learning melody

[FenderBinder]

can you guys me put me into the right direction for learning how to play melodies? thanks!!!!

[Flintlock]

What sort of melodies? What style of music do you play?

[FenderBinder]

i want to learn melodic rock and sexy porno jazz melodies.

[tbone409]

cool jazz chords and lessons, great book also
http://www.michaeldimin.com/lessons.htm

[Audiophage]

Find melodies that you like and then learn them.

[FenderBinder]

Originally Posted by Audiophage

Find melodies that you like and then learn them.

this question must of slipped over your head.

[GreyBeard]

Before you can play a melody, you must first have it in your head. How do you get it into your head? Listen to it over and over again. Play your bass to match what is in your head. The next queston is how do it do that? The notes of any meledy are what is called "intervals" apart. For instance (A) string 3rd fret C and (G) string 6the fret C are 8 notes apart or an Octave. (A) string 3rd Fret C and (D) string 3rd Fret F are a 4th apart. (A) string 3rd Fret C and (A) string 4th Fret C# are a (minor 2nd) apart. The more you listen and play the easier it is to identify these intervals and the easier it is to transfer the tune in your head to your bass. It will be slow going at first but, anything worth while usually is.

[SmittyG]

To add to the great advice already given: A baby must first learn to crawl before it can win the Boston marathon. In other words, start with VERY simple melodies. If you can't work out "Amazing Grace" or "Twinkle Little Star", then you sure aren't going to be making much headway with the "sexy porno jazz melodies".

[DocBop]

Learn to sing the melody you want to play. That will help your ear and get the phrasing right. Then just moving what you are singing to your bass. Be sure to emulate your voice on the bass so you have good phrasing and dynamics.

[BELLATOR]

When I learn melodies I just transpose guitar sheet music into 4-string or 5-string bass sheet music. The lead guitar has the melody part but you can play it one octave down on a 4-string and it still sounds like the melody the guitar would play. It takes a little time to transpose the sheet music but there are programs you can download to do this almost instantaneously.

[FenderBinder]

WoW... thanks for putting that info into dumby language I could understand. My bro just kept saying sing along but I never understood how that would help. He said never said to do intervals which I guess is two ways of learning( by the book and by natural instincts like your own ear).

[mutedeity]

Originally Posted by FenderBinder

can you guys me put me into the right direction for learning how to play melodies? thanks!!!!

Try playing one note after the other....

[steve66]

Originally Posted by DocBop

Learn to sing the melody you want to play. That will help your ear and get the phrasing right. Then just moving what you are singing to your bass. Be sure to emulate your voice on the bass so you have good phrasing and dynamics.

+1. This advice can also be used for practicing scales and intervals

[gre107]

Practice Practice Practice!
Learn every melody to every tune you possibly can.
The more you know the better you get.

When learning a melody learn it at first in pieces. Logical blocks or phrases. And slowly put them together. Finding the best position to play the melody is very helpful. That is to say where the least movement is required.

Internalizing the melody is very important and helpful. If you can sing it you can play it!

I find playing the song through something like a Tascam Bass trainer where you can slow the song down and loop through specific sections to be very helpful and time efficient.

All the best,

Gerry