hi,

my teacher gave me the challenge of starting to learn to the arpeggios up and down my strings rather then across, which is what ive been doing a lot in my playing, he says it's a whole other way of looking at the instrument

his assingment was rather vague, but to learn the diatonic triads of the major scale starting in second position and only allowing one position change the ascending/descending movement

i figured that i could play all of the c major diatonic triads in second position on the 8th fret 4th string and that you could that in any other key on the 4th string

im just looking for an effective exercise to help me get into this style of looking at the bass, he said to increase in speed but i was unsure of an exercise to do to help with memorizing these patterns

All help is welcome

Thanks,
Jake

hi,

my teacher gave me the challenge of starting to learn to the arpeggios up and down my strings rather then across, which is what ive been doing a lot in my playing, he says it's a whole other way of looking at the instrument

his assingment was rather vague, but to learn the diatonic triads of the major scale starting in second position and only allowing one position change the ascending/descending movement

i figured that i could play all of the c major diatonic triads in second position on the 8th fret 4th string and that you could that in any other key on the 4th string

im just looking for an effective exercise to help me get into this style of looking at the bass, he said to increase in speed but i was unsure of an exercise to do to help with memorizing these patterns

All help is welcome

Thanks,
Jake

I would say that is confusing from what you describe. Triads are a pretty basic shapes. Most learn one with root on one string, and 3rd and 5th on next string up. So A triad A on 5th fret E-string and C# and E on the A-string. Now what he might be refering to is one with Root and 3rd on low string and 5th on next string up. So A triad would be A (root) on E-string 5th fret, C# (3rd) on E-string 9th fret, and E (5th) on A-string 7th fret. That one has a nice fat sound. To be complete the other good one to know uses three strings. Again A triad, A (root) on E-string 5th fret, C# (3rd) on A-string 4th fret, and E (5th) on D-string 2nd fret.

You can take those basic triad shape and alter them to be minor, diminished and augmented triads. Good to know all three shapes then give you options for moving up, down, or across neck. Plus they each sound a little different timbre wise.

You could do a triad on one string, but I don't see a lot of practical use other than practicing moving around the neck smoothly or being able get feel for leaping major and minor 3rd's on a string.

i think what i meant was that i would play the triads having one finger per fret

i think that means across the neck not up and down the strings

hope that makes more sense

i think what i meant was that i would play the triads having one finger per fret

i think that means across the neck not up and down the strings

hope that makes more sense

That is the first one I described.

A triad, A root on E-string 5th fret, then C# on A-string 4th fret and E on A-string 7th fret.

Try practicing all of its inversions, all the way up and down the neck, thaats what my teacher has me doing.

Try practicing all of its inversions, all the way up and down the neck, thaats what my teacher has me doing.

okay, i don't really know what inversions are, sorry, maybe an example

That is the first one I described.

A triad, A root on E-string 5th fret, then C# on A-string 4th fret and E on A-string 7th fret.

right, thanks

so just practice those types of triads (maj, minor, dim, aug) can i do all of those in one or two positions?

It sounds to me like he wants you to play everything you can play in the second position. Though I could be completely wrong, but if someone asked me to do what you are doing this is what I would play.


G Am Bm C D

G----------4-]--------2--5-]-----------4-]------------5-]------------2-]
D--------5---]------2------]---------4---]------2--5----]----------4---]
A----2-5-----]----3--------]-----2-5-----]----3---------]--------5-----]
E--3---------]--5----------]--2----------]--3-----------]--2--5--------]
G B D G B A C E A C F# B D F# B G C E G C F# A D F# A


Em F#dim.

G----------4-]----------2-5-]
D-----2--5---]--------4-----]
A---2--------]------3-------]
E-3----------]-2--5---------]
G B E G B F# A C F# A C

right, thanks

so just practice those types of triads (maj, minor, dim, aug) can i do all of those in one or two positions?

To play all those triad in one postion you will need to use the pattern we just talked about and the one I described that uses three strings. Because the minor and augmented would be too big a stretch in one position.

Also don't just learn the shape of the major triad, learn which is the root, 3rd, 5th. That will make altering it to create the other traid fingering easy. Also when practicing these triads sing them too. The triad is the basis of all chords so singing will get the sound in your ear. That will help in making bass lines and transcribing the chords of a song.

It sounds to me like he wants you to play everything you can play in the second position. Though I could be completely wrong, but if someone asked me to do what you are doing this is what I would play.


G Am Bm C D

G----------4-]--------2--5-]-----------4-]------------5-]------------2-]
D--------5---]------2------]---------4---]------2--5----]----------4---]
A----2-5-----]----3--------]-----2-5-----]----3---------]--------5-----]
E--3---------]--5----------]--2----------]--3-----------]--2--5--------]
G B D G B A C E A C F# B D F# B G C E G C F# A D F# A


Em F#dim.

G----------4-]----------2-5-]
D-----2--5---]--------4-----]
A---2--------]------3-------]
E-3----------]-2--5---------]
G B E G B F# A C F# A C


that's cool, i think i might try that

To play all those triad in one postion you will need to use the pattern we just talked about and the one I described that uses three strings. Because the minor and augmented would be too big a stretch in one position.

Also don't just learn the shape of the major triad, learn which is the root, 3rd, 5th. That will make altering it to create the other traid fingering easy. Also when practicing these triads sing them too. The triad is the basis of all chords so singing will get the sound in your ear. That will help in making bass lines and transcribing the chords of a song.

thanks that's great help!