Practising Bass Guitar Scales

Learning Scales, Modes, Arpeggios, Notes, Patterns, Shapes and all other things theory-related must surely have a purpose and a reason?

How many times have I heard a student tell me they know a scale.... but have no idea why, in the past, they were shown it, or indeed what they can do with it!

Well, the answer in a nutshell, is, as a bass player, it gives you the ability and knowledge to create your own bassline within a song, knowing which notes can be played along to certain chords or played in certain keys. It gives you the confidence to explore the whole neck using modal shapes.

Do not just practise these shapes for the sake of practice, but get a drum machine going, grab a guitarist, decide on a key for a jam. Take it in turns to play the chords/based notes, then improvise/solo using the modal shapes and scale knowledge.

That is where you learn how to play... You create the music!