Here are 5 bass guitar chord shapes that are less mainstream, but pack a potent sound that will carve yourself a signature voice on the bass guitar!
Bass players, such Oteil Burbridge, Fred Hammond, and John Patitucci already explore these bass guitar chord shapes often in their bass grooves and bass solos.
5 Bass Guitar Chord Shapes That Will Set You Apart
These bass guitar chord shapes are compatible for 4-string, 5-string, 6-string… any-string bass guitar.
The key to making these bass guitar chords work is to make sure each note sustains clearly.
You may find that holding your bass guitar sitting down allows your frethand to relax and stretch easily in order to play these bass guitar chord shapes.
Bass Guitar Chord Shape #1:
Minor 9 Chord Shape
This Minor 9 Chord Shape clusters the 9 and b10 of the chord creating an eerie tension to your music.
Bass Guitar Chord Shape #2:
Major 9 First Inversion Chord Shape
This Major 9 First Inversion Chord Shape (voiced 3, Root, 9) has a reflective open sound to it.
Bass Guitar Chord Shape #3:
Major or Minor 9 Chord Shape
This 9 Chord Shape can be used for either a Major or Minor chord because no 3rd is present within the chord.
Bass Guitar Chord Shape #4:
Dominant 7 First Inversion Chord Shape
This Dominant 7 First Inversion Chord Shape softens the “dominant” quality of the chord, making it sound more open.
Bass Guitar Chord Shape #5:
Minor or Dominant 9 Chord Shape
This 9 Chord Shape can be imply either a Minor 9 Chord or a Dominant 9 Chord since the 3rd is not present within this chord.
How To Practice These Bass Guitar Chords
Here are 5 effective ways to practice and apply these bass guitar chords to your music:
- Explore outlining these bass guitar chords to a groove.
- Shift notes in the bass guitar chord voicing up or down a step and discover the sounds you can get from doing this.
- Revolve your melodic bass solos around these bass chord shapes, by leading with the top note.
- Reharmonize typical jazz standards exlusively using these bass chord shapes.
- Apply Modal Chord movement to these bass guitar chord shapes in order to create tension and release.
