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Finger exercises for the left hand on the bass guitar fret board

Don’t forget the finger exercises we did in the right hand. We are going to appy it here to supplement the left hand.

On your left hand, your thumb stays behind the fret board for support.

Now the gist is, you have four fingers left. One finger should take care of everything on a particular fret, another finger should take care of another fret. The same thing goes on for the remaining two fingers. Look at  the picture illustration below:

Image credit: James Benum White: The Massive Lion

In case you dont know what a fret is. Look at this image below to understand bettter:

Finger 1(pointer)                             Fret 1
finger 2(Middle finger)                   Fret 2
Finger 3(ring finger)                       Fret 3
Finger 4(pinky)                               Fret 4

So starting at the fourth string, play the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th fret with the 1, 2, 3, 4 finger respectively. Make sure your two fingers on the right hand alternate. I.e I M  check this  ost to refresh your memory)

Then go to the third string and repeat the process. Do the same on the 2nd and 1st string.

Now repeat the process starting from the first string to the fourth string.

What you have done now is called a permutation and it is a good form of finger exercise. There are many other permutations that you can use to exercise your fingers. Check them out below:

1 – pointer finger
2 – middle finger
3 – ring finger
4 – pinky

1 2 3 4                  2 1 3 4                    3 1 2 4                 4 1 2 3
1 2 4 3                  2 1 4 3                    3 1 4 2                 4 1 3 2
1 3 2 4                  2 3 1 4                    3 2 1 4                 4 2 1 3
1 3 4 2                  2 3 4 1                    3 2 4 1                 4 2 3 1
1 4 2 3                  2 4 1 3                    3 4 1 2                 4 3 1 2
1 4 3 2                  2 4 3 1                    3 4 2 1                 4 3 2 1

Finger exercises for the right hand on the bass guitar(beginners)

You can get to know everything about a musical instrument in a day, but the question is, will your body be able to handle it?

Our bodies need to develop certain muscles so they would be able to play a musical instrument convieniently. If you play the piano, your fingers and hands need to develop certain muscles to handle it.


If you play the guitar, your hands and fingers will have to develop muscles too.

If you play the drums, your legs and hands have to develop muscles too.

If you think i’m lieing, give your guitar to a total novice and tell them to strike a chord, a very simple chord. show them how to go about it, I can assure you that in the next one hour they won’t be able to do it as you can do it.

This is because you have gotten used to it through your reharsals and practice.

Ok. Enough of the stories. I want to show you finger exercises you can use for your right hand if you play the bass guitar.

We are using three fingers here:

Your thumb(that fat and short finger)
Your index finger(the one you use to point at an object)
Your middle finger(you know the middle finger well)

I am asuming that you are using a four-stringed bass guitar. So anytime I mention the fourth string, just know that I am referring to the thickest string.

Let your thumb rest on the fourth string. If you need to strike the fourth string, let the thumb play it inside out.

right hand fingering for the bass guitar

Now what will the pointer and middle finger be playing?

The pointer and middle will be alternating between each other. How?

the pointer(Index) will strike the third string
then the middle will strike the third string too.

So

I M     I M      I M     I M     I M

remember I stands for index and M stands for middle.

The index and middle fingers are striking the third string from outside to the inside.

It might not be easy for total beginners but as time goes on, you would be getting used to it. After some few days it would become easier.

The next stage right now is to extend the exercise to other strings.

I M     I M      I M     I M     I M      (String 3)
I M     I M      I M     I M     I M      (String 2)
I M     I M      I M     I M     I M      (String 1)
I M     I M      I M     I M     I M      (String 2)
I M     I M      I M     I M     I M      (String 3)

Now lets get to finger exercises for the left hand of the bass guitar

 

Minor and Major Scale on the bass guitar 2

This is the diagram of the minor scale on the bass guitar

minor scale diagram on the bass guitar

The solfa notation for the natural minor which is the basis of all other minor scales is:

d r mo f s ze taw d.

For a more detailed movement of the minor scale on the bass guitar, look at the diagram below.

minor scale movement on the bass guitar

Note that the white dots stand as the root note of the scale. Have you learnt about the major scale, you can learn more about the major scale here

Major and Minor Scale on the bass guitar

To play the major scale on the bass guitar. Use diagram below as an illustration:

The formula for major scale is

T  T  ST  T  T  T  ST

T    =   Tone
ST  =   Semi tone

So if we take our root from C

We have:

C  D  E  F  G  A  B and back to C
d   r   m  f   s   l    t   and back to d

Major scale on the bass guitar

 

Now we started on the fourth string. The white dot serves as the root noted which is C(doh). We started on the fourth to the third to the second.
the numbers on the black and white dots stand for the fingers you would use:
4   pinky finger(smallest finger)
3   ring finger
2   middle finger
1   pointer finger
The thumb(the fat finger stays behind the fret board)
So starting from the fourth string: 2 4
To the third string                          1 2 4
To the second string                       1 3 4
Look at the video illustration below for a clearer approach

 

Tonic Solfa of the Nigerian National Anthem

This is the solfa notation of the Nigerian national anthem. You can play it on any key on your musical instrument.

