CYCLE OF FIFTHS???

iplaybassguitar · #1 08-24-2006, 06:57 PM

what is this exactly? i know about the circle of fifths and how it works and everything, but ive read in a bunch of these practice posts that people practice their scales and such through the cycle of fifths, how exactly do you do that?

would you just start on a note, say c, and plaay it up to its fifth, G, then play g up to its fifth, d, and keep going? or do you play the whole c scale first then play half of it again up to g???

im really confused, but id love to add something like this to my practice routine, to further familiarize myself with the fretboard and such

All_¥our_Bass · #2 08-24-2006, 07:46 PM

they don't play up to the fifths, they move the entire scale.

Let's say you wanted to pratice all your majors scales across the circle of fifths

We'd start on C Major
C D E F G A B

move up a fifth to G Major
G A B C D E F#

move up a fifth to D Major
D E F# G A B C#

move up a fifth to A Major
A B C# D E F# G#

move up a fifth to E Major
E F# G# A B C# D#

move up a fifth to B(Cb) Major
B C# D# E F# G# A#
or the enharmonic equivalent Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb

move up a fifth to F#(Gb) Major
F# G# A# B C# D# E#
or the enharmonic equivalent Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F

move up a fifth to C#(Db) Major
C# D# E# F# G# A# B#
or the enharmonic equivalent Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C

move up a fifth to G#(Ab) Major
G# A# B# C# D# E# F##
or the enharmonic equivalent Ab Bb C Db Eb F G

move up a fifth to D#(Eb) Major
D# E# F## G# A# B# C##
or the enharmonic equivalent Eb F G Ab Bb C D

move up a fifth to A#(Bb) Major
A# B# C## D# E# F## G##
or the enharmonic equivalent Bb C D Eb F G A

move up a fifth to F(E#) Major
E# F## G## A# B# C## D##
or the enharmonic equivalent F G A Bb C D E

enharmonics are notes that can be called by two names, even though there teh same note, it depends on the musical situation to determine which is "right" or "better/best" for use.

ryco · #3 08-24-2006, 07:50 PM

Play scale C to C, then scale G to G, then scale, D to D.... on through the whole cycle until you return to C

Quote:

Originally Posted by iplaybassguitar

would you just start on a note, say c, and plaay it up to its fifth, G, then play g up to its fifth, d, and keep going? or do you play the whole c scale first then play half of it again up to g???

^Although this is good as well.

And play through the cycle of fourths as well: C to C, F to F, Bb to Bb.... on through 'til you return to C. Works for all scales Major, minor, etc.

rebelbass · #4 08-24-2006, 08:02 PM

I practice a 8 note scale; fingering is 2-4
1-2-4
1-3-4
Start on "b" (e-string 7th fret)
next is "e" scale (same fingering,start on "a-string" 7th fret)
then "a" (e-string 5th fret)
"d" (a-string,5th fret)
"g" (e-string, 3rd fert)
"c" (a-string,3rd fret)
"f" is tricky,(f/1st finger,1st fret) 1-3
open-1-3
open-2-4
B flat, a-string,1st finger,1st fret,same as "f".
This is cycle of 4th's (beadgcf) I play it that way,then I'll play "b" fowards,"e" backwards. mix them up. keeps fingers loose.

Correlli · #5 08-24-2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iplaybassguitar

what is this exactly?

Classical composers would modulate through the circle of fifths, clockwise or counter-clockwise.

iplaybassguitar · #6 08-26-2006, 07:47 PM

thank you...thats what i first thought, but it seemed too easy

Correlli · #7 08-26-2006, 08:25 PM

modulating clockwise implies a feeling of tension, and counter-clockwise suggest a feeling of repose.

SLaPiNFuNK · #8 09-02-2006, 01:30 PM

here is a post I made on this subject...

On the bass, since it is tuned in 4th for all strings *unlike guitar which goes from G to B (3rd) one of the Key's to knowing your bass is the circle of 4ths ...

