Pacman's sure-fire scale practice method - Page 4

**Pacman** · #61 03-04-2003, 04:15 PM

You owe me nada. I love bass, I want everyone to love playing as much as I do.

Enjoy the journey.

Garrett Mireles · #62 03-05-2003, 07:20 PM

Should it look like this?

First time:

G|-----------------------0-2-4-
D|----------------0-2-3-------
A|---------0-2-3-------------
E|-0-1-3---------------------

Second time:

G|----------------------------
D|---------------2-3-5------------
A|--------2-3-5------------------
E|-3-5------------------------

Third time:

G|-----------------------------
D|----------------5---------------
A|---------5-7-8-----------------
E|-5-7-8-----------------------

Am I doing this right?

**Pacman** · #63 03-05-2003, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Garrett Mireles
Should it look like this?

First time:

G|-----------------------0-2-4-
D|----------------0-2-3-------
A|---------0-2-3-------------
E|-0-1-3---------------------

yes
Second time:

G|----------------------------
D|---------------2-3-5------------
A|--------2-3-5------------------
E|-3-5------------------------

You skipped one. Since you started on the 3rd of C the first time, you've got to start on the 4th of C the second time. And why did you stop on the D string? Continue for as many notes as are available in the position. (2 4 and 5 on the next string)

Third time:

G|-----------------------------
D|----------------5---------------
A|---------5-7-8-----------------
E|-5-7-8-----------------------

Am I doing this right?

Again, don't stop! You've got two more notes available in position on the D string, and a whole 'nother string. But you're getting the idea. Great!

Garrett Mireles · #64 03-05-2003, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pacman

You skipped one. Since you started on the 3rd of C the first time, you've got to start on the 4th of C the second time. And why did you stop on the D string? Continue for as many notes as are available in the position. (2 4 and 5 on the next string)

Crap. Ok i r confused

I thought it was just progressing by whole notes in the major scale?

I swear..if theory were a person...well he'd be long dead before I had a shot at 'em.

wushuguy · #65 03-05-2003, 10:07 PM

Yeah, I believe it should be 3 notes per string. So if you start on the open E, you play open E, F (first fret), G (third fret), then move down to the next string (A string), and play open A, then B (second fret), C (third fret), all the way down. The next time around on the E string, you play F G A, then move down to the next string where you play B C D, and so on. So you play three notes per string, and cover every note of the scale in order.

**Pacman** · #66 03-06-2003, 06:29 AM

Wushguy's got it.

Rimas · #67 03-06-2003, 05:25 PM

I havent read the whole thread, but the best way to learn the fingerboard is gonna be to play the scales on one string only, so you get all your positions down.. do this with every scale until you can do it blindfolded, upside down, and backwards, and then improvise. Get out o' the box... and then do the excercises in 3rds 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, 7ths, 9ths, 10ths, etc..

**Pacman** · #68 03-06-2003, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rimas
I havent read the whole thread, but the best way to learn the fingerboard is gonna be to play the scales on one string only, so you get all your positions down..

I don't really see how learning scales on one string can help you get positions down. Where the method I learned is ALL about postion... maybe it's just me.

Rimas · #69 03-06-2003, 10:28 PM

I actually read that in bass player magazine, victor wooten suggested it, and teaches it at the Bass Boot Camp. It made sense to me, just so if, say your playin a 4 string, with the root on the E string, and you want to shift up to the 5 chord and add on the 10 or 11(On the G), the shift will be butter, and you wont have to think about it.. really its just a different approach that leads to the same thing, knowing the fingerboard in and out and learning to play by ear..It's good to know where all the notes are though, which is what learning the fingerboard is all about..

I guess it may have sounded like the way i suggested is THE only way.. thats not how I meant it.. When i was learning to play id always play in the box, and i didnt always know where the other boxes were, so id get stuck sometimes.. Plus the way that was discussed on this page, of playing the C major starting on the low E, you start in the box, and if you want to keep goin up, you have to move up the g string.. I guess theres a lot more factors involved here, including comfort, tone, different chords, etc...

Garrett Mireles · #70 03-07-2003, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rimas
I havent read the whole thread, but the best way to learn the fingerboard is gonna be to play the scales on one string only

Are you high?

It's too hard to recognize scale patterns on one string..when you do it on all of them you can see the box, which is such a relief to know when composing/improv....

Rimas · #71 03-07-2003, 07:07 PM

Like I said, that came straight from Victor Wooten...

All you have to remember is whole whole half whole whole whole half.. theres your major scale, now translate that to frets where 1 fret is a half step and 2 frets is a whole step, and your golden.

so on the E, an E major scale goes like this

0,2,4,5,7,9,11,12,14,16,17,19,21,23, 24

"Its too hard" isnt an excuse. It may seem hard now, but with practice, it gets better, easier, and your solos and improv get out of the box, which only consists of 16 notes, and a few more if you stretch and shift. Once you know where all the other ones are, you can build off of them.

Dont play the notes in the box when soloing, play the notes in your head.

chardin · #72 03-08-2003, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wushuguy
The next time around on the E string, you play F G A, then move down to the next string where you play B C D, and so on. So you play three notes per string, and cover every note of the scale in order.

What fingers do you use to fret the three notes with whole steps between them (e.g. F, G, A)? I have trouble making the jumps. Should I use open strings? Shift? Please post your suggested fingerings.

By the way, this is an excellent thread Pacman.

moley · #73 03-08-2003, 11:09 AM

I use index-middle-pinky.

**Pacman** · #74 03-08-2003, 11:33 AM

I use index - middle - pinky as well. I also use a slightly different left hand technique. I use a one finger per fret system, but allow the index finger to "drop" one half step to extend the position. It's a bit like the half step pivot on upright bass.

John Turner has seen this (john, do you use it too?), as we both took lessons from the same teacher.

David Watts · #75 03-12-2003, 09:01 PM

I like the way 'the pacman method'TM breaks you out of thinking in terms of root to root while playing scales. I also find playing scales on one string helps to focus on step patterns for different modes.

bizzaro · #76 04-13-2003, 10:24 PM

Pacman,
This is one the the best scale practice methods I have run across in a long time. Great thread. Thanks for sharing.
Bizz

Rimas · #77 04-13-2003, 11:53 PM

The interval stuff is also from the ray brown method.. just thought id let ya all know..

meltsakana · #78 04-20-2003, 11:05 AM

Pacman,

Could you explain your "dropping" of the index finger? I can't really envision it, and would like to be more efficient when I exceed the 4-fret span....

Thanks.

**Pacman** · #79 04-20-2003, 11:29 AM

Sure, if you envision your hand in the one finger per fret position, from there, leave your middle ring and pinky fingers in place and 'drop' your index one fret.

If that doesn't help, maybe I could post a pic.

meltsakana · #80 04-20-2003, 02:53 PM

Yeah, I'd love to see a pic. When I try this i feel a lot of tension, so I would probably benefit from seeing what relaxation looks like.