Master "So What" with This Simple Arpeggio Method

???? Want to improvise over jazz standards with confidence and clarity?
Book your free Bass Chat with me and let’s build your roadmap:
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???? Download the free PDF with the exact pattern I play in this lesson:
????https://www.lorincohen.com/sowhatsecrets

If you've been learning So What by running scales up and down, you’re not alone. This iconic Miles Davis tune from Kind of Blue is known as a modal classic—but most bass players miss the deeper structure that makes it work.

In this jazz bass lesson, I’ll show you what I call The So What Secret—a simple, powerful framework for improvising on bass using just a 4-note shape: the minor 6th arpeggio.

???? Whether you're learning walking bass, working on your soloing, or just want to understand jazz standards more deeply, this bass guitar tutorial will give you real tools to apply right away.

You’ll learn how to:

Build walking bass lines using a simple but powerful arpeggio

Solo using the language of Miles Davis—without complex theory

Lock in the Dorian sound using a simple, easy-to-remember shape

Connect the D-6 and Eb-6 arpeggios to master both sections of So What

This is a perfect electric bass or upright bass lesson for anyone looking to go beyond just scales and actually learn jazz bass the right way.

✅ This video is part of my ongoing series of bass lessons online to help players like you develop improvisation skills, walking bass confidence, and fretboard fluency—without getting overwhelmed.

If you're into Miles Davis, jazz standards, walking bass, or improvising on bass, you're in the right place.
00:00 Intro
01:03 Chords of "So what"
01:22 Using the Dorian Mode
01:59 "Start with 4, Then Add More"
03:17 Using The Minor 6th Arpeggio
07:35 Applying to the Tune as a Walking Bass Line
08:48 Phrasing the Arpeggios
10:47 Phrasing on the Tune & PDF
12:42 Adding to the Arpeggio
14:05 Final Thoughts