Scale problems

[madbassist666]

i know this is probably a stupid question with a very general answer, but i just joined a band with a few buddies of mine who are very good with music theory while im more of a amature with theory. i was wondering if anyone had any tips for creating basslines out of the scales, at the momnt the church scales. ive hit sort of a snag when it comes to writting intresting bass lines that flow. any help would be greatly appreciated.

[mambo4]

lol i just posted this response to a thread above you...
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THEORY PROGRESSION
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Theory can seem like a quagmire to those who are starting out, and it's often difficult to know just how important a particular aspect of it is. I will say that learning how chords are built from scales is the most important aspect of theory. It is far more useful to understand chord construction than to memorize all those "Scales A and B go with chord X" formulas.

I'd say the logical progression learning music theory is kinda like this:

1.) learn the major scale, and how it's constructed
2.) learn the minor scale and the dominant scale and how it relates to the major scale (i.e.; its the V and vi mode)
3.) understand how other 4 modes of the major scale are derived (less important to memorize these other modes at first)
4.) Learn how to harmonize the notes of a major and minor scale by building chords / stacking thirds.
5.) Learn to look at common chord progressions as "numerals" (eg, I-IV-V ect) to understand how the chords relate to the song's key.
7.) Learn arppegios/chord tones, and pentatonic scales for major/minor/dominant scales.
8.) dive back into modes for more detailed ideas about what "goes" with what chord.

Bass playing is basically a matter of knowing what to play over various chords. It may seem daunting at first, but my practical experience (bass in pop/rock) has been that I mostly use Major, Minor, and Dominant 7 related bassline patterns, usually based on chord tones and pentatonics.
Even if you're playing some guitar oriented riff-rock, each riff is going to imply a chord of some kind.

85%+ of the time, you will be going from root note to root note as the chords change. The trick learning is how to do it with a groove and feel that is stylistically appropriate to the song. The best way to reach stylistic understanding is to learn songs you like and pick them apart to see how the bassline relates to the chords.

If Jazz is your thing, you will probably be learning theory forever.

[madbassist666]

thank you for replying to my thread, i have been playing bass now for almost five years but my theory is not what i want it to be. this group is sort of a jazz, rock, blues mix so i know that im gonna have to really work on my theory and bust my ass musically

[DocBop]

start by setting you bass down and singing what you think would be a nice bass line. Then grab your bass figure out what you were singing and use it as your starting point. Then why back in your practice shed analyze what you played, what scale do they use/imply. This is the process good players do when playing a tune for the first time. They don't have to set their bass down, but in their head they are singing their head, coming up with a germ of an idea they playing it and tweaking.

When you start with you bass you fall into play familiar finger patterns or bass lines. When you start by singing in your head their are no limits, nothing too hard or easy you focus on singing something that fits the tune or jam.

[mambo4]

+1 to what DocBop said.

When it comes to intuitive musical ideas, our ears are generally way ahead of our fingers-which tend to be constrained by habit. Some of my favorite creation arrived when i was just humming something catchy to myself, with no bass in sight.

In addition to what Doc suggests, doing them same analysis of your heroes bass lines is also a valuable exercise.