Solfa notation of Nigerian national anthem

 Find the solfa note of the anthem below:

Arise, O compatriots                             s d s d m s
Nigeria’s call obey                                m f m r r d
To serve our Fatherland                        s d s d m s
With love and strength and faith            m f m r r d
The labour of our heroes past                r r m f r m f s
shall never be in vain                            s l s f m r
To serve with heart and might                d s s s m l
One nation bound in freedom                 r r m f r l s
peace and unity                                    f m r r d

Solfa notation of “Made a way” by Travis Greene

This is the Tonic solfa of “Made a way” by Travis Greene

r d d                              Made a way
f f f f m f m                   Don’t know how but you did it
r d l                               Made a way

m r d                             standing here
d f f f m r r d m             not knowing how we’ll get through this test
d f f f m r r d m
d f f f m r r d l-s-l         Nothing can catch you by surprise
m r d f m d                   You’ve got this figured out
d f m d    –      m           and you’re watching us now

f f f m r r d m               But when it looks as if we can’t win
f f f m r r d m
f f f m r d l-s-l               And everything we need you supply
m r d f m d                    You got this in control
d f m d d                        And now we know that
m r m r-d-l                     You made a way

r m f f f f f m                When our backs were against the wall
d r m m m r d m r         And it looked as if it was over
m m r m r d
r m f f m
m r d l
m r d d                          You made a way

d r d d                           You made a way

m r d                               Now we’re here
f f f m r r d m                  Looking back on where we come from
f f f m r r d m-r-m           Because of you and nothing we’ve done
d d f f f m r r d l s-l
m r d f m d                      your grace was strong enough
d f m d                            to pick us up

d m r m r d-l                   And you made a way
d d f m (r m f f f f f m)             (When our backs were against the wall)
d r m m m r d m r         (and it looked as if it was over)
m r m r d                     You made a way

d d f f m ( r m f f m)                 And we’re standing here
m r d l                       Only because
m r d d                      you made a way

m s s d d                                     You move mountains
m s s s s
m s s d                                         With your power
m s s f m                                      You perform miracles

m s s d                                          There is nothing
m s s s s                                        that’s impossible
r m f f f m                                    And we’re standing here
m r d l                                          Only because
m r d d                                         you made a way

 

Solfa notation of “you raise me up” by Josh Groban

This is the solfa notation of “you raise me up” by Josh Groban. It is for solo instrumentalist who wants to know how to play the song.

s d r m         When I am down
d r d d l s d   and, oh, my soul, so weary
d r m s
d l s s m r      and my heart burdened be
l l t d
m l s s f s m    and wait here in the silence
d s f m
d m r d t d       and sit awhile with me

s l t d               You raise me up
d t l s f s m       so I can stand on mountains
d m r d / s l t d         You raise me up
t t l s f s                    to walk on stormy seas
l t d
d d t l s s m
d d r m / d s f m         You raise me up
d m r d    t d              to more than I         can be

Click here to get your own copy of the tonic solfa of over 200 nigerian praise and worship songs

Solfa notation of “God will make a way” by Don Moen

This is the solfa notation of “God will make a way” by Don Moen. It is for solo instrumentalist who wants to know how to play the song using Tonic solfa.

m s d m r          God will make a way
d t l t d l s         Where there seems to be no way
s l t d
l s d d
l t d r m r r         He will make a way or me
m s d m r           He will be my guide
d t l t d l s
s l t d                  With love and strength
l s d d
s l t r m      r d      He will make a way
s l d r d                 He will make a way

d d d d d r d taw        By a roadway in the wilderness
ze ze s                       He’ll lead me
d d d re f re r d d        And rivers in the desert will I see
d d d d m r
m f s s m r d              but His Word will still remain
t l t d
l d r ….d m                something new today

Click here to get your own copy of the tonic solfa of over 200 nigerian praise and worship songs 

Solfa notation of “Onise Iyanu” by Nathaniel Bassey

This is the solfa notation of “Onise Iyanu” by Nathaniel Bassey. It is for solo instrumentalist who wants to know how to play the song using tonic solfa.

watch the video above for detailed explanation.

m s s d l l            Onise Iyanu
l t d t l s s m         You are the God of awesome wonders
s d t l s s r             I’ve tasted of your power

m s s d l l            Onise Iyanu
s l d t l s s r
t d t l s s              Much more than I deserve

Click here to get the chord progression of Onise Iyanu

s s d d                 My eyes have seen
s l d d                   my ears have heard
r m r d m r

s s d d                Creation bows
s l d d
d r m r d m r       And we join to give you praise

s f m d                  The words you speak
s f m f
s f m r                     Your outstretched arm
d d r m
s f m r-d                You took away
s f m d
s l t t-l-s                That held me bound

Click here to get the chord progression of Onise Iyanu

l d d        l d d (6times)        Onise       Onise
d r r        d r r (2times)
d m m    d m m(2times)
d f f        d f f (2times)
r s s         r s s (2times)

Click here to get your own copy of the tonic solfa of over 200 nigerian praise and worship songs

Solfa notation of “This God is too good oo” by Nathaniel Bassey

This is the solfa notation of “This God is too good oo” by Nathaniel Bassey. It is for solo instrumentalist who wants to know how to play the song using tonic solfa.

m m m m m m r f m d          I know a God, who’s merciful and kind
d t d t l                                 Faithful and gracious
m m m m m r r
l r r r d d
d d d t t l l
f f f f f f m m
m m m r d r m        m m m m m d r        And was patient till I came   Running back into his arms
f f f f f f m m
m m r d r m
m m m m d r           His glory to reveal

d r m m m m f m          I will worship you forever
r r r m r
t d: s m r m d l         because     This God is too good o

m m m m r r : d f m d            Don’t look too far to see         how good he is
d t d t l                                    Just look at me
m m m m m m r r
r d f m r d d
d d d t d t l l                I’m standing in his righteousness
f f f f m r d m
s s m r d m                 Gave me a brand new name
d r m d t l r                 His beloved and the redeemed
f f f f m r d m
s s m r d m
d d r m s s                  his glory to reveal

Click here to get your own copy of the tonic solfa of over 200 nigerian praise and worship songs