Applying Chord/Scale Theory Bass Tabs - Bass Lesson @ BigBassTabs.com

This tab illustrates how to apply chord scale theory.
After looking over the tab I posted a while back,
I realized that it's pretty hard to understand...
Mainly because there's no actual tabs.
We will Use G as the root for all of these examples.

Layout:

—Name
—Interval
—Notes
—Tab
—Timing

First, let's look at a common chord:

 |G Major         |
 |1   3   5   1   |
 |G   B   D   G   |
G|————————————————||
D|————————————5———||
A|————2———5———————||
E|3———————————————||
 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

Then let's look at scales that contain the intervals in the chord:

 |G Major Scale                     |G Lydian                         |
 |1  (2)  3  (4)  |5  (6) (7)  1    |1  (2)  3 (#4)  |5  (6) (7)  1   |
 |G   A   B   C   |D   E   F#  G    |G   A   B   C#  |D   E   F#  G   |
G|————————————————|————————————————||————————————————|————————————————||
D|————————————————|————2———4———5———||————————————————|————2———4———5———||
A|————————2———3———|5———————————————||————————2———4———|5———————————————||
E|3———5———————————|————————————————||3———5———————————|————————————————||
 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

 |G Mixolydian                      |G Major Pentatonic               |
 |1  (2)  3  (4)  |5  (6)(b7)  1    |1  (2)  3   5   (6)  1           |
 |G   A   B   C   |D   E   F   G    |G   A   B   D   |E   G           |
G|————————————————|————————————————||————————————————|————————————————||
D|————————————————|————2———3———5———||————————————————|2———5———————————||
A|————————2———3———|5———————————————||————————2———5———|————————————————||
E|3———5———————————|————————————————||3———5———————————|————————————————||
 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

Notice how all four scales contain the intervals 1,3 and 5.
If the scales do not contain these intervals, they will not work.

If the chord was a G minor:

 |G Minor         |
 |1  b3   5   1   |
 |G   Bb  D   G   |
G|————————————————||
D|————————————5———||
A|————————5———————||
E|3———6———————————||
 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

None of the scales listed above would work because the G minor has a Bb (b3)
and none of those scales have a b3 (Bb)...THEY HAVE 3 (B)!

Here are some scales that would work over Minor Chords:

 |G Aeolian (Natural Minor)         |G Dorian                         |
 |1  (2) b3  (4)  |5 (b6)(b7)  1    |1  (2) b3  (4)  |5  (6)(b7)  1   |
 |G   A   Bb  C   |D   Eb  F   G    |G   A   Bb  C   |D   E   F   G   |
G|————————————————|————————————————||————————————————|————————————————||
D|————————————————|————————3———5———||————————————————|————2———3———5———||
A|————————————3———|5———6———————————||————————————3———|5———————————————||
E|3———5———6———————|————————————————||3———5———6———————|————————————————||
 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

 |G Phrygian                        |G Minor Pentatonic               |
 |1 (b2) b3  (4)  |5 (b6)(b7)  1    |1  b3  (4)  5  (b7)  1           |
 |G   Ab  Bb  C   |D   Eb  F   G    |G   Bb  C   D   |F   G           |
G|————————————————|————————————————||————————————————|————————————————||
D|————————————————|————————3———5———||————————————————|3———5———————————||
A|————————————3———|5———6———————————||————————3———5———|————————————————||
E|3———4———6———————|————————————————||3———6———————————|————————————————||
 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

Notice that all of these scales contain b3...not 3.
This is what makes them work over minor chords...NOT MAJOR CHORDS!

You might be asking yourself: "What about the other notes in these scales!?"
The rest of the notes in the scale become "colors."
Since the chords we've looked at are only specific to 1,3 and 5, (or 1,b3 and 5)
You have the liberty to use these "colors."
If the Chord became more specific, for example: any Major 7 chord,
Then you would have to make sure any scale you use contains 1,3,5 AND 7

Here's what I mean:

 |G Major 7       |
 |1   3   5   7   |
 |G   B   D   F#  |
G|————————————————||
D|————————————4———||
A|————2———5———————||
E|3———————————————||
 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

These three scales from before (That work over Major Chords) still work:

 |G Major Scale                     |G Lydian                         |
 |1  (2)  3  (4)  |5  (6)  7   1    |1  (2)  3 (#4)  |5  (6)  7   1   |
 |G   A   B   C   |D   E   F#  G    |G   A   B   C#  |D   E   F#  G   |
G|————————————————|————————————————||————————————————|————————————————||
D|————————————————|————2———4———5———||————————————————|————2———4———5———||
A|————————2———3———|5———————————————||————————2———4———|5———————————————||
E|3———5———————————|————————————————||3———5———————————|————————————————||
 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

 |G Major Pentatonic               |
 |1  (2)  3   5   (6)  1           |
 |G   A   B   D   |E   G           |
G|————————————————|————————————————||
D|————————————————|2———5———————————||
A|————————2———5———|————————————————||
E|3———5———————————|————————————————||
 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
 
Notice how The G Mixolydian Scale is not in this group any more.
That is because The Mixolyian Scale has a b7...NOT 7! 

Any Major Chord with a b7 would be considered a dominant 7th chord:

 |G domiant 7     |
 |1   3   5  b7   |
 |G   B   D   F   |
G|————————————————|
D|————————————3———|
A|————2———5———————|
E|3———————————————|
 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

Here are some scales that work over dominant 7th chords:

 |G Mixolydian                      |G Phrygian Dominant              |
 |1  (2)  3  (4)  |5  (6) b7   1    |1 (b2)  3  (4)  |5 (b6) b7   1   |
 |G   A   B   C   |D   E   F   G    |G   Ab  B   C   |D   Eb  F   G   |
G|————————————————|————————————————||————————————————|————————————————||
D|————————————————|————2———3———5———||————————————————|————————3———5———||
A|————————2———3———|5———————————————||————————2———3———|5———6———————————||
E|3———5———————————|————————————————||3———4———————————|————————————————||
 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |  

 |G Lydian Dominant                 |G Major Pentatonic               |
 |1  (2)  3 (#4)  |5  (6) b7   1    |1  (2)  3   5   (6)  1           |
 |G   A   B   C#  |D   E   F   G    |G   A   B   D   |E   G           |
G|————————————————|————————————————||————————————————|————————————————||
D|————————————————|————2———3———5———||————————————————|2———5———————————||
A|————————2———4———|5———————————————||————————2———5———|————————————————||
E|3———5———————————|————————————————||3———5———————————|————————————————||
 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

Notice how the Major Pentatonic Scale works over both Major 7 and Dominant 7.
That is because the Major Pentatonic Scale does not have any kind of 7.
It's not really the best scale to use...but it does work.

I Hope that the information covered in this tab has been uefull.
This tab only covers the most basic examples of chord/scale theory.
This theory can become very elaborate/complicated.
As dense as it is, it is a very usefull tool to have in your musical kit.

Hopefully this explains any unanswered questions from my other tab.
Maybe now you can go back and go through my other chord/scale theory tab,
and make some sense of it.
Please Message me for any questions.

Thanks,
—Just3boyz

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! 🎸

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Bass Lesson — Applying Chord/Scale Theory bass tabs