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  #1  
Old 10-16-2004, 12:55 PM
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COuld someone tell me or direct me to a website that would tell me how to play the notes on a Bass such as "b" or "c" I am a beginner and would appreciate the help.
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Old 10-16-2004, 03:48 PM
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I don't really know many sites- I forget to bookmark stuff- but here are some basic things to help get you started:

If you are playing a standard 4-string, the line below the bass clef is your lowest note- the open "E" string.
Your open "A" string is the bottom space in the bass clef, as is the 5th fret on your E string.
Your open "D" string is the third line from the bottom of the bass clef, or the middle line of the clef, as is the 5th fret on your A string.
Your open "G" string is the top or fourth space from the bottom of the bass clef, as is the 5th fret on the A string.

When comparing notes to frets, remember that each note skips a fret, except for when you go E-F or B-C. For example- if you are on the "A" string, the placement would be like this:
A= Open string
Bb(B flat) OR A# (A sharp)= 1st fret
B(Cb)= 2nd fret
C(B#)=3rd fret
Db or C#= 4th fret
D=5th fret

Note- B# and Cb are the SAME NOTE, as are E# and Fb, they are just written differently. You will learn why further down the road.

The bass clef notes look like this on paper:

----Middle C--- (1string, 5th fret)

B (1st string, 4th fret)
|----A--------| (1st string, 2nd fret)
| G | (1st string OR 2nd string 5th fret)
|----F--------| (2nd string, 3rd fret)
| E | (2nd string, 2nd fret)
|----D--------| (2nd string OR 3rd strign 5th fret)
| C | (3rd string, 3rd fret)
|----B--------| (3rd string, 2nd fret)
| A | (3rd string OR 4th string 5th fret)
|----G--------| (4th string, 3rd fret)
F (4th string, 1st fret)
---E---- (4th string)

To play a sharp (#) of any of these notes, go up one fret.
To play a flat (b) of any note, go down one fret.

I hope this helps you out a bit and didn't confuse you .
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  #3  
Old 10-16-2004, 08:31 PM
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  #4  
Old 10-17-2004, 11:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Ace_Frehley
COuld someone tell me or direct me to a website that would tell me how to play the notes on a Bass such as "b" or "c" I am a beginner and would appreciate the help.
come on Ace, they are the same as guitar...btw, i love "detroit rock city"


sorry...couldn't help it...
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Old 10-17-2004, 01:57 PM
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starting on the E-string, each fret is a half step apart

E l F l F#/Gb l G l G#/Ab l A l A#/Bb l B l C l C#/Db l D l D#/Eb l E

Notice: E has no sharp, F has no flat. B has no sharp, C has no flat.

now just start on whatever note and go through the musical alphabet (ABCDEFG)

For instance, the A string is

A l A#/Bb l B l C l C#/Db l D l D#/Eb l E l F l F#/Gb l G l G#/Ab l A

Do you see the pattern? I recommend picking up some books, Music Reading for Bass from MI Press is a good one.

I am no teacher, and I'm not very good with words, so this probably makes no sense, but I tried.
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