Still new to bass, I need some guidance!

[Dregin]

Hi guys I've posted on here before but since starting college and focusing on my school work I've laid off my bass playing a bit. Next semester I will be taking a music class and during my break I've gotten back into playing, I have been playing for about a year now and would consider myself an average (possibly below average) player.

I learned some music theory from my general music teacher in high school and bought the electric bass method 1 book and have gotten to the section about the G scale and I'm really at a loss at where to go from here the book is helpful but I want to move on to something else.

I've started to review the book just to knock the rust off my fingers but I'm really trying to figure out where I should go from here. Should I study scales or something? I really want to become a good player and I know the first step is practice but where do I start with my practice?

[Michael Case]

How many octaves have you played the G scale in? If only one try taking it to two or three octaves (depending on how many frets you have). Now learn the major scale in all 12 keys, do it by ear so you learn the sound of the scale. After that look into modes, then triads, seventh chords. There is so much to work on.

[Dregin]

Yeah I've only played one octave, I think thats a good place to start thx for your suggestion.

[DocBop]

Want to add some theory to that start by playing a one octave scale on one string. You really "See" how a scale is built, learn you notes up the neck, and develop moving smoothly from position to position. Start with the C scale and that will help with learn all your natural notes on the neck. Take a string a week to begin. After you have all the strings down, now move to scale using 2 strings.

You go thru that process you will know your neck, know how to build a scale from anywhere, understand how a major scale is build so easy to start modifying to made other scales.