Simple Blues Chords for Bass, How to …

This post was written by Scott
Posted Under: Bass Lessons Videos
This simple chord technique for bass guitar does fill in nicely in certain blues tunes or jams, especially during lead breaks in 3 piece bands where it can sometimes fall apart without a rhythm guitar. Remember, you’re striking 2 strings at once when you’re playing those chords, I didn’t mention that in the vid.
A litte tutorial on how to play chords on your Bass. Examples in E and A only, but you just have to move the whole thing around for any other chord.
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Reader Comments

Please give tabs

#1 
Written By ilhangin on November 19th, 2012 @ 8:09 am

That is great work. Thanks a billion. I love the change and will use it. Keep it going.

#2 
Written By PlayGolf andTennis on November 19th, 2012 @ 8:43 am

I bought a bass guitar a few months ago and am just learning. What is this song or technique called? I have been looking for this for months. This is why I bought a bass guitar and I want to learn this. Someone please help!!! thanks

#3 
Written By 85248jeff on November 19th, 2012 @ 9:02 am

#whitesnow


#4 
Written By aldenboer on November 19th, 2012 @ 9:14 am

You sir, are AWESOME. Thanks, this brought alot of inspiration

#5 
Written By MrMaxHolm on November 19th, 2012 @ 9:16 am

Good stuff…I usually tap the outline of the chords during those 3-piece blues jams, but chords sound just as nice :)

#6 
Written By stashJ8 on November 19th, 2012 @ 9:48 am

thank you :)

#7 
Written By Pudsy440 on November 19th, 2012 @ 10:26 am

i’m lovin the technique man, those trots sound like they’re in almost perfect time. whether or not it’s simple, good stuff man

#8 
Written By MarkusTheMalevolent on November 19th, 2012 @ 11:15 am

could you please include tabs?

#9 
Written By calvin3497 on November 19th, 2012 @ 11:58 am

nice lesson!

#10 
Written By SteveHoweJeffBerlin on November 19th, 2012 @ 12:42 pm

This is physically impossible!!!

#11 
Written By AsILayDyingOWNS77 on November 19th, 2012 @ 1:29 pm

cheers dude :) this should be fun for me to play around with :)

#12 
Written By WWWNATHAN on November 19th, 2012 @ 1:40 pm

@pudsy440 : May you can write down the tabs :) 

#13 
Written By 11bigestben11 on November 19th, 2012 @ 2:08 pm

alright thanks =]

#14 
Written By HeruDark on November 19th, 2012 @ 2:21 pm

Yeah sure … I would practice it on you acoustic if you want, it might not sound quite as *full*, but practice is practice … good luck! Hope you get your bass fixed soon.

#15 
Written By Pudsy440 on November 19th, 2012 @ 3:16 pm

i have been playing for about 2 and a half years now my eletic bass recently went out on my now am stuck with my ovation accoustic extended neck bass would you recomend doing these on it? or should i wait till i get my eletric fixed?

#16 
Written By HeruDark on November 19th, 2012 @ 3:59 pm

great man, glad to help! yeah, ya just got to keep picking it up and playing it.

#17 
Written By Pudsy440 on November 19th, 2012 @ 4:27 pm

I’ve been teaching myself to play bass for the last year or so. Felt like a hit a road block… started watching a lot of your vids and I can already see/feel/hear a difference in my playing. So from one Canadian to another — thanks, Pudsy!

#18 
Written By bryanlortie on November 19th, 2012 @ 5:06 pm

wow 1:44 and 2:01 are mind-blowing awesome…

#19 
Written By MasterAnbuJ on November 19th, 2012 @ 5:47 pm

wooaaaa slowww down

#20 
Written By streets1390 on November 19th, 2012 @ 5:54 pm

Tabs?

#21 
Written By McNuzzle on November 19th, 2012 @ 6:51 pm

take a looooooooooooooooong time warming up thourghly.

#22 
Written By Luke Sutherland on November 19th, 2012 @ 7:05 pm

pretty usefull men. thank you.

#23 
Written By Polcheey on November 19th, 2012 @ 7:47 pm

are you by any chance related to les claypool?

#24 
Written By JimmyDiggs87 on November 19th, 2012 @ 8:23 pm

Aww, I thought he’d be doing it Lemmy style.

#25 
Written By Henry Kirkwood on November 19th, 2012 @ 9:04 pm

nice video man, very helpful

#26 
Written By Ian Moran on November 19th, 2012 @ 9:11 pm

Nice lesson, but the root note is not necessarily the lowest note of the a chord!

#27 
Written By Qwfwq Melquiades on November 19th, 2012 @ 9:57 pm

I don’t know, I have a 62 and mine has the 4 string mutes his doesn’t have the holes.

His also seems to have an oversized control plate, and his knobs don’t seem to have the off white indicator line on them, nor do the fret markers appear to be clay, which is what lead me to assume a later make.
My guess was 66+ with replaced controls.
I can’t see to well though, so who knows.
Lol, it’s fun trying to guess though.
I wish he’d answer back and say.
Pick guard is w/o question 100% authentic.

