Bass Lessons - Warm Up's bass tab
I used to play for a band, and before gigs i would need to warm up
my fingers, however my old warm up techniques were not sufficient.
So i made up these warm ups and i use them and rely on them. Plus
long time use has made me a better player.
Warm Up One: Finger Independiences
Goal: To get your fretting hand closer to the fretboard and allow
you to move each finger on that hand independently.
Note: These are all whole notes. To do this excerise you need
to place all your fingers on the frets 9, 10, 11, and 12 on the G
string. Then when you strike a note on the D string move only the
finger that corresponds to the fret (EX: strike the 9th fret
on D with your index finger, fret 10 is middle, etc). Hold the
rest of the fingers down while you alternate using two fingers
at a time.
For anyone who is confused here is an example:
G----------
D-9-10-9-10
A----------
E----------
In this case you would keep your ring and pinkie fingers on the
11th and 12th frets on the G string while alternating between
the index and middle finger on the D string keeping the finger
that is not being used elevated to avoid hitting the wrong note.
Warm up (Tabs):
G-------------------
D-9----10----9----10
A------------------- X8
E-------------------
G-------------------
D-9----11----9----11
A------------------- X8
E-------------------
G-------------------
D-9----12----9----12
A------------------- X8
E-------------------
G----------------------
D-10----11----10----11-
A---------------------- X8
E----------------------
G-----------------------
D-10----12----10----12--
A----------------------- X8
E-----------------------
G-----------------------
D-11----12----11----12--
A----------------------- X8
E-----------------------
Warm up Two: Box
Goal: To build speed while moving on the fretboard.
Note: Practice slowly and build up speed. Also this box is used
to write bass lines. The first note is the root, the last note
is the octave and the fingering is universal.
Warm up (Tab):
E Box F Box F# Box G Box
G(-------)(--------)(-------)(--------)
D(----0-2)(----1-3-)(---2-4-)(-----3-5)
A(--2----)(--3-----)(--4----)(---5----)
E(-0-----)(-1------)(-2-----)(-3------)
Now you could also use that for slap bass as well to practice some
bass lines.
E Box Bass line (S is slap P is pop):
G--------------------
D---0h2---0---2-0h2p0
A--------2-----------
E-00----0--000-0-----
SSPP SSPSSSPSP
Warm up Three Slap bass warm up:
Goal: To improve slap and pop speed and accuracy.
Note: Play as fast as you feel you can perform this accurately.
Warm up (Tab, S is slap, P is pop):
G----------------3-4-5-6-7
D--2-3-4-5-6-7-----------
A---------------1-2-3-4-5
E-0-1-2-3-4-5------------
SPSPSPSPSPSP SPSPSPSPSP
Warm up (with improv):
G-----------------
D---3h5-----5h7p5
A----------------
E-11---2-4-3-----
SSP S S SP
Warm up Four: Hammer on's pull off's
Goal: To get hammer on's and pull off's more effectivly
Note: h is hammer on p is pull off. To perform a hammer on you strike
a note then strike another fret on the same string while still
holding the note. (Ex: Hit 5th Fret on the A with middle finger
and hit 6th fret on the A with your ring or pinkie fingers.) A pull
off is the opposite. Strike a note with your finger on the fret
that is going to be the next note (EX: Hit 6th fret on the A with
your middle finger while keeping your index finger on 5th fret
on the A.) Then you pull down off the string and it will vibrate
and the sound will be the note you had your finger pressed on.
Warm up (Tab)
G-----------5h6---------------------6p5----------
D-------5h6----5h6--------------6p5-----6p5------
A----5h6-----------5h6-------6p5-----------6p5---
E-5h6-----------------5h6-6p5-----------------6p5
Warm up Five: All together
Goal: To boost overall ability to play bass.
Note: Ok, this is a fun little bass line i made up that mixes slap/pop
with some rock grooves. It is good for everyone because it has
different styles. Again play as fast as you can honestly go so
you can perform more acurately
Warm Up (Tab, S is slap, P is Pop, I'm sorry but i want to make sure
you don't forget about the symbols ;))
Lesson 1:
G---------------------------------
D---------------------8-7-6-5-0---
A---------------5h6---------------
E-66666666-4----------------------
S P P P P P
Lesson 2:
G-------------5-7---------------
D-----2-1--------5--------------
A--1-------3-------5555--------
E-0-----------------------3333-
SS P P S P PP SSSS SSSS
Hope you find this useful, try not to be too harsh this is my first
tab ever.