lets give you the scenario...

playing for a year

teaching myself everything

getting pretty good

moving along quite nicely

no experience with theory whatsoever

getting a teacher isnt an option

and getting past basic scales and reading staffs is scary for me and confusing too. i dont know where to go from here, so of coarse, im turning to you guys for help.

Read all the articles on the front page.......Jazzbo will be along in a minute!! ;)

right now im around the point where i kinda understand the idea pacman is giving in the other thread but i coludnt figure it out if i tried.

Well this is Jazzbo's introduction:

http://www.talkbass.com/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=31

whens hes talking about building a scale is that any scale or just that particular one?

he lost me after the major scale in the key of C

hey todd...when Jazzbo posts his link take a look at that....meanwhile I think I know where you're coming from...I heard the word "Theory" and thought of some extremely complicated subject for bass...but as I took a look at theory and put a little effort into it i'm gradually learning scales and understanding the concept of chords etc.....scales are sometimes a chore to learn...but actually they're kind of fun to learn I think...and once you get the notes of the fretboard down...thing becomes a lot easier....instead of just guessing whats going to sound right you'll know....and then that can lead to improvising etc. etc....I think a good idea is to think of a practice routine and work on the weak areas...a teacher is not quite the option for myself either in a small area but I've went along with what I've learned here on the site and would say I've progressed greatly!...now I just need to find a teacher..blah blah....anyways don't give up on it because it's intimidating a little...I think if you can get past what Pacman has posted on learning notes and playing the scales things will become a lot easier:)

I undeerstand triads!!!! hurray!

not to make things more confusing but check out this link on the circle of the fifths by Gard

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11675&highlight=Circle+Of+Fifths

It'll be helpful

thanks i was looking for the cirlce of fifths thing, man you guys rock

yeah i dont have a clue what gard is talking about there but i can see that i will with some practice.

Ahem!.....:p
First off, no amount of theory is good, until it is vast. You need an "extensive knowledge of theory", like me.:D

Hehe.....I'll leave now.;)

i think this will help me along quiet a bit. you guys are the best. BTW any tips on how to apply this stuff as i learn it? and should i just memorize my fretboard like ive started to?

Originally posted by Terry Morse
Ahem!.....:p
First off, no amount of theory is good, until it is vast. You need an "extensive knowledge of theory", like me.:D

Hehe.....I'll leave now.;)

of coarse. im going to be the most professional bassist even to walk this earth by the time im dead;) :D

ment to type ever not even sorry ***

Originally posted by Todd Stanley
i think this will help me along quiet a bit. you guys are the best. BTW any tips on how to apply this stuff as i learn it? and should i just memorize my fretboard like ive started to?

You can use your newly aquired knowledge of triads and use it to creat a simple yet effective bassline. Lets say the chord your guitarist is playing is C major. The notes in that chord are C-E-G. Just use those notes on your bass, and WHAM you got yourself a good sounding bassline.

Memorizing the fretboard is important too, when you think you got the bassics of scales and modes down, try this:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50170&highlight=Pacmans
It'll help you memorize where the notes from a scale appear on your entire fretboard.

Originally posted by Todd Stanley
he lost me after the major scale in the key of C
Which part exactly?

He, I was in this situation a year ago. Just stay on talkbass. It's all you need. Also, some books will help to. Bass books, piano books, theory books in general will all do.

Now I know more theory than the overwhelming majority of students in the music program at my school, and I've been playing for 2 years with no private lessons.

Talkbass is the way to learn theory. There are some very helpful and knowledgable people here.