Learn Bach's Cello Suites on bass guitar

Follow every movement with interactive scores, tabs and a fretboard, at your own tempo and in the key that suits you.

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Suite No. 3 in C major; BWV 1009

Bourrée 1

INTERMEDIATE

This bourrée is a very happy, lively piece. A very dancy feel as well. If you follow my handpositions, you'll encounter a few position switches that may feel a bit akward at first. Until you get the hang of it, then it's just such a joy to play.
Suite No. 3 in C major; BWV 1009

Bourrée 2

EASY

With its minory key and its long beautiful phrases, this second bourrée is the perfect complement of the first one. An easy piece to play on bass guitar as well.
Suite No. 3 in C major; BWV 1009

Gigue

DIFFICULT

There is so much energy in this Gigue. It has a few very lively 16th notes passages where the notes of the melody is alternated with a fixed note. On the cello they can use open strings, but don't let that spoil the fun!

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Why Study Classical Music on Bass Guitar?

It Will Improve Your Technique

Bach's cello suites are full of arpeggios, scales and chords. All the stuff you need to practice anyway, bundled in beautiful masterpieces. Why practice boring exercises when you can play some of the most amazing music ever written?

You Will Conquer That Fretboard

"The Suites" take you all over your bass' fretboard. The cello's range almost matches that of the bass.

I'm inluding transpositions so that they are playable on a short-scale 4-string bass guitar as well. I even added ADGC tuning for the original key.

It Will Improve Your Melodic And Harmonic Thinking.

Playing this music gets you in a melodic frame of mind. A bass guitar can be a melody instrument on itself, and Bach's Cello Suites are the perfect music for it.

The more you study The Suites, the more melodic your overall bass playing becomes. I'm sure you will find lots of inspiration in this music.

OTHER RESOURCES

This material is hard, really hard. Seriously, I know.

If you need extra help improving you bass playing skills, I highly recommend these resources:

  • Ariane Cap's Bass Blog

    If you don't know this website allready, you should definitely check out Ari's Bass Blog. Her articles and videos are full of valuable bass guitar information. And if the free stuff is any indication, the paid content is probably priceless.

    arisbassblog.com
  • Talking Bass

    Mark from Talking Bass has lots of free Bass Guitar lessons. He has a really cool practice room with lots of play-along material.

    talkingbass.net
  • Scott's Bass Lessons

    Does Scott need any intro? He has lots of really informative videos on his youtube channel. I heard good things about his paid subscription too.

    scottsbasslessons.com

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