Need help moving around the fingerboard

Im a sock · #1 05-17-2010, 06:34 PM

Hey everyone. After a short couple year hiatus, I'm back. I was away from TB, and more importantly (and tragically), away from bass. I'm looking at it from a different perspective this time around, and I need some pointers on drills and exercises.

As a quick background, I've actively been playing for about 12 years, not including the last 2-3. I'm not a bad bass player by any means, but I'm not a 'great' bass player either, and that's where I want to be. I did jazz band in college and did ok there, and was in lots of rock bands, ranging from acoustic rock (Dave Matthews type stuff) to death metal (think Through the Eyes of the Dead, Cannibal Corpse etc), and I did fine there too. I did fine all around because I know my theory, and I know what I can play and what I can't.

But that's the problem.

My biggest problem is that when I was taking lessons I basically ignored stuff that wasn't coming easily to me (or was boring, ahem.. i was a teenager), and focused on the things that sounded cool and were relatively easy (slapping, for example).

So here I am. I can descend scales much faster than I can ascend them. My fingers fall all over themselves through 16th note arpeggios. I want to get this stuff worked out. I want to be squeaky clean when I want to be. I am willing to put in the time, but I want to be using the proper materials. What I'm asking for are some good recommendations for some study materials related to left hand and right hand technique, and rhythm training. I've been considering lessons (again), and I think for the moment I want to do it alone (difficult schedule at the moment, etc etc).

I know I can't be the only one having this problem, so help me out people! Give me your best!

**Mark Wilson** · #2 05-17-2010, 06:44 PM

Practice slowly! It's the best way to build up technique. But, don't forget to challenge yourself.

What I do as a warm up is diatonic 7th arpeggios in all keys, 2 octave major7 and minor7 arpeggios in all keys, and major scales in groups of three (123, 234, 345 etc) two octaves.

This will build up left hand dexterity I've found if you focus a LOT on keeping your fingers as close to the board as possible. If you want a killer exercise, do it while NAMING the notes you're playing. That'll get the brain working.

If you want, I can record a video (once i figure out how...) showing you how I do these examples.

Im a sock · #3 05-17-2010, 06:52 PM

Actually, since you mention it, I have been using Arpeggio Woodshedding (http://www.bassbooks.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=833) and it seems like it's helping. I've also been using Daily Bass Grooves (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...04/schildnet0c) which is great fun, but I feel like I'm missing something. Also maybe I should clarify my 'knowing' theory. I can get by, and I can read music, but if you tell me to play a diatonic 7th arpeggio in all keys, I will look at you like this

Arpeggio Woodshedding is helping greatly though. I can feel myself learning this stuff, but I don't feel like it's the best exercise to gain speed and clarity in my playing. Does that make sense?

Billnc · #4 05-17-2010, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Im a sock

Actually, since you mention it, I have been using Arpeggio Woodshedding (http://www.bassbooks.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=833) and it seems like it's helping. I've also been using Daily Bass Grooves (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...04/schildnet0c) which is great fun, but I feel like I'm missing something. Also maybe I should clarify my 'knowing' theory. I can get by, and I can read music, but if you tell me to play a diatonic 7th arpeggio in all keys, I will look at you like this

Arpeggio Woodshedding is helping greatly though. I can feel myself learning this stuff, but I don't feel like it's the best exercise to gain speed and clarity in my playing. Does that make sense?

What you are mentioning (arpeggios) is truly the most important stuff to know. Stick with that, speed comes from coordination and knowing the material, and time,

Eminentbass · #5 05-18-2010, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billnc

What you are mentioning (arpeggios) is truly the most important stuff to know. Stick with that, speed comes from coordination and knowing the material, and time,

+ 1 Just to add to this if I may, speed is more about the ability to recall information than just dexterity. When learning something new I always play really slowly, focussing on economy of motion, accuracy and staying relaxed. When doing an exercise slowly like this for a couple of days you might be pleasantly suprised when speeding it up that it seems more fluid and neater. Also there's no reason to pressure yourself or beat yourself up, the progress might be perceived as slower but the results will be more efficient.

The thing that makes chord tones more challenging for me is the fact that unlike scales, they have bigger intervals and when doing them over multiple octaves up or the down the bass the position changes become more difficult and require a bit more focus to get used to.

Ascending patterns also take more work for me because I have to move my picking fingers up to the next string whereas descending can be done with raking or just slipping down to the next string.