HELP! I need to jam in F and don't know any theory.

bacid · #1 05-03-2007, 01:30 PM

Tomarrow is the graduation celebration at my school and my buddy and I are going to play cheesy graduation songs tomorrow. We've been so busy with finals and school and things that we haven't played together. So he told me not to worry about anything and just jam in F. As far as my theory goes I know that I just need to start with an F and end with an F. I don't know what else to play in between, and I don't want to look like an idiot and play out of key tomorrow, but I don't want to pound out roots and octaves all day. I need to funk in F and I am not sure about what he's playing either. Should I just ask him for what chords he will use and just do goofy arpeggios over them? AHHH! I don't know. Please help, thanks.

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stedtale · #2 05-03-2007, 01:33 PM

http://www.activebass.com/

go to "track builder" and jam along with Fmaj or Fminor chords....

Also, under "basics" is some good scale stuff, etc

But, if he wants to do an actual progress, ask him what it will be, i.e. 12 bar blues, etc.

stedtale · #3 05-03-2007, 01:35 PM

http://www.jazzbooks.com/jazzhandbook/

is good too...

bacid · #4 05-03-2007, 02:49 PM

Thanks man, looks good. If my 4 page paper on T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" didn't just get deleted, I would check those out, but alas I have to write the same 4 pages that I just finished writing, AGAIN! The laptop I was on crashed without saving. Damn you finals week! Damn you British Literature! Damn you graduation!

middy · #5 05-03-2007, 02:50 PM

Save early. Save often.

DocBop · #6 05-03-2007, 03:08 PM

Sorry you're not going to learn much by tomorrow if you don't know anything today. Most guys even if they don't know any theory will know Major and Minor pentatonics and Blues scale. So you have one night to work on your pentatonic skills. Find or record some F and F mi chords and start working and very important listen. Keep playing even if you hit a sour note so you can work on making it into a good note.

You didn't say if you are just playing basslines or going to have to solo. If basslines roots and fifths will get you through anything. Just keep it simple and groove with the drummer. If you have to solo don't sound like a bass player. In other words avoid roots and fifths especially on one. In fact if you have to solo, just avoid playing F and you will pull it off.

Last most people don't listen very close, but they do notice when the bass suddenly gets quiet. So play strong even if you hit a clunker. WRONG and STRONG is way better than making faces and the volume dropping. If you hit too many clunkers just tell 'em you're into Jazz, smile and walk away.

Vic Winters · #7 05-03-2007, 03:59 PM

http://www.all-guitar-chords.com/guitar_scales.php

K9Jay79 · #8 05-03-2007, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocBop

If you hit too many clunkers just tell 'em you're into Jazz, smile and walk away.

That's awesome. I'm going to use that regularly.

ibnzneksrul · #9 05-03-2007, 04:19 PM

You could always put a capo on the first fret and play as if in E.

uturnbass · #10 05-03-2007, 05:19 PM

Well, you could groove around the F major scale, which will give you all the notes in the key of F. Could also throw in the blues scale in F, since Funk patterns like to use passing tones to add that funkiness.
F pentatonic, pentatonics are popular for funk patterns also

Fmaj7... you could highlight that 7th in the chord but running a little lick with it etc..

Just have fun with it man.

middy · #11 05-03-2007, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocBop

If you hit too many clunkers just tell 'em you're into Jazz, smile and walk away.

That's sig-worthy right there.