In the realm of bass guitar, mastering scales is paramount to unlocking your musical potential. Among these, the Pentatonic Scale Bass Guitar stands out as incredibly versatile. As we previously explored, pentatonic scales, both major and minor, are five-note scales celebrated for their adaptability across diverse musical scenarios due to their consonant nature. Let’s revisit the shapes we introduced earlier:
If you’re familiar with musical modes, you’ll recognize the relationship between scales. Just as A minor scale is the relative minor of C major, sharing the same notes but starting from a different root, pentatonic scales exhibit a similar characteristic. The A minor pentatonic scale is essentially the C major pentatonic scale, commencing from the 6th degree.
These variations are known as pentatonic positions, and there are five distinct positions in total. Each pentatonic position originates from a different degree of the fundamental pentatonic scale. The major pentatonic scale is considered position one, while the minor pentatonic scale is recognized as position five.
Understanding C Major Pentatonic Positions
Let’s delve into the C major pentatonic scale and examine the notes that constitute each position:
Position One – C D E G A
Position Two – D E G A C
Position Three – E G A C D
Position Four – G A C D E
Position Five – A C D E G
Practical Application of Pentatonic Theory
An engaging method to internalize these positions is to practice over a simple groove, repeatedly incorporating fills using the various positions. Below is a groove based on a fundamental C major arpeggio, which you can utilize with the provided backing track. Try playing the groove for three bars, and then insert one of the fills from below in the fourth bar. This exercise will enable you to compare the sonic qualities of each position, enhancing your understanding of their practical application.
Pentatonic Runs for Each Major Position
Two-String Major Pentatonic Runs
Two-String Runs Integrated with Bass Line
Exploring C Minor Pentatonic Positions
The minor pentatonic positions mirror the major positions in structure; however, position one now corresponds to the minor pentatonic scale.
Here are the notes for each position within the key of C minor:
Position One – C Eb F G Bb
Position Two – Eb F G Bb C
Position Three – F G Bb C Eb
Position Four – G Bb C Eb F
Position Five – Bb C Eb F G