How do you know what is the 4th?

We all know C Major scale correct?

C D E F G A B C

C is the 1st
F is the 4th (fourth degree in the scale is the 4th)

So... the circle moves in 4ths around...

C F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb B E A D G C

The easy way to remeber it...

C

F

BEAD (like the word Bead) but with Flat infront

Gb / F#

BEAD (like the work Bead) naturals

G

C

If you can take the time to find where the C is on the frett board and discover the pattern then you can learn where the notes are...

C on the G string is on the 5th Frett and 17th Frett

F on the D string is on the 3rd Frett and the 15th Frett

See the pattern? Down one string down Two Fretts... Thats a fourth!

Bb on the G string is on the 3rd Frett and the 15th Frett.

Another Pattern! Going Up a string on the same frett is a 4th...

If you repeat that pattern you can play the circle of 4ths.. This is also the most common chord progression... (2 , 5 , 1) (D G C)

If you play this up and down and across your bass, it will really help you learn where all of the notes are on your frettboard and not just in one place, but up and down on everystring...

This will also help you bar notes when plaing the 4ths up the strings. It can help with your technique as well...

I hope this helps... Its basic, but will help you in the long run...

The above in reverse....

C G D A E B F#/Gb Db Ab Eb Bb F C

is the circle of 5ths.
Edit/Delete Message

iplaybassguitar · #9 09-02-2006, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

here is a post I made on this subject...

On the bass, since it is tuned in 4th for all strings *unlike guitar which goes from G to B (3rd) one of the Key's to knowing your bass is the circle of 4ths ...

How do you know what is the 4th?

We all know C Major scale correct?

C D E F G A B C

C is the 1st
F is the 4th (fourth degree in the scale is the 4th)

So... the circle moves in 4ths around...

C F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb B E A D G C

The easy way to remeber it...

C

F

BEAD (like the word Bead) but with Flat infront

Gb / F#

BEAD (like the work Bead) naturals

G

C

If you can take the time to find where the C is on the frett board and discover the pattern then you can learn where the notes are...

C on the G string is on the 5th Frett and 17th Frett

F on the D string is on the 3rd Frett and the 15th Frett

See the pattern? Down one string down Two Fretts... Thats a fourth!

Bb on the G string is on the 3rd Frett and the 15th Frett.

Another Pattern! Going Up a string on the same frett is a 4th...

If you repeat that pattern you can play the circle of 4ths.. This is also the most common chord progression... (2 , 5 , 1) (D G C)

If you play this up and down and across your bass, it will really help you learn where all of the notes are on your frettboard and not just in one place, but up and down on everystring...

This will also help you bar notes when plaing the 4ths up the strings. It can help with your technique as well...

I hope this helps... Its basic, but will help you in the long run...

The above in reverse....

C G D A E B F#/Gb Db Ab Eb Bb F C

is the circle of 5ths.
Edit/Delete Message

you couldve just said play the circle of fifths backwards...

iplaybassguitar · #10 09-02-2006, 04:32 PM

my bad, i didnt realize that you actually said that at the very bottom.

steveb98 · #11 09-02-2006, 04:57 PM

The Circle of Fifths is usually laid out like a clock, with C at the 12 o'clock position and F at the 1 o'clock, Bb at 2 o'clock, and so on. Check out the following link to see one.

http://www.apassion4jazz.net/circle5.html

The circle of fifths one of the strongest root movements in chord progressions. That is why it is good to know. or how to figure out quickly. The circle is your V to I chord change. Learning to recoginze V - I's will help in spotting key center changes in songs. In reharmonization you can just about always preceed a chord with its V7 chord.

Last a lot of player use the Circle of Fifths when practicing. Since it is good to practice things in all twelve keys they will use the Circle of Fifths as there way of way of hitting all twelve keys. Especially with guitar/bass playing in all twelve keys in basically one position is quite a workout. Take a lot of fretboard knowledge.