Piano and Music Theory Compostion.

[Demonator]

This year at school (my senior year) I decided to get into band and Piano and Music Thoery Compostion. Its nearing the end of the semester and I have quite a bit from both classes.

My point is Ive noticed a big improvement in my playing. I now understand music on a whole different level. Is this because of these classes?
Reason why I ask is both band and Piano have nothing to do with bass (besides music) I can now read a fair bit of sheet music and know a few keys. But can this really have much of an impact on my bass?
Thank you.

[lolaviola]

Of course it has an impact!
They say that simply becoming aware of something is the first step to improving it or incorporating into our playing.
In your case your awareness extends beyond the instrument you're playing and encompasses the music in general: Melody Rhythm Harmony.

[Ray man]

Originally Posted by Demonator

This year at school (my senior year) I decided to get into band and Piano and Music Thoery Compostion. Its nearing the end of the semester and I have quite a bit from both classes.

My point is Ive noticed a big improvement in my playing. I now understand music on a whole different level. Is this because of these classes?
Reason why I ask is both band and Piano have nothing to do with bass (besides music) I can now read a fair bit of sheet music and know a few keys. But can this really have much of an impact on my bass?
Thank you.

This is good in so many ways.

The huges inprovement to my bass playing has been to play on piano all kinds of chord voicings, melodys, progressions, patterns and translate them to bass.

You can always break up the chords into melodys. This will help you 'connect the dots' when moving through changes.

[Erick Lam]

Originally Posted by Demonator

Reason why I ask is both band and Piano have nothing to do with bass (besides music) I can now read a fair bit of sheet music and know a few keys. But can this really have much of an impact on my bass?

That's a pretty big deal, don't you think? It's all about the music. It saddens me a little when I read bass players, mostly young players, talk about bassists, bass grooves, bass licks, bass this and bass that. It's bass bass bass. Bass is just an instrument. Music is the real deal.

[MalcolmAmos]

..... and each new instrument will broaden your understanding of music. Piano, because we simotaniously producing both baseline and melody line is a great teaching tool.

Be a sponge - absorb everything you can.

[Fletcher Lanning]

The bass is not a way to express 'bass', it is a way to express music. Any and all musical input will change your sound and your experience, thereby changing what comes out.

[Demonator]

Thank you guys very much. I notticed I had a better for what just sounds right. its odd.

[Ray man]

Originally Posted by Demonator

Thank you guys very much. I notticed I had a better for what just sounds right. its odd.

[the_hook]

I'm glad I bought an electric piano off a guy for very cheap (looks and plays like new) because I believed it would only come in handy while learning the bass.

Now that I'm learning scales and chords I'll do everything on the piano first, then the bass. I find the direct layout of the keyboard easier to visualize and it takes me over to the fretboard quicker.

I also like playing out chords on the piano, changing various notes, and hearing how the music changes. In the end it's another tool to get better on bass...

[AlexD]

Originally Posted by Erick Lam

That's a pretty big deal, don't you think? It's all about the music. It saddens me a little when I read bass players, mostly young players, talk about bassists, bass grooves, bass licks, bass this and bass that. It's bass bass bass. Bass is just an instrument. Music is the real deal.

+1000, couldn't agree more.

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by Demonator

Thank you guys very much. I notticed I had a better for what just sounds right. its odd.

It's called knowledge.