special needs and music theory

[dreadheadbass]

hello again ladies n gents happy new year to you all i wish you all the best for 2008

anyway my new years resolution is to learn a bit of music theory i'm starting off with notes on the fretboard (yes i know there's already a post up about this but its different for me)
i suffer from a condition known as dyspraxia its a bit like dyslexia but it also applies to numbers, memory etc etc if you do a search on the web you'll find all the details on it

anyway because of this numbers and letters get jumbled up in my head and my poor short term memory means i can play something and forget it the next day
so now you can imagine what a nightmare learning the fretboard is for me

i tend to think in images or shapes is there a way of learning the notes using some kinda diagram rather than A# B# etc etc
or has anyone here ever taught anyone with similar disabilities??

and dont worry i might be rubbish with numbers and letters but my timing and groove is fantasic so its not all doom n gloom

[meev992]

lol, your situation reminds me of this video :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN5tXGhyPWk

[DeanT]

Well, you can certainly learn chords and arpeggios and such by shape.

Also, you might want to try putting little stickers with the note letters on the side of the neck by the dot markers for each fret. For instance on the neck by the first fret you'd put stickers like this
G#
D#
A#
F

This is a trick used by a few of the Punkers in the '70s who didn't know how to play bass at all when they started.

[rockwarnick]

i definately learned my fretboard through shapes and images. its really easy. honestly, learn how any major scale looks and you know it all. then find out the alterations, like modes and minor and whatnot and your straight. the patterns are really simple.

[Freddels]

Maybe this will help.

http://www.rozengain.com/guitar-scal...itarScales.php

[dreadheadbass]

Originally Posted by meev992

lol, your situation reminds me of this video :

yes i knows i haves guitar dyslexkia i donts want to talks about it lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN5tXGhyPWk

Originally Posted by DeanT

Well, you can certainly learn chords and arpeggios and such by shape.

Also, you might want to try putting little stickers with the note letters on the side of the neck by the dot markers for each fret. For instance on the neck by the first fret you'd put stickers like this
G#
D#
A#
F

This is a trick used by a few of the Punkers in the '70s who didn't know how to play bass at all when they started.

its worth a shot i guess

[theshadow2001]

The major and minor scales can be viewed in about three different patterns in certain parts of the neck once you have those memorised your set to play a lot of music. Once you go past the 12th fret your just repeating everything again.

It might be useful to keep the amount of learning you have to a minimum. Stick to four strings basses. Maybe even just keep to major/minor scales.

If you want to go for modes learn your major and minor patterns. Then each mode can be said to be a major or minor scale with some parts of it raised or lowered.

I like the sticker idea. Even if you stick all the notes (no sharps or flats) in the correct position for your E string through the octave pattern (move down two strings and forward two frets) you have the D string taken care of. Plus it wont be too much of a stretch for you to work out that the note above and below the sticker will be its sharp and flat respectively. The A string a little trickier. If you had those stickers on the neck you could work out the notes by saying it's the same note as the sticker 5 frets up for where Im playing. Maybe just stick a second set for the A string. Once you get the A string down use the octave pattern for the g string. Im just throwing out ideas really.

There's loads of stuff you can do to learn the instrument visually.