I searched for ways to learn the fretboard and I noticed Mike Watt suggested using whiteout to write the notes on your fretboard. My first thought was "GREAT IDEA WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT" my second thought was "Wait but will it ruin my bass?" For anyone who has done this is it removable and if it isn't can you suggest another method to help me learn meh notes.

I wouldn't do that.

I would say practice a C major scale up and down a single string. Say each note out loud as you play it. This will teach you the natrual notes on that string. Learning a scale on a single string has other value such as practice shifting postions, and understanding how scales are constucted. Do this exercise 10 minutes a day till you the string then move to next string. It will probably take a few days to a week per string.

Learning how to play scales and modes on one or two strings is very valuable for maneuvering around the neck with ease.

White-out on wood is not a good idea. I've done that and while it does come out in time, its a mess.

If you have to mark the neck or board, and its not a bad idea, just use some colored tape, and take if off as soon as you don't need it.

Here's what I do. First you need to learn the circle of 4ths. (A,D,G,C,F,Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,B,E) .

Then practice your major scale, descending, starting on the first string starting on high A (1st string 14th fret). Now on the same string, play the descending major scale of every note in the circle of 4ths until you get to A again (1st string 2nd fret). Do the same thing starting on the 2nd string, high E (2nd string 14th fret).

Now you play the major scale ascending starting on A (3rd string 12th fret). Go around the circle. Do this again starting on E (4th string 12th fret).

When all is said and done you will have played the major scale from every note on the first 14 frets.

Get some sheet music and read. Start with really easy stuff, and I mean EASY. You need quantity and variety.

I don't know how to read sheet music. I think I just need a good teacher to explain this stuff to me. I know the major scale on one area of the neck (starting on the third fret on the E string) but I don't really understand what it is :hmm:

I don't know how to read sheet music. I think I just need a good teacher to explain this stuff to me. I know the major scale on one area of the neck (starting on the third fret on the E string) but I don't really understand what it is :hmm:


A good teacher will get you going quicker than learning on your own. There are a few good websites and books out that can teach you the basics. http://www.studybass.com/lessons/ is a good site and also has a fret board diagram and scale builder utility.
Also check out: http://www.wheatdesign.com/bassbook/

I learned early on the circle of fifths, it is a very important tool in the understanding of the fundamentals of music.

I started learning the fretboard with major scales using the circle of Fifths and naming the notes as I played the scales.
Then I moved to other scales. There are many ways to play major scales on the fretboard. Figure them out. you can also play 2 octave patterns

Reading Music is definately something you want to learn to do. I recommend you finding a good bass book that is written without tab. This will force you to learn to read.

Good luck and enjoy

Here's what I do. First you need to learn the circle of 4ths. (A,D,G,C,F,Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,B,E) .
...
When all is said and done you will have played the major scale from every note on the first 14 frets.

Dude, the entire quote was excellent, no need to repeat. I may not practice all of it, but thanks for the inspiration just the same. I needed something different for a kickstart and this is it. Interestingly, it's the first concept I used to kickstart my guitar playing years ago and I forgot all about it. :o

I'll teach you an Easy way to learn the fretboard we just need to have an AIM session if you're interested pm me.

Since note position changes with tuning it's best to follow these people's advice with regards to learning scales and modes etc, as the notes are dynamic and change position on the fretboard.

But if you want cheap and nasty then I'm your guy. I warn you that this method breaks a couple of theory rules to smash through to the point of whats being asked :)

There are 4 open notes on a standard tuned bass - EADG.
These notes repeat on the 12th fret, and again on the 24th fret if your bass has that many.

So once you're tuned EADG, play this:

String : 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

And recite this, daily:

E: E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E.
A: A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A.
D: D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D.
G: G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G.

Now go down instead of up, so play this:

String 12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-0

and again, recite:
E: E, Db, D, Cb, C, B, Bb, A, Ab, G, Gb, F, E
A: A, Ab, G, Gb, F, E, Eb, D, Db, C, B, Bb, A
D: D, Db, C, B, Bb, A, Ab, G, Gb, F, E, Eb, D
G: G, Gb, F, E, Eb, D, Db, C, B, Bb, A, Ab, G

First thing you will see is going up, notes are being sharped, and going down, notes are being flattened. That's not how it works but for learning where they are on the board that will do. Like I said, cheap and nasty :)

Now, if you really want to speed this process up, ignore the sharps/flats and just work on learning where all the natural notes are up to the 12th fret.

At some point in the first 2 weeks of doing this though, you should have enough knowledge to apply some scales to your studies rather than just run up and down the fingerboard and unless you plan on covering some Wolfmother songs soon, you won't be using my method for long as you will soon find it's not a musical method to learning much of anything except where a note is in standard tuning.

Since note position changes with tuning it's best to follow these people's advice with regards to learning scales and modes etc, as the notes are dynamic and change position on the fretboard.

But if you want cheap and nasty then I'm your guy. I warn you that this method breaks a couple of theory rules to smash through to the point of what is actually being asked :)

There are 4 open notes on a standard tuned bass - EADG.
These notes repeat on the 12th fret, and again on the 24th fret if your bass has that many.

So once you're tuned EADG, play this:

String : 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

And recite this, daily:

E: E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E.
A: A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A.
D: D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D.
G: G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G.

Now go down instead of up, so play this:

String 12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1--

and again, recite:
E: E, Db, D, Cb, C, B, Bb, A, Ab, G, Gb, F, E
A: A, Ab, G, Gb, F, E, Eb, D, Db, C, B, Bb, A
D: D, Db, C, B, Bb, A, Ab, G, Gb, F, E, Eb, D
G: G, Gb, F, E, Eb, D, Db, C, B, Bb, A, Ab, G

Now play the same thing but from the 12th to 24th frets (or however many frets you have). Thats where the notes are on the 2nd half of the bass.

First thing you will see is going up, notes are being sharped, and going down, notes are being flattened. That's not how it works but for learning where they are on the board that will do. Like I said, cheap and nasty :)

Now, if you really want to speed this process up, ignore the sharps/flats and just work on learning where all the natural notes are up to the 12th fret.

At some point in the first 2 weeks of doing this though, you should have enough knowledge to apply some scales to your studies rather than just run up and down the fingerboard and unless you plan on covering some Wolfmother songs soon, you won't be using my method for long as you will soon find it's not a musical method to learning.

I'll teach you an Easy way to learn the fretboard we just need to have an AIM session if you're interested pm me.

PS - Be wary of people you don't know who need you to "just do" something before they will act on your behalf.

This guy probably wants to sell you some amazing "learn your fretboard in 30 minutes" package when half an hour a day, some twinkies and TB can teach you just about anything and you don't need to give up email addresses or use insecure PC to PC communication mediums to do so:)

Just in case you need some reference here's a guide I found somewhere!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/GaFanatic/fretboard.jpg