Part 2 in my journey of learning the bass. so ive figured out a decent practice routine. but im looking to expand. so far im doing some basic hand warm ups followed by as much bass isometrics as i can handle. then its in to basic songs and what not. but id really like to start learning scales and theory. ive found quite a few links on that in the forums. but i haven't found anything on a good order to approach learning scales.


Should I be learning all the major and minor patterns? what about variations on them? should i be running all the patterns for the scales in a type of drill? kinda lost as to where to start with scales and ways to mix them in to my learning. thanks again.

Part 2 in my journey of learning the bass. so ive figured out a decent practice routine. but im looking to expand. so far im doing some basic hand warm ups followed by as much bass isometrics as i can handle. then its in to basic songs and what not. but id really like to start learning scales and theory. ive found quite a few links on that in the forums. but i haven't found anything on a good order to approach learning scales.


Should I be learning all the major and minor patterns? what about variations on them? should i be running all the patterns for the scales in a type of drill? kinda lost as to where to start with scales and ways to mix them in to my learning. thanks again.

Here's a drill for you:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f105/OnlyClave/scales.png

If you really want to learn scales, write them out and understand how they work. I can guarantee that after a few rounds of writing out the scales in 12 keys you'll start to see the patterns emerge and you'll have all of the notes memorized.

Don't waste much time working out patterns for major and minor shapes. The truth is the best fingering for a major scale is whatever works in the situation you are in. If you only know one pattern then you have severely limited yourself in your musical development.

edit: Here's where you can print out your own blank staff paper http://www.blanksheetmusic.net/

Check out Pacman's sure fire scale method here: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50170

That, and learn some songs.

Good luck

thanks for the input gents. gonna try pacman's and the writing out

Combine both Pacman's method and onlyclave's. All modes, all keys (using all the keys over the entire fretboard, as per Pacman). Have you learned the circle of fourths/fifths? onlyclave's guide is in fourths, continuing with the keys of Emaj, Amaj, Dmaj, Gmaj, and then back to the key of Cmaj. Remember that theory practice can mostly occur separate from an instrument.

no i have not learned the circle of fourths/fifths, but i keep reading about this idea but havent seen any real guides to it.

OK I have just a minute to respond right now, but if you have the circle of 5ths memorized so that you can go through it backwards and forwards, it will be a great help for you in the future. When you go through it clockwise it is 5ths. When you go through it counter clockwise it is fourths. If you know the strings on a 6 string bass, you already know half of the circle.

One quick example of how the circle/cycle can be helpful.

Say you know what note you are on the fretboard, if you know the circle, you will easily know what the note will be for the same position on the string above and below.

It is also super helpful for chord progressions which will be a staple in your bass playing.
It makes it easy to know what the chords would be for a I IV V progression for example.

That is only scratching the surface, but trust me if you have that memorized forwards and backwards, it will be a big help. :)

As you get deeper into it, you can also see what key something is in by how many sharps or flats there are etc.

Here is a link to get you started.
http://www.studybass.com/lessons/harmony/the-circle-of-fifths-diagram/

This one and the next lesson are great primers.

funny you pull up study bass, i was actually gonna be going on to lesson block 4 tonight :P

+1 to everything Cameronj said :).

Check out the link in my sig. Should be something there for you.

In addition to all the good advice above: do you know what you'll be playing live? If so, focus on that first. For example: 90% of our songs are played in major keys, of which about 70% is in F. It thus makes sense to focus on those scales first. After nailing them down, you're not under that much pressure to extend your horisons in a short space of time.