Frustrated

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by Attenergy

thank you DocBop ... that helps. I am currently trying to learn all the scales and read all the notes. Sometimes I am getting overwhelmed because there are so many. I started in E and tried to go through the E major, E natural minor, E harmonic minor, E melodic minor, E chromatic, E wholetone, E diminished, E major pentatonic and then E minor pentatonic. Then the next day I moved to F# and so on ... then I was going to go back and repeat them because I was giving only a day and an hour and change to it. With this, I haven't even gotten to the modes, chords, aprppegios etc I wanted to learn this so I could eventually get to PacMans scale system. I want to be very proficient on the instrument and need lot's of guidance. You guys are basically my teachers. My schedule is very erradic and it is hard to have a teacher on a regular basis and at the same time I no longer want to prolong my dream! I just want to make sure that I am attacking the instrument in the smartest way and take advantage of the wealth of knowledge you guys so freely share. I want to play jazz at a high level so anything you can do to help me as so many of you guys have would be greatly appreciated. I know they say I need to learn all keys but are there specific/common keys to Jazz?!?! And can you expound more on the "sweet spot" of the Bass!

Thank all of you guys in advance for your help!

Remember to learn a lot of information quickly, learn a little information slowly.

Learning is a building process and like really learning the major scale, in all keys, all over the neck. Working on playing major scale in intervals, patterns, sequences. two octave scales, and arpeggios. Work on ear training of major scale and intervals. Theory based on major scale and harmonized major scale. Learn one thing inside out that gives you a strong base of technique, fretboard knowledge, ear training, and whole process to learn a new scale. Once you have the major scale to that point you have a point of reference that make learning others scales and modes easier. Other scales come easy because you can look at them as variation of the major scale of the major scale work. Learning Jazz is the same way look at the common process. Start with Modal Jazz. That keeps the number of chords down, introduces Modes, motifs, phrasing, and etc. Get a foundation in Jazz improv. Then move to song like Blue Bossa or Autumn Leaves using Key Center approach. Then learn tunes with more Key Centers. Then backup and start relearning the tunes with chord-scale relationships. Again establish a good base and expand.

Sweet Spot is the low end of the bass usually the first five fret area. That is where the sound is full and fat and works well in Pop, Jazz standards, and similar styles. Jamerson tended to play down in the Sweet Spot most the time, but also remember he started as a upright bass player.

So to make more progress break things down to small pieces and make sure you really have that piece down before moving on. As you do this you will find remembering things easier, you start learning things faster as time goes on, and feel better about your progress because you see constant stream of achievements moving toward your big goal.

[Attenergy]

DocBop ... you are absolutely incredible!!! Thanks for sharing. As I mentioned, You fantastic avatars are my teachers and one day, I will create a fantastic song in you guys honor!!! It's amazing that you guys are so free with your hard earned knowledge. Once I get some knowledge, I promise to do the same. Thanks again DocBop ... and I will be in touch ...

[Pilgrim]

My comments:

1) Take some bass lessons. Ask for specific help on hand positions and fingering. Get the basics down and you'll have a foundation to work from.

2) Practice to music. Bass isn't much of a solo instrument, and exercises and scales bore me to death. But I can put on Ventures surf music and have a blast working out the bass line.

3) Remember the advice I give to every bass and guitar player: "The first 100 times you try to play it, it's hard. After that, it gets easier." Don't be discouraged if you can't work out a bass line on the first, 10th or 20th attempt. Keep after it.

4) If you find a bass line you can't play, don't sweat it. Instead, modify the bass line to something that YOU like and YOU can play. Music isn't written in stone - it has to work for YOU, and your opinion is as valid as the opinion of whoever played the bass line you're listening to.

[Attenergy]

Sounds Great Pilgrim!!!! Thanks for the info ... let me ask you, how soon should a person/student attempt to start copying bass lines of the greats?!?! And how much time should be spent trying to accomplish that in a practice routine?!

[K9Jay79]

Originally Posted by D Von

Its the invisible drum machine we carry in our magical gig bags.

That's awesome. Where do I go about finding this so called "magical gig bag." I will buy two.

As for the original question, I'm starting off myself with the bass. I agree with the post that said you may be tackling too much at once. I would break it up into note learning and rhythm work. When you do your rhythm stuff, just go real basic. Go as basic as you need to. It could just be a couple notes alternating, but get your timing down solid. Then climb the difficulty ladder. That's how I'm approaching it. My dad plays the drums, so we get together occassionally, but other than that, I have this forum, my "Idiot's Guide to Bass Guitar", and myself.

[bassbully]

And remember if you cant get good timing just play in a punk band...no need for timing and great fun.

[Rumblestiltzkin]

DocBop, amazing posts.

You guys should feel lucky somebody somebody took a lot of time to put this together and it's all spot-on.

[BillMason]

Originally Posted by moogboy

i dont keep time. i just play the part the way it was on the album. i play Rock. i mean, when you think about it, how many Rock musicians have perfect time and need you to utilise perfect time when playing their songs?

Only the good ones...

[IAmTheDood]

Attenergy,

one thing you will quickly learn when knowing your scales is that no matter what key you're playing the scale in, the fingering will be the same.

A G scale will have the exact same fingering a B scale and so on. There are obviously variations of what the fingerings can be, but those variations will be the same across the fretboard.

I'm a noob player too .. I've only been playing for almost 5 months but I taught myself scales, modes, arpeggios, types of scales (major, minor, blues minor, etc..) so I could get the fingering down.

Granted I grew up in musical theory playing other instruments so it came relatively natural to me, this is my first stringed instrument I've ever played though. The difference between stringed instruments and horns which I did play .. Horns have different fingerings for different scales .. play a C scale and a D scale .. it's not going to be the same fingerings, same progression yes, but not same fingerings so you have to know all the notes in the scale.



As to sightreading .. it takes time .. I'm no master at it yet on bass but from having done it growing up in music .. it will become second nature .. work on fingering positions on notes on the page first .. don't worry about timing, it will get easier faster.

[joelb79]

I've never found practicing to sheet music w/ a metronome fun. Half of the reason I quit band was because of that, the other half was the jerk of a director took the fun out of it.

I never minded practicing to sheet music however.

My biggest thing when playing bass, as far as a beginner was making as much noise as I could. I got into bass to make some noise. Later on, I discovered that my ear was trained enough to pick out notes and play along with music.

I guess I would recommend playing along (without sheet music) to songs you enjoy. The first song I learned was "Soul to squeeze" by RHCP. The bass was loud enough in that song to play along. It took me quite a while to master it.

another big learning experience was just getting out there an playing. In my high school years this meant joining the youth group band. I actually got more out of that experience than anything. From there, I was asked to play with a band. We played a few originals, as well as Tool and Silverchair covers.

After that, i simply had no problem getting a gig. Those two experiences combined with my constant playing along with songs had gained me a ton of knowledge of the fretboard and I was finally comfortable to where playing was nothing but fun even if I was playing wrong notes.

Another thing I did and still do today, is to imagine playing whenever I don't have a bass around. I will hum the bassline and imagine where my hand would be if i was playing.

and dont underestimate the power of putting the bass down, and humming/singing the line. If you cant figure out the line with your instrument in hand due to the fact that your not yet comfortable with the fret board, then singing what your reading is very very very very helpful.

From the mouth of the great Flea, "I will sing a bassline and then play it. If you can't sing it, you can't play it."

nothing truer has been said.

[KayCee]

Learn the notes first so that the metronome doesn't feel like a torture device.