Hear music in my head, dont where to fret

[BassOverdrive]

I've always had a knack for coming up music in my head, but when i actually try to play em, I don't know where the hell to fret. Usually I have to play a note and kind of improv it from there, but like for complicated things I just don't where to begin or to end. I don't want to hit a note all over the fretboard to look for what note I want. I always thought that Sight reading would help this since it makes you play by notes and youd get used to where the notes on the neck are and what a C or D# would sound like, but I'm not sure. I think its called Ear Training to know what notes are what. I think I should learn Sight reading finally (been playing a little over a year), I was wondering if anyone else had exercises or thoughts on how to remedy this problem

Thanks

[Mesmerize-16]

Ear training will help you a lot.

When translating from my head to my bass, I tend to find the first note of the phrase on the bass (I don't have perfect pitch so I can't just say "oh, that's an F#") and then I figure out the intervals and the key and play the line. Hope that helps.

[DocBop]

Start thinking about the notes and interval you are playing when you practice and learn bass lines. What intervals are being used, what sequences of notes. That helps with brain, ear, hand combo you need to play what you hear in your head. Then do ear training and singing of scales and intervals. Sing basslines you know already by scale degree that helped me a lot.

Music is a language and you have to train you brain to think and speak in it.

[EADG mx]

Ear training, theory, and transcribing.

[Stumbo]

Ear Training links:
http://www.teoria.com/ (Look for Exercises)
http://www.good-ear.com/

Learn to sing the intervals.
Practice singing what you hear in your head.
Record your singing. Replicate on bass. Transcribe your lines.

[fretlessman71]

And since it hasn't been said (might have been taken for granted):

Learn your scales. Be FLAWLESS in your scales. You'll start to connect what you're singing with where those notes are in the scale, and your hand will follow accordingly.

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Ear Training links:
http://www.teoria.com/ (Look for Exercises)
http://www.good-ear.com/

Learn to sing the intervals.
Practice singing what you hear in your head.
Record your singing. Replicate on bass. Transcribe your lines.

+1

If the OP can learn to sing what he hears using a method like solfeggio, it'll help a great deal with interval recognition, and it's fairly easy if you start out singing basic intervals to yourself every time you play: Fa, Ray, Sol, Do, La, Ray, Sol, Do...

[BassOverdrive]

I appreciate the help, Ill look into the exercises and start singing intervals

[DudeistMonk]

Personally my ears need a lot more work (transcribing is a weak point for me right now) but when it comes to something I already have in my head. I will just choose a note that sounds close to the first note in my head, even if I'm wrong the line in my head will transpose to the note I just played (and you can always move it later), then I start trying notes, (minor v. major third ext.), trying to determine what chord/scale my mind is operating in and then play around in with that scale till either I find the line or I come up with something I deem better....hope that helps a lil.