This is the Lessons Page
Here is where the real learning starts, I suggest starting on the slower whole note excercises first, but if you find them too easy, go ahead and try the faster stuff at 130 B.P.M. (Beats Per Minute) or Quarter note exercises. Here at AXEview we really like to stress the need to keep counting and Rhythm as being just as important as the notes.
That's why all our examples have a click and a count to help you. Our count starts with a voice saying ONE and then 3 more clicks, this is counted as ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR. Every video has 2 bars of counting before they start. You will hear ONE, click, click, click, ONE, click, click, click, and then we start playing. Whole notes are held from ONE to FOUR. Quarter notes are a note for every count, that's why they seem like they are faster.
When you are starting out, if you can only use one finger on your left and hand, and one finger on your right hand, do it that way. It takes a while to build up the callouses on your fingers. We suggest you just play your instrument without even worrying about what you are playing sometimes, you'd be suprised and some things that you can come up with that way. Just play along when you're watching TV or just play as much as you can, it gets easier the more you play.
You may also notice the player in the videos sometimes changes the fingers he uses on both left and right hands, sometimes different going up, sometimes different going down. Often times it becomes more natural to use 1 finger over another. Also since we are Stretching up the neck, it can be tough at first, but that really builds up the finger strength. And don't forget about your pinky! That finger really takes a while to build up it's strength, eventually it should be as strong as all your other fingers.
Keep in mind that you can use these lessons anyway you like, you can play quarter notes over the top of the whole note exercises, hit the Root note for all four notes, alternate your right hand fingers. Use all your fingers on your right hand, even use your thumb if you like. You can even use a pick if you are more comfortable with that.
As one of my favorite bass teachers in college once told me, the role of the bass player is to always be on the ONE, the other notes don't matter as much. Also if you make a mistake, don't sweat it, just make sure the next note is right and you'll be fine. Everyone makes mistakes including us/me, nobody is perfect. And lastly my own rule, you're only ever a half step away from a right note.
OK one last thing before we really start learning. If it's not Fun, it's time to take a break. It should never feel like your running laps or being punished to learn, it's never about that. But if you put in the minimum effort you will be amazed at how quickly you are learning. Now let's have some fun and play well!
Major Exercises are here:
Minor Exercises are here:
Once you are done with those and are getting comfortable with them, I would suggest checking out the new section we just added. It includeds several variations of other very useful intervals. Including Octaves, 5ths, and the BOX Octave/5th concept.