great tool to learn songs, but mastering the techniques takes practice. Listen carefully to the original track and play along to lock in the rhythm. Don’t rush — smooth, accurate playing is more important than speed. Happy jamming! 🎸

Comments

Whyyouwannakillme
8 years, 3 months ago
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Hey, Just3boyz. Thanks for another great lesson. Been trying this so far only with C and G major scales, found some useful things, like when playing note of G scale on D string and fifth on G string, it gives you more of a chord type sound and it is easier to play around with different chord progressions and see what their approximate sound and feel would be. I guess there are a lot more useful things could be done with 1 string scales, it is just one i found useful so far. And of course it helps learning notes on the deck which is always great.
I see that you have loads of different lessons, will be working through them step by step, good job man.

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