okay, im working out a book for bass guitar, and im kinda confused.

why do E Major and B Major have the same key signature here?

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/6453/0308091914.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0308091914.jpg)



also, im confused about arpeggios. this lame "song" starts out F Major, so F, A, and C should make up the first measure, right? so is D thrown in there?

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/292/98284450.th.jpg (http://img16.imageshack.us/my.php?image=98284450.jpg)

The key signature indicates the key of the piece, or part of a piece, that you are playing, and doesn't change with the chords. Your image shows a piece of music with chord changes – the key applies to the whole piece, not to the individual chords.

An arpeggio is a chord played one note at a time. An arpeggio of an F Major triad will indeed only have the notes F, A, and C; but the book mentions that the exercise concerns the sixth, which is what the D is. When playing an actual song it isn't necessary to stick strictly to only playing notes from the standard major arpeggio, This exercise is about adding some interest to your lines with notes other than the root, third, and fifth.

Sorry for the brief reply, but I'm just on my way to bed! I'm sure someone will come along with a more full answer while I'm asleep...

The song is in the key of E, on the second line, you are playing the fifth (V) chord of E, which is a B. :)
Remember your major scale! So for Emaj, it goes, E F# G# A B C# Eb E', which correspond to chords i-ii-iii-iv-v-vi-vii.

ii-v-i is a very very common chord progression. Expect to see it a lot.

A for that 'rogue' D in the 2nd example, the line of text mentions that it is going to be taking the normal triad, which as you said would be F A C and add the 6th. The 6th of F is a D. :)

Hope thats helps. If your book doesn't cover major scales, check out the links at the top of the forum. There is/was an excellent read on chord construction by a guy called Jazzbo. I'd also recommend Ed Friedland's Building Walking Bass Lines for an introduction to chord progressions and understanding!!!

also, im confused about arpeggios. this lame "song" starts out F Major, so F, A, and C should make up the first measure, right? so is D thrown in there?

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/292/98284450.th.jpg (http://img16.imageshack.us/my.php?image=98284450.jpg)

you're not restricted to the notes of the chord... you can play a D somewhere in the bar if you like.. it's only a plain ol' major 6th...

lots of pop & rock music adds the major 6th over a major chord.. in some styles you'll hear it in the bass more than any kind of 7th

Check out the link in my sig. There's lots of info there on music theory that can help you.