Expanding my knowledge of music HELP!

[super8mario]

Sooo I've been playing bass for about 3 years now. I haven't ever had any instruction on it, due to living in and around really small towns where there isnt exactly a big music crowd.


My question is sort of vague, but i dont know how to describe with my lack of knowledge on this subject. I can play my bass just fine in my opinion...i dont find technique to be a problem at all. It's more or less being able to know which notes i can use without it sounding bad. I can jam in one key jus fine, but after that its like I dont know where to go with it. It's like i have all these sounds in my head and i cant figure out how to get them out.
I also think i get key changed and chord changes confused all the time. And i know practice is everything..which is why i continue to practic daily, but i almost feel like theres just something i havent learned yet, like there is a wall thats blocking me from progessing.
Jus let me hear ur thoughts, i will try to elaborate the best i can.

-Mario

[Stumbo]

You might try checking out the links in my sig. below. Lots of great TB info to help you along your way.

Good luck.

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by super8mario

My question is sort of vague, but i dont know how to describe with my lack of knowledge on this subject. I can play my bass just fine in my opinion...i dont find technique to be a problem at all. It's more or less being able to know which notes i can use without it sounding bad. I can jam in one key jus fine, but after that its like I dont know where to go with it. It's like i have all these sounds in my head and i cant figure out how to get them out.

Sounds to me like you might not be familiar with your fretboard. If you were then you wouldn't be having difficulty knowing what notes to hit without it sounding bad. You'd be able to take what you hear in your head and play it more accurately on your bass.

Learn both the major and minor scales and their arpeggios in all 12 keys while utilizing the entire fretboard. While you play each note, sing the name of the note, this will help embed the tone of the note into your brain.

I also suggest (and some may not find this practical),that you start on the first fret of your E string (B if you play a 5 string) and go chromatically up the fretboard singing each and every note on your fretboard as you play it.

Also read the sticky thread titled "Pacman's sure-fre scale scale method" or something along that line and as Stumbo said, the links in his sig.