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  • 347249164.mp4
  • 1 2 3 1 Speed Exercise - Tab.pdf
  • 1 2 3 1 Fingerstyle Speed Exercise - Backing Track.mp3
  • 1 2 3 1 Fingerstyle Speed Exercise.mp3
  • 1 2 3 1 Speed Exercise - Tab.musicxml

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Content

This exercise is easier than it looks. We are using a major scale and each scale degree is represented by a number. For example, if we're in F major and play F G A F, that can be represented by 1 2 3 1.

This exercise uses that 1 2 3 1 pattern and then moves it up the scale by one scale degree each time. So that means after F G A F we play G A Bb G, then A Bb C A and so on. Once we reach an octave up, we come back down the scale using the opposite approach (F E D F, then E D C E and so on).

After coming all the way back down to F, we just repeat the same phrase up a half step, and keep doing this 12 times in total, and then bring it back down to finish on F like how we started.

If that doesn't make sense, just forget about it and try to follow along with the tabs! You don't have to know the theory to get the technique benefits!

Comments

Vivien Toussaint

Hello Charles I'm a new member and I'd like to thank you for your videos, which encourage me to improve my bass playing. I wanted to ask you how you've worked on the position of your left hand so that your thumb doesn't hurt? I'm currently working on exercise 120.1 and quite quickly I feel pain in my left thumb. It feels like I'm pressing too hard. How can I correct this bad habit so that I can play without this pain? Thanks a lot! Vivien

Charles Berthoud

Hi Vivien, welcome to BassCamp! It sounds like you might have some issues with your overall left-hand position. Try to use one finger per fret, and your thumb should be roughly in line with your index or middle finger, depending on how high up the neck you are. Also, your fingers should be curved and parallel with the frets, rather than pointing towards you. These aren't mandatory rules but they generally work well for most bassists. Hopefully that helps!

Zen

Hi Charles, do you ever use your right ring finger in this exercise? I see majority of bassists play with two fingers (index and middle), but when would it be best to use the third finger (ring finger)?