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MODES AND SCALES
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SCALES AND BASS IMPROVISATION :
Scales are important to bassline improvising because when it comes to things like this, bass
lines are usually in constant movement. The mastery of scales help the bass player to know
the possible ways to go to and help the players ability to think fast and be more creative
during a performance where he or she could think up a nice bass line to improve the overall
quality of the piece being played and by giving it more flavor such as counters or contrasts to the basic
melody or a specific bass activity to enhance what is going on in a performance.
The Ionian : This is the common Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do scale.
The Lydian : This has a sharp fourth note.
The Lydian Blues scale : has a flat 3rd flat 5th and a flat 7th.
The Mixolydian mode : has a flat 7th ; commonly used in 7th chords.
The Dorian : a minor scale.
The Aeolian : Flat 3rd, flat 6th, and flat 7th.
The Phrygian : Flat 3rd, flat 4th, flat 6th, and flat 7th.
The Locrian or Half Diminished scale : The 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th are flatted.
The Augmented scale : We remember this with a sharp 5th.
The Diminished scale : Flatted 3rd, 5th, 6th, and a natural 6th.
The Whole Tone scale : Spaces between notes are in whole steps.
The Harmonic Minor scale : Well this is the Harmonic Minor scale.
The Melodic Minor scale : The accending is different from the descending.
Pentatonic Scales : Pentatonic scales mean five note scales or scales made up of five notes only.
Pentatonic scales are played using only the five notes of the particular pentatonic scale.
On the Left is an example of a Major pentatonic scale and on the Right is an example of a pentatonic Minor scale.
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The Circle of Fifths : This diagram of Keys is used for practicing scales. Go clockwise or
counterclockwise playing each type of scale corresponding to every key on the circle. This will also help
one to master the bass fingerboard. Example : Play the Dorian scale on all keys around the circle
(and so on). This is called the 'Circle of Fifths' because the equivalent of each notch is an interval
of Fifths to the next one.
Compiled by Dondi Ledesma '83
Summary : These are the preliminary scales in this book. Experimenting with them or jamming with
a friend or a band trying out these scales will be fun. There are more things on the usage of these scales
on the 'Relatives' page and the 'Exotic scales' page. Using the 'Circle of Fifths when practicing can greatly
improve one's playing because it gives more discipline and mastery of the bass fingerboard. There is a
fingering guide on the link below and you can come back here to apply them on the above scales. You need not strictly
follow my fingering guide because individuals are free to choose or apply their own styles to fit their hand size
or whatever makes them comfortable. The guides are only basic guides..............rdl
Basic Fingering guide
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