Chromatic scales

xctrackman089 · #1 10-04-2009, 02:26 PM

What are some good exercises to learn all of your chromatic scales throughout the whole neck of the bass?

Alvaro Martín Gómez A. · #2 10-04-2009, 02:46 PM

The chromatic scale has a very well-defined pattern on the bass fingerboard if you use the one finger per fret technique. Here it is, starting on the C on the E string, 8th fret:

Practice it very slowly using your metronome and gradually increase speed. Repeat several times non-stop. You'll notice the pattern and it will become automatic. Of course, you can start it almost anywhere on the E or A strings. Hope this helps.

RAM · #3 10-05-2009, 12:41 AM

Aside from the post above by Alvaro Martín Gómez A., I'm not sure what to add without first asking the question, "What are you hoping to get out of it?" Strength? Dexterity? Just another scale to master? Honestly, I can't really think of many (if any) real-world examples of where you'd use a chromatic scale. Wanna clue me in?

The thing is, what you get out of it and how you play it depends on your style. Some bassists who were classically trained, for example, don't play one-finger-per-fret, but rather play without using their ring finger. Others don't use their pinky and PREFER to use their ring finger. If you only use 3 fingers on your left hand, such as using either of these 2 styles, they may need to be played differently, such as sliding into the 4th note on a given string before jumping to the next.

superhand · #4 10-05-2009, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xctrackman089

What are some good exercises to learn all of your chromatic scales throughout the whole neck of the bass?

There is only one chromatic scale, right? It's all eleven notes, it can start anywhere. That's the way I learned it anyhow. There is really not much to learn as far as the notes in the scale.

What exactly are you trying to achieve?

xctrackman089 · #5 10-09-2009, 03:59 PM

Im just trying to make up groves on my own instead of learning music I just dont no how to do so with chords and scales I mean i know alot of scales I just dont know how to turn those into a funky bass line.

EADG mx · #6 10-09-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAM

Aside from the post above by Alvaro Martín Gómez A., I'm not sure what to add without first asking the question, "What are you hoping to get out of it?" Strength? Dexterity? Just another scale to master? Honestly, I can't really think of many (if any) real-world examples of where you'd use a chromatic scale. Wanna clue me in?

Chromatic scalular runs, 12-tone music.

JTE · #7 10-09-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xctrackman089

Im just trying to make up groves on my own instead of learning music I just dont no how to do so with chords and scales I mean i know alot of scales I just dont know how to turn those into a funky bass line.

If you can't make music with the scales you "know", I assert that you don't really KNOW the scale. To "know" a scale means:

A. You know the whole-step and half-step formula for making a major scale
B. You know how to figure out the notes in any major key, using the correct enharmonics
C. You know what it sounds like- you know what the next note will sound like before you play it
D. You can find it and play it over two octaves ascending and descending in any key

If you don't have all four of those things down cold, you don't know the scale, you're only wiggling your fingers.

John

odin70 · #8 10-09-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superhand

There is only one chromatic scale, right? It's all eleven notes, it can start anywhere.

Did you mean 12 notes?

CatfishStudios · #9 10-09-2009, 04:51 PM

it is actually 11 notes, as 2 are the same note, but an octave apart.

Zombbg4 · #10 10-09-2009, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CatfishStudios

it is actually 11 notes, as 2 are the same note, but an octave apart.

C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B

That's 12.

odin70 · #11 10-09-2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CatfishStudios

it is actually 11 notes, as 2 are the same note, but an octave apart.

E-F-F#-G-G#-A-Bb-H-C-C#-D-D# I really think that is 12 different notes.

Zombbg4 · #12 10-09-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odin70

E-F-F#-G-G#-A-Bb-H-C-C#-D-D# I really think that is 12 different notes.

Nice, but theres a typo after the Bb

CatfishStudios · #13 10-09-2009, 05:01 PM

ahh.. i was incorrect, the 13th note would be the octave.

odin70 · #14 10-09-2009, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombbg4

An H note, what are you some kinda looney European?!

You bet your ass i am.

odin70 · #15 10-09-2009, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CatfishStudios

ahh.. i was incorrect, the 13th note would be the octave.

Have you heard of Arnold Schoenberg,s 11 tone music

INTP · #16 10-09-2009, 05:19 PM

Mixing flats and sharps hurts my head, odin70.

odin70 · #17 10-09-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by INTP

Mixing flats and sharps hurts my head, odin70.

Sorry about that

BOTTOMBOOMER · #18 10-09-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAM

Aside from the post above by Alvaro Martín Gómez A., I'm not sure what to add without first asking the question, "What are you hoping to get out of it?" Strength? Dexterity? Just another scale to master? Honestly, I can't really think of many (if any) real-world examples of where you'd use a chromatic scale. Wanna clue me in?

The thing is, what you get out of it and how you play it depends on your style. Some bassists who were classically trained, for example, don't play one-finger-per-fret, but rather play without using their ring finger. Others don't use their pinky and PREFER to use their ring finger. If you only use 3 fingers on your left hand, such as using either of these 2 styles, they may need to be played differently, such as sliding into the 4th note on a given string before jumping to the next.

Play the chorus for "Immigrant Song"

Jordan M · #19 10-12-2009, 02:55 PM

I thought the Immigrant Song was major scales ascending chromatically, not chromatic scales ascending?