A# scale???

[ElliotBass]

hey

Our drummer's insisting that i play a bass solo, even though im not particularly into all that.

Anyway, cos the part im leading off of ends in A#, i'm thinking play a funked up A# scale, starting on A#, or start on A# and play another easier scale, but made more interesting? Problem is i dont know an A# scale, so how do they go?

yeah incase you didn't guess, i don't know much about theory.

thanks a lot for any help

[fortvideo]

What kind of music is it. There are major scales, minor scales, jazz scales, blues scales, etc...

This is a great book

http://www.amazon.com/Gig-Book-Bass-.../dp/082561595X

[IAmTheDood]

ya know any major scale? ...
A# scale would start on the 6th fret of the E string and be a standard scale.

like this:

G-------------------------------
D---------------------5---7---8
A --------5---6---8-------------
E --6--8------------------------

or you can start it on the 1st fret of the A string
G-------------------0--2---3-----
D---------0--1--3----------------
A --1--3-------------------------
E --------------------------------

you see the pattern going here? the major scale stays the same across the fretboard using this fingering pattern. the root note, use your middle finger that way all frets can be played without changing positions.

Now, are you sure it's not A# minor? Minor has a different pattern. A lot of funk is based off of minor scales.

[stedtale]

www.musictheory.net

hope that helps.

[ElliotBass]

Thanks a lot guys, yeh i was thinkin major scale, thanks again.

[Eli M.]

There's no key of A#, it's Bb.

[Mark Wilson]

Originally Posted by Eli M.

There's no key of A#, it's Bb.

Well, if you want to get technical, an A# scale is

A#, B#, C#, D, E#, Fx, G#

But, no one in their right mind would think like that. It's definitely easier to think Bb.

[geoffkhan]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

Well, if you want to get technical, an A# scale is

A#, B#, C#, D, E#, Fx, G#

But, no one in their right mind would think like that. It's definitely easier to think Bb.

Are you trying to spell an A# ionian (major) scale? If so, that would be:

A#, B#, Cx, D#, E#, Fx, Gx

Though yes, Bb is commonly used instead due to the lack of double sharps.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Exactly. An A# key signature would look like this:



It would require ten sharps, but since there are only seven notes to alter, the result is a key signature with three double sharps and four sharps.

[ElliotBass]

Bb fair enough, umm what does Fx and Gx mean, how does a Bb major scale go?

[stedtale]

x=double sharp (rasied two half steps)

Bb C D Eb F G A Bb

[MonetBass]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

It would require ten sharps, but since there are only seven notes to alter, the result is a key signature with three double sharps and four sharps.

Maybe, but most composers/songwriters wouldn't torture musicians (or themselves for that matter) by writing in that key. Honestly I've only seen up to C# Major, which has seven sharps.

Just go with A#=Bb. You're life will be much simpler.

[JonathanD]

Bb has the same pitches as A#. Its the names that are different. A#=Bb. They are the same pitch.

Cx means C double sharp which means go up 2 whole steps.
Jonathan

[stedtale]

Originally Posted by JonathanD

Bb has the same pitches as A#. Its the names that are different. A#=Bb. They are the same pitch.

Cx means C double sharp which means go up 2 whole steps.
Jonathan

2 half steps.

[ElliotBass]

ok, so "Bb C D Eb F G A Bb" is a Bb major scale.

thanks again guys, you lot are lifesavers, and yeah i am gonna read up on my theory

edit: isnt 2 half steps, just a whole step?

[stedtale]

Originally Posted by ElliotBass

ok, so "Bb C D Eb F G A Bb" is a Bb major scale.

thanks again guys, you lot are lifesavers, and yeah i am gonna read up on my theory

edit: isnt 2 half steps, just a whole step?

yep, all correct

Bb scale and 2 halves being a whole step

http://www.activebass.com/Default.asp

click
bassics > scale finder

[DocBop]

First keep it simple if you aren't into soloing. Less notes more rhythm. Sign of rookie soloist being bass players they want to play roots and especially on one. DON'T Avoid roots and don't hit one let it go by remember less notes are good. If you have a long phrase that crosses the bar then okay, but avoid roots and ones.

Since you don't know theory can't give you any more basic advice. Listen to some good solos and especially the phrasing. You'll hear them lay back, they won't start solo phrases on one. Have a recording of the song, sing a solo. Singing a solo will help with phrasing and get some ideas. Since you don't know much about scales and stuff figure out what you sang and play it. There's your solo.

Survival tip you're never more than a half-step from the right note. Hit a clunker go up or down a half-step and resolve to a good note.

[ElliotBass]

thanks for all the advice, so do you think should bass my solo on a scale, keep it simple ya know?

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by ElliotBass

thanks for all the advice, so do you think should bass my solo on a scale, keep it simple ya know?

Keep it simple.

If you are familiar with scales a simple trick to get by is just use the 3rd , 4th, and 5th from the scale for each chord. Just even just play 3, 4, 5, 4,3 and add some rhythm to it. It won't turn any heads,but it will get you thru the solo. The doing that is a good practice tool especially for songs with lots of changes.

Again keep it simple.

[Correlli]

Tune the bass up a semitone and play it in A major, could a good alternative if you like using open strings.