Bassic bass scales

[thebassics123]

im a beginner and id like to start learning scales, but now websites have given any decent instruction. whats a good website or a good way to learn?

[fearceol]

One of the best all round sites for bass IMO is :

http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bass-scales/

[Staccato]

Try the pentatonic scale halfway down the page on this studybass page, place your mouse over the notes on the neck!

Now, turn on your computer's sound-it's plays each note for you.

Practice the pentatonic form in the keys of C, F, Bb, and G...

And, keep repeating, Danielsan!

[JTE]

The diatonic major scale. Everything else you'll need to know about harmony (and harmony is the bass player's job) comes from having a solid knowledge of the major scale.

Now, the hard part is that "knowing" any scale is way more than being able to finger it on the neck. That is utterly the least important part of knowing a scale. By "know the scale" I mean.

A. You understand how it's constructed and know the half-step and whole-step formula for that scale.
B. You can work out for yourself without using either an instrument nor a diagram, chart, etc. the notes in the scale in any key using the correct enharmonics (that is, you know not only that A major has a G#, but you know why it's G# and not Ab).
C. You can find the notes for the scale on your bass over at least two octaves, without using a chart, diagram, or picture.

If you can do that with the diatonic major scale, then learn about basic harmony (including the harmonized scale), how to build basic chords including triads (major, minor, diminished, augmented) and seventh chords (major, minor, dominant, minor 7 b5, diminished). Same thing as with scales- you don't KNOW any of this stuff until you can work it out for yourself without the bass or a chart, you know what it's going to sound like before you play it, and you can find the notes for yourself over two octaves on the neck.

After that, learn the pentatonic minor, pentatonic major, and listen for how all are used in different bass lines. Only after this should you even think about considering anything regarding modes.

John

[MalcolmAmos]

Here is where all that can be found.
http://www.ibreathemusic.com/article/105
How the major scale is constructed. Notice the button at the end of the lesson. Click it to get deeper into scales.
JTE touched on WWHWWWH here is where you can find what all that means.
http://musictheory.tripod.com/scales.htm

http://www.cyberfretbass.com/scales/basic/page2.php
Bass scale patterns. The red dot is the root. Place the root and the scale notes are waiting for you. Red dot on the E string 3rd fret and the G scale notes are waiting for you. On the 5th fret the A scale notes await, yep C scale at the 8th fret. By now I'm sure you have figured out you placed the pattern red dot over the note (name) of the scale you wanted to play. The numbers shown in the pattern are what fingers to use to fret the strings, 1 = index, 2= middle, etc. Notice the pattern takes place over 4 frets and you have four fingers..... learn to use all four fingers.

In case you do not already have a fretboard chart.... everybody gotta have a fretboard chart.
http://www.guitarhangout.com/wp-cont...itar-notes.jpg

Yes www.studybass.com will help.

Now - why learn scales? Just like everybody gotta have a fretboard chart, everybody gotta do their scales. Why? Well to get your fingers knowing where the notes are on your fretboard for one thing. And just as important to get your ear to recognize the good notes from the bad notes. My old instructor told me he did not really care if I missed a note as long as I knew I missed it and corrected it. Go play good notes and if you hit a bad one, a good one is just a fret away.

Need more -- ask specific questions someone will jump on it.

[dalconthenovice]

pacman has a great thread on learning scales on my opinion the best and correct way of learning scales you can use it for most any scale but if you're going to learn your scales i would recommend that being the way

[Chris K]

For beginners, I recommend learning the major scale in one position halfway the neck without bothering about the names of notes for the time being.

So, just for initial oriantation: scale of D, root is D on the A string, 5th fret. Play it with your middle fnger (thumb opposite on the back of the neck, pointing at the ceiling), Start with one octave and finger it this way:

1 - middle
2 - pinky
3 - fore
4 - middle
5 - pinky
6 - fore
7 - ring
8 (= 1) - pinky

(DON'T WATCH YEAR HAND, ONLY USE YOUR EARS TO MAKE CORRECTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Later, expand down in that same position:

1 - middle
7 - fore
6 - pinky
5 - middle

Then, move the entire box one string down and 3 frets up (= C on the E-string, 8th fret). there you can learn to expand the box going up:

Up:
8 (= 1) - pinky
2 - fore
3 - middle
4 - pinky

Advantages of this system:

- intervals and fingerings are linked, so it will make it easy to learn intervals and fixed bass patterns
- it can be moved all over the fretboard
- it covers the vast majorty of actual musical needs in playing real music
- tranposing is made easy by shifting the hand position a couple of frets up or down and/or a string up or down.

(Certainly in a few cases you will need to use alternative fingerings, but these will devlop in a natural way).

Once you know the major scale, start on the natural minor scale from the very same box. Start on 6 - pinky in the 'expand down' box. This is the root note (1) of the relative minor scale.

Further scales, like the pentatonic scale and all of the modes can be played using the above fingerings.
Some other scales, like the harmonic and melodic minor scale can be learned expandinging these fingerings with a one position shift up:

Harmonic minor:
Start on 6-pinky (= 1 of the relative minor scale) like. Play up to 4 -middle (= 6 of the minor scale) and shift up one positon to finger the next note with your pinky (= 7 of the harmonic minor scale). Shift back and play 6 - fore (= 8 of the relative minor scale) as normal.

Melodic minor:
Going down, it is the same as natural minor. To go up:
Start on 6-pinky (= 1 of the relative minor scale) like. Play up to 3 - fore (= 5 of the minor scale) and shift up one positon to finger the next note with your middle finger (= 6 of the melodic minor scale going up) and then the next note with your pinky (= 7 of the melodic minor scale). Then shift back and play 6 - fore (= 8 of the relative minor scale) as normal.

Have fun.