Quote:
Originally Posted by mmidgers  I just can't figure this out. I have this book called Serious electric bass by joel bartolo. In chaper 9 he talks about the 5 position system, but i just don't get it at all. I've been staring at the books for hours now and no joy! any help would be great.
Here a link to the chapter online http://books.google.ie/books?id=a2DC...20cool&f=false |
Try
Pacman's sure-fire scale practice method It's basically this, stated in another way.
I THINK what he's getting at in the book is that there are basically 7 patterns in a scale, if you start the scale at any given point (root, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) Those 7 patterns he's put into 5 positions.
Because the different modes are based on starting a scale from a different spot (note, based on, not "the same as"), if you memorize the 7 patterns, you've got all the modes for free.
If I play pattern "1", starting on open E, that's the E major scale. If I play pattern "2" starting on the "E", that's E dorian. If I play pattern "3" starting on the open E, that's E Phrygian. Etc.
But, likewise, if I play pattern 2 STARTING on the '2' of E (i.e. F#), that's either F# dorian, or E major but starting on the 2 instead of the root.
My instructor (who also taught Pacman that method) taught me these patterns right off the bat. I don't know all the notes yet, but because I memorized the patterns, I can play any modal scale, in any key, starting at any point of the scale. And no, I can't make it sound good. =) (But I've been playing only a few months, so I'm ok with that.)