#28 
Written By Whytnoiz07 on November 19th, 2012 @ 10:48 pm

Based on the controls and the fretboard it would be ’62 – ’64, possibly even ’65 at the very latest. It is a gorgeous jazz bass.

#29 
Written By JacqueRamon on November 19th, 2012 @ 11:17 pm

Nice.

#30 
Written By Olu O on November 19th, 2012 @ 11:30 pm

Beautiful Fender Jazz Bass, it looks absolutely stunning. :-)

Based on what I’m seeing it also appears to be an original 60′s J Bass my guess based on some slight details would be maybe a 1966 to 1968 I may be slightly off but does it matter?
Nope.
Fact is that it’s a gorgeous instrument, your video is very helpful and it’s appreciated.
I’d love to see some more pics of this bass.

Ps: it’s VERY hard to hear you on the video, perhaps a chorded microphone stationed slightly closer to you

#31 
Written By Whytnoiz07 on November 20th, 2012 @ 12:08 am

I just got my channel up and running with some nice camera stuff and my new bass. I can give you all the help you need by message until I understand what exactly I should record and show you :D
Be glad to help a fellow bass player learn the basics. You’ll soon be playing like Victor Wooten in no time!!

#32 
Written By SouljaMe1994 on November 20th, 2012 @ 12:27 am

actually, this is actual problem ;)
my friend gave me bass, so i cant sctudy whit it=)

#33 
Written By neurolowfix on November 20th, 2012 @ 1:19 am

That was good learning but next time can u slow down I am not that good of listner and I am a lefty. :)

#34 
Written By marlen arbizu on November 20th, 2012 @ 1:53 am

I cant hear your voice, if you could speak louder please, im sorry to bother but English isnt my native lenguage and I cant understand with a low voice : /

#35 
Written By brontosaurious on November 20th, 2012 @ 2:34 am

I’m a piano lady, but you’re still welcome. Each one helps another.

#36 
Written By pianoplayer223 on November 20th, 2012 @ 2:44 am

Actually I think you may have helped me out the most. It now makes sense. Thanks a lot piano man. ;)

#37 
Written By Obi Wan on November 20th, 2012 @ 3:22 am

Chords are formed within the scales. Three note chords are called triads. To form the triads and other chords, you follow patterns. The major triad is the root, the third and the fifth of the major scale. In C, it would be C-E-G. In Ab, it would be Ab -C-Eb. Check out Wikipedia, or just google “chords” to learn more about the theory of forming chords. Hopes this helps.

#38 
Written By pianoplayer223 on November 20th, 2012 @ 4:06 am

How do chords work exactly? Like any 2 or 3 notes within a scales? Or is there specifics all the time? Like a simple idea of exactly how chords work? Thanks. :) Great video by the way!

#39 
Written By Obi Wan on November 20th, 2012 @ 4:19 am

thank you very helpful

#40 
Written By TheIgeboi on November 20th, 2012 @ 5:10 am

Thank you….Thank you…Thank you A very helpful video for me. Thanks for posting.

#41 
Written By HomeBuyersofOhio on November 20th, 2012 @ 5:32 am

But then, how to play chords on someone else’s bass??

Just kiddin:) Enjoyed your post! THX!

#42 
Written By Pankratzy on November 20th, 2012 @ 6:07 am

great video! thanks!

#43 
Written By kingraisin on November 20th, 2012 @ 6:45 am

You made this so simple, it is really a lot clearer now. Great job.

#44 
Written By Martin D on November 20th, 2012 @ 7:44 am

You just helped me tremendously.  After seeing your video, the book I have on arpeggios and chords makes more sense. “Seeing” is such a great teaching method.

#45 
Written By Detoch1 on November 20th, 2012 @ 8:38 am

I wanna thank you for your video, I could learn a little more and is gonna be very helpful to me, thanks again !!!

#46 
Written By rikbassplayer on November 20th, 2012 @ 8:55 am

Sehr hilfreich, danke!

#47 
Written By Bassfreund123 on November 20th, 2012 @ 9:44 am

Jep, ist natürlich nur ein Major Intervall mit Oktave oben drauf….
Aber so im Prizip ja als “E-Dur” zu gebrauchen ;-)
Danke für die Kekse!

Gruß vom Matthias

#48 
Written By mdeisenr on November 20th, 2012 @ 10:42 am

Hi Mathias,
tolles Video für Chord-Einsteiger. Möchte aber kurz was anmerken: Der E-Major-Chord, den du bei 3:10 zeigst, ist ja eigentlich gar keiner, da die Quinte fehlt. und du nur Grundton und Terz spielst. Aber weißt du vermutlich selber. Wollte es nur kurz gesagt haben.

Weiter so und Grüße,
Dani

#49 
Written By DaniWeberOnTheBass on November 20th, 2012 @ 11:08 am

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