Major Scale Help!

[Pinchy]

Hey guys - I am a fairly new bassist, I am 15 years old and I am having trouble remembering the tones and semi-tones in the Major scale when the root note starts on the 4th finger.

Could someone explain how I go from my 4th finger up the strings for an octave?

Thanks.

[Deacon_Blues]

-|-o-|-o-|---|---|---|---|-
-|---|-o-|---|-o-|---|---|-
-|---|-o-|---|-o-|-o-|---|-
-|---|---|---|---|-o-|---|-

or

-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-
-|---|-o-|---|-o-|---|-o-|-o-|-
-|---|-o-|---|-o-|-o-|---|---|-
-|---|---|---|---|-o-|---|---|-

Both ways are a little tricky. It's far more easy to start a scale on the index or middle finger...

However, you need to work into your memory how the major scale sounds, then you can more easily correct yourself when you forget these things.

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

Both ways are a little tricky. It's far more easy to start a scale on the index or middle finger...

However, you need to work into your memory how the major scale sounds, then you can more easily correct yourself when you forget these things.

Scales from the fourth finger are a little tricky. But they are worth doing if for no other reason that to learn the chords in that position.

For example. If you want to do a blues type thing where you go from Root and then do a quick flat3 to maj3 (rather common in old R+R) its far easier to do if you put your 4th finger on the root, then the flat3 is with the second finger and the maj3 is the 3rd. If you start with the second finger on the root, you'll have some shifting to do and that could be unnecessarily clumbsy.

[DocBop]

this is why I like to teach student to play major scales on one string that then two strings. You learn how to "see" scales in pieces that you combine in any way necessary creating fingering as necessary. This way you think more about the notes/scale degrees not just fingering patterns so more in control of the note and sounds you're playing.

[Way Off Bass]

^that sounds like a good idea. i lot of my increase in ability recently has come from learning major and minor scales on the strings.... which never change, btw

[EADG mx]

The tones and semitones stay the same no matter what strings you use. For starting on the pinky, I'd try these (take your pick):

G--------------4--5---
D---------5-7-(9-10)--
A---5-7-8-------------
E-8-------------------

Both require a shift