BASS LESSONS

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by Grant Stinnett
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
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This is the first in a series of three lessons from my new online course Contemporary Techniques For Bass Guitar. This lesson is an excerpt
from my new book/DVD, Tapestry, which is scheduled for release in September.
The song illustrated here is called Ebenella and was written by a good friend of mine, Rob Gourlay. These techniques are the same as those used
by Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Michael Manring, and several other great bassists. This song helped me develop strength and accuracy
when I learned it, and I hope it does the same for you now.
In this lesson, Ebenella is broken down into individual techniques and slowed down so you can practice along. At first it may seem that the
different parts dont have anything to do with the finished song but they are very important if you want to learn without struggling. If you feel like
skipping parts, try to suppress that urge because if you dont have these parts down well, you might have trouble keeping up as the lesson
progresses.

Part One Tap, Pull-off

Use your index finger on your right hand to strike the G string over the twelfth fret and hold it down. If you have done this correctly, then you should
hear a clear sustaining note. Next you should pull your finger toward your thumb in a pinching motion until the string slips out, and you have
another clear resonant note. This is very much like playing normally except you are tapping first and playing over the fingerboard. Now you should
be able to repeat the process and play along with the video.

Part Two Tap, Pull-off on G,D,A

Part two is very similar to part one. In fact, using all the same motions this time, you will be playing on the G, D, and A strings.

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Part Three Left Hand Chord

In part three, you will be using the same technique that you learned in parts one and two, but now with the left hand in place. Be sure to use the
correct fingering in the left hand because we will be changing that chord later on, and the fingering will be important.

Part Four Left Hand Movement

This exercise uses the tap-on, pull-off technique learned earlier over moving notes in the left hand. The motion in the right hand is the same as
before, but now you must move the left hand while the tapped note is being held. Here it is broken down: With your third finger from your left hand
fretting the D on your G string, tap-on and pull-off with your right hand. Now tap-on with your right hand again, but this time while your tapped note
is sustaining, lift up your third finger on your left hand and use your first finger from the same hand to fret the C on your G string. Pull-off. Now you
should be able to repeat this motion in time and play along with the video.

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Part Five Right Hand Motion

Place your left hand in the chord position learned earlier. Now use your index finger on your right hand to strum the top three strings. Next, play the
following pattern. Tap your index finger at the 12th fret on the G string and slide it to the 11th fret and pull-off. Tap on the 12th fret on your D string
and pull-off. Tap-on your A string at the 12th fret and pull-off. Now tap-on your A string at the 10th fret then slide to the 9th and pull-off. Tap on the
10th fret again and pull-off. Finally, tap on the 12th fret. When this song is played faster, it is easier to add an extra pull-off at the end. The video
refers to this pull-off and calls it step number 14.

Parts Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine Repetition

It is important to play this song slowly, and gradually work your way up. If you practice too fast, too early then you will be playing wrong notes
sometimes without even knowing it. If you end up practicing wrong notes then you will play wrong notes in performances, and it will be very hard to
go back and fix those notes later. So practice slowly and correctly, and you will be blazing in no time.

Part Ten Left Hand Patter Chord #2

Part ten is an expansion of what you have already learned. Use the same right hand pattern while playing a new chord with your left hand. The
reason the fingering of the first chord used the first, third, and fourth fingers was because now all you have to do is switch strings between your
first and third fingers and youre in business.

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Parts Eleven and Twelve More Repetition

Practice, Practice, Practice

Part Thirteen Preview

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Well, you have finished this lesson. Now its time to think about some more. Check out Stinnett Music, Bass Workout, my site, and YouTube for
more lessons.
In the fall Stinnett Music Nonpareil, will be releasing the course called Contemporary Techniques for Bass Guitar, which will cover all the basics of
tapping, slapping, double thumping, and several other modern bass styles.
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Related topics: bass lesson, two handed tapping

Related Articles:
Talking Technique: Fast Fingers

Talking Technique: Jumps Without Looking at the Fretboard

Bass Lesson: Diminished II V Substitution

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12 comments
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Albin Palasser
Hi Jim!
Thanks for this hands on movie, the song Ebenella is incredible on your Album Two Low Featuring LIONEL LOUEKE, Albin
June 11, 2009 at 1:26 am

Reply to Albin

alejandro michetti
Corey, this is nice!
Alejandro
June 11, 2009 at 6:45 am

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Reply to alejandro

Surfsup54
Very, very nicely done. Thank you Corey for hosting it.
June 11, 2009 at 7:38 am

Reply to Surfsup54

Ney Neto
superb!
from Brazil, !
June 11, 2009 at 9:47 am

Reply to Ney

Mark
Excellent instructional video!
Mark
June 11, 2009 at 9:53 am

Reply to Mark

Kurt
Nice illustrations combined with the video. Great job Grant!
Kurt
June 11, 2009 at 10:58 am

Reply to Kurt

Dave Cave
gr8 stuffbeautiful simple and well tought
June 12, 2009 at 1:37 pm

Reply to Dave

Dave Cave
gr8 stuffbeautiful simple and well tought
June 12, 2009 at 5:37 pm

Reply to Dave

Brent Chisenhall
how old is that kid? pisses me off I cant do it. yet. :) good job & well instructed.
October 4, 2012 at 2:24 pm

Reply to Brent

Grant Stinnett
Haha! I was 15 at the time. Im 23 now. Here are some of the things Ive been up to more recently if youre interested. Good luck
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with the PowerLesson. :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W_4ZYE6Am8&feature=share&list=UUc1fm1lJEeb_z7H7ilADsvA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMz5IBT5JyE&feature=share&list=UUc1fm1lJEeb_z7H7ilADsvA
October 4, 2012 at 3:10 pm

Reply to Grant

Simon Polling
Grant mate you are very talented, thank you for sharing. Ebenella is addictive to learn. Do you plan to release tabs or video
on the rest of the song? cheers mate
Adelaide, Australia
May 14, 2015 at 7:34 am

Reply to Simon

Brent Chisenhall
not my flavor, but very impressive none the less. I should have started trying to tap years ago but ive been working on it lately.
its harder my acoustic than it is on the electric plugged in. if I kick on the overdrive its even easier. I still suck at it though. heres a
link to one of my old bands songs. the bass kinda got lost when everything else came in & I intentionally went effect crazy, but it
kinda gives an idea of my style. I wrote this one on the bass completely & then everyone else put their flavor on it. let me know
what you think http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rNuI9rkHgM.
October 4, 2012 at 4:25 pm

Reply to Brent

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