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22. Arpeggios

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At various points in these courses you’ll have heard the term ‘arpeggio’, which as you might already know, is the name given to the notes in a chord played one at a time rather than all together. Arpeggios are incredibly important to us as bass players and are the foundation of all good basslines. This course covers each of the main arpeggio/chord types and examines those that occur naturally within major keys.

Don't forget to hit the Download Resources button above to receive the PDF that accompanies these lessons!

This course is 39 MINUTES long and contains the following videos, each of which can be selected from the video player above:

1. What is an Arpeggio?

This lesson covers the basics of arpeggios and explains why they are such valuable tools for bassists. As you’ll learn, arpeggios are the backbone of most great lines.

2. Harmonising the Major Scale

This lesson will demonstrate all of the arpeggios that can be derived from the major scale. It will also cover a way of playing all of these arpeggios on the bass.

3. Alternative Positions for Arpeggios

This lesson will demonstrate some alternative ways of playing the three arpeggio types that can be derived from the major scale.

4. Exercise #129

This exercise is a blues bassline, albeit with some more complex chord changes. Arpeggios are important elements in the bassline here.

5. Exercise #130

This is a ska bassline that frequently moves between two adjacent minor chords: A minor and Ab minor. The bassline is built on the arpeggios of these chords.

6. Exercise #131

Arpeggios are used in this funk bassline that is similar in concept to the groove from the classic Stevie Wonder song ‘I Wish’.

7. Exercise #132

This exercise is funk bassline that makes use of arpeggio-based figures in the first and third bars. Watch out for the staccato (short) notes here.

8. Exercise #133

This is a reggae bassline that is similar to the Desmond Dekker song ‘The Isralites’. The bassline is built around a descending A major arpeggio figure.