muscle memory + visual pattern memory vs. on the fly degree tweaking?

[Poor Tom]

This is something that has been frustrating me lately. I am pretty proficient in being able to play in standard major keys. I.E. I can easily spot all 7 of my degrees with little issue across the neck

Now I want to learn to play in maybe Harmonic Minor, or anything else(I place arpeggio knowledge pretty high since playing music is mostly about chords).

Is it better for me to just run the patterns over and over until I have them memorized from both a visual and a muscle memory perspective, or should I try to alter my existing knowledge of the major scale to play different scales/modes/arpeggios "on the fly"?

What I mean by this is that if the harmonic minor key has a flat 3 and a flat 6, should I force the new patterns from a book into my head, or should I try to get my fingers and brain working fast enough that I can just 'alter' my knowledge of the major scale on the fly to suit my needs?

I have long thought that this would be a better method, since I would no longer be forced to learn one new thing at a time, but essentially would be teaching myself the ability to play anything required of me, without having to focus on one specific scale/mode/arpeggio for any given amount of time.

Am I on to anything here, or just mindlessly rambling?

haha, thanks for reading/commenting!

[onlyclave]

Memorizing patterns is no better than relying on TAB to read music. You would be much better to memorize the notes of each scale in each key (yes, all of them) and the just play those notes on the fingerboard.

I suggest looking at Pacman's Surefire Scale Practice sticky.

Muscle memory should be used to measure intervals horizontally and vertically along the fingerboard. Your ears should do the rest. If you memorize where the black dots go inside of the 4 fret box you are pretty much just wasting time that could be spent actually learning the scales and arpeggios you want.

[Michael Case]

I agree with onlyclave, you need to internalize scales as a set of sounds you can use. You should be able to hear the harmonic minor just like the natural minor or major scales. Muscle memory is a side effect of practicing something slowly and consistently.

[Rudreax]

Only try to memorize patterns if you know for sure what each note you're playing in a pattern is.

[Michael Case]

Originally Posted by Rudreax

Only try to memorize patterns if you know for sure what each note you're playing in a pattern is.

The flaw in remembering patterns is one just plays "connect the dots" on the bass. Of course you're going to have some patterns and physical cues, but that shouldn't be the goal. If you never get to the point where you've internalized SOUNDS your playing will become very stagnant and mechanical. I know this because I spent a lot of time playing patterns. As a result I began to notice I played practically the same things over and over. Remember, music is an aural experience, as musicians we need to prioritize that aspect of the experience and develop our ears to the highest degree possible.