Using the fretboard

[DaddyGreenJeans]

Hello all,
i have been playing bass for around a year now, and have taken lessons for approximately 8 months up untill last week. i quit because the teachers methods of learning tab was no where i was trying to go in terms of learning my instrument.
i can read music, but not by sight right away, i have to study it. i understand major and minor scales ( i know there are far more than those two).

That being said, my question(s) is how do i use the fingerboard more effectively/ efficiently. it seems like i am stuck using 3/4 frets at a time, kinda in a square pattern through all the strings. when i am trying to come up with a run or line.

further more what practice routines can i use to accomplish this and overall become a better player. because i really do love to play that damn thing!

Also i am looking for lessons in the Denver area ( if this is not appropriate for this thread mods please delete this statement)

[Stuggi]

Start pracitcing scales in more than one octave. I basicly start on E, and play a major scale as far up as I can go, and then I go back a diffrent way. Then I do the same thing with the Minor scale.
Then I move on to F, and do the same thing. I do this with every note up to E-flat on the E sting.

[DaddyGreenJeans]

Originally Posted by Stuggi

Start pracitcing scales in more than one octave. I basicly start on E, and play a major scale as far up as I can go, and then I go back a diffrent way. Then I do the same thing with the Minor scale.
Then I move on to F, and do the same thing. I do this with every note up to E-flat on the E sting.

ok, i am only familiar with one pattern to play the major and minor scales so if i start say an "a" major scale on the 5th fret E string, i end up on the 7th fret D string how can i take it from there. this feel like a really dumb question.
i think that may be part of my problem, thinking in terms of patterns instead of notes and sounds of that makes sense. or maybe i over thinking this whole operation.

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by DaddyGreenJeans

ok, i am only familiar with one pattern to play the major and minor scales so if i start say an "a" major scale on the 5th fret E string, i end up on the 7th fret D string how can i take it from there. this feel like a really dumb question.
i think that may be part of my problem, thinking in terms of patterns instead of notes and sounds of that makes sense. or maybe i over thinking this whole operation.

you need to think in both notes AND patterns...

patterns will help you move easily from tonic to tonic and key to key...notes will help you just plain know what to play as well as what you ARE playing...

try playing different modal scales in the same key starting in different positions...work through all the modes...

[louieeadg]

DaddyGreenJeans!

Alright, you're on the right track. And learning to read music=very good. Now, I know where your head's at, I was there as well. One thing to try that'll make you really learn your fretboard is writing down all the notes to each of your major and minor scales and trying to play the scale all on one string. That's good for some fun....

But, here's a beautiful website for anybody from beginners to intermediate players. www.studybass.com
Very straightforward website with very good material. By far the best instruction website on the net. Go slow and enjoy...

[DaddyGreenJeans]

Originally Posted by louieeadg

DaddyGreenJeans!

Alright, you're on the right track. And learning to read music=very good. Now, I know where your head's at, I was there as well. One thing to try that'll make you really learn your fretboard is writing down all the notes to each of your major and minor scales and trying to play the scale all on one string. That's good for some fun....

But, here's a beautiful website for anybody from beginners to intermediate players. www.studybass.com
Very straightforward website with very good material. By far the best instruction website on the net. Go slow and enjoy...

Thanks a lot, i have been working at that website, i am really going to dive in it now though!!

[professor_bills]

It sounds like you and me are in the same situation Daddy GJ. I dont want to call it a rut because lately I have been having a blast playing with a few guys in a garage. I never really learned the theory like I should I just figure out the root notes and do a little walkin on the neck and figure out what sounds good. Sometimes the first time or two I play a song it sounds ruff and some stuff I just plain cant get without help form a guitar player. So i decided to try to learn my scales as well. The problem after that is what the hell do I do with them? Guess I'll figure that out later.
I never liked bass lessons because my first and only instructor had me doing all finger exercices and I would go home and play Who, Cream and Pink floyd with my friends.
Finger exercises seemed useless.
So good luck in your endeavours.

[Stuggi]

Originally Posted by DaddyGreenJeans

ok, i am only familiar with one pattern to play the major and minor scales so if i start say an "a" major scale on the 5th fret E string, i end up on the 7th fret D string how can i take it from there. this feel like a really dumb question.
i think that may be part of my problem, thinking in terms of patterns instead of notes and sounds of that makes sense. or maybe i over thinking this whole operation.

I made a vid explaining it pretty breifly. PM me if you have any more questions...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SqjBiZBeuA

[John Wentzien]

Two octave major arpeggios can help..

[tswd]

What helped me is figuring out the mode patterns. In case you don't know what that means:

Start with a major scale. I used C because there's no accidentals. Walk the scale starting on C. Then walk it starting on D, etc. But, move your hand for each one. There's a box pattern for each mode, so move from one box pattern to the next.

Then you can switch modes mid-stream depending on where you want the bass line to go. In your mind, you may be switching from box to box, but in reality you end up walking all over the fretboard.

Hopefully the modes will make sense once you hit the 6th mode and realize you're actually walking a minor scale.

[Cristo]

As opposed to playing lines across the strings, you can play them up the strings.

Not necessarily the simplest or most efficient way but it will help in learning the fretboard.

[DaddyGreenJeans]

Thanks for all your input guys

Originally Posted by tswd

What helped me is figuring out the mode patterns. In case you don't know what that means:


Start with a major scale. I used C because there's no accidentals. Walk the scale starting on C. Then walk it starting on D, etc. But, move your hand for each one. There's a box pattern for each mode, so move from one box pattern to the next.

Then you can switch modes mid-stream depending on where you want the bass line to go. In your mind, you may be switching from box to box, but in reality you end up walking all over the fretboard.

Hopefully the modes will make sense once you hit the 6th mode and realize you're actually walking a minor scale.

do you have a diagram or something explaining this? all the technical terms are sort of over my head as of right now.

[DaddyGreenJeans]

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

Two octave major arpeggios can help..

care to explain this a little further?

[louieeadg]

Originally Posted by DaddyGreenJeans

care to explain this a little further?

Ahhh, DaddyGreen...if you've been working on that website, www.studybass.com. You should know what a major arpeggio is ....just messing with you a lil.

http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bas...ts-of-music/3/

There's the page on studybass about chords and arpeggios. To sum it up quickly...a chord is a set of notes played simultaniously, ie 'C Major' chord has the notes, C E and G.
The arpeggio is like a broken chord. Instead of playing C, E, and G at the same time, we play C, E, then G. The arpeggio is one of the bassists best friends...