Of trees, keys, doors and the A Ha moments

[the_hook]

For many of us in the initial stages of learning (theory, technique, etc.) we're mired in a sea of trees, but not always clear on where all this pratice and learning will show up and be used.

Along the way (if we're fortunate enough) there are the 'A Ha!' moments of clarity, where you step back and stuff starts to make sense.

Which ones were yours? Which keys did you find buried in that work that unlocked a hidden door to you?

[progrmr]

For me it was understanding intervals and scale formulas. With this basic knowledge, I was able to understand how chords are created and why certain notes harmonize when the guitar is playing a chord.

Blues is IMO a GREAT way for bass players to get into theory, learn some techniques that will be beneficial, and be able to reinforce theory with practical application pretty easily.

My .02

[JTE]

For me it was the moment I SAW the way the notes of the chords G, C, and D7 were imbedded in the G major scale. I thought I understood the harmonized scale, but when the light went on, it opened up the fingerboard, the diatonic scale, the way chords are derived from the scale.

John

[somedumbguy]

I realized that I could play passing tones in the same scale to "walk" between chord changes. It seemed simple enough, but once I realized that, I then realized that I could play other notes as well, and didn't have to stick to the root 3rd or 5th.

[MalcolmAmos]

My big WOW came from an understand of how to harmonize a melody line. After I understood that fact everything else came into focus.

What was that fact? Melody lines and chords should share some of the same notes. If they do they harmonize and sound good. Why do we need to change chords in a song? Because the melody line has moved on to notes no longer found in the old chord - so to regain harmony (sound good) we have to either add an extensions to the old card and bring in the note that will harmonize, it only takes one - or change to a new chord that has some of the new melody notes in it's makeup.

How can that be used?

Want to write melody - gather your notes from the chord tones.
Want to write a bass line - gather your notes from the chord tones.
Where do the chord tones come from - the chords you elect to have in your verse structure.
Where does the verse structure come from - the story your song tells. It's a chicken or egg thing. You can start with the story or you can start with the melody, but, in the end everything has to work together.

Working together - that's the big WOW.

[the_hook]

Originally Posted by progrmr

For me it was understanding intervals and scale formulas. With this basic knowledge, I was able to understand how chords are created and why certain notes harmonize when the guitar is playing a chord.

Blues is IMO a GREAT way for bass players to get into theory, learn some techniques that will be beneficial, and be able to reinforce theory with practical application pretty easily.

My .02

Interesting you mention blues, as I'm building bass parts for 12 bar blues now, learning the chord progressions, modes, chord structures, etc.

I hadn't sat down to memorize the modes yet, so I tackled that yesterday. I was surprised I could write them all out from memory.

I then wrote out the Whole and Half steps of the C major scale and wrote out each other major scale (D, E, etc.) and then randomly picked a scale and a mode and wrote out which notes were affected in that scale.

When I got on the bass I wanted to see if I could run the entire neck starting with the C major scale, then linking to D, E, etc. but with each successive scale change I'd pick the next mode (2, 3, 4, etc.). I found the notes sounded familiar, so when I wrote them out I see that they all had no sharps or flats... A ha.

And Aeolian mode (6th) is the template for the minor scale...A ha. And A is the relative minor of C, and A is in position number 6 ('relative' to C), which is the Aeolian mode...Ah ha!

Holy Rubik's Cube batman!

[boomtisk]

I remember my jaw dropping when I figured out how to accompany a melody with chords based on the notes in it. I've had a couple other aha moments but none of them really came close.

[champbassist]

One word answer: Modes.

[251]

Originally Posted by the_hook

For many of us in the initial stages of learning (theory, technique, etc.) we're mired in a sea of trees, but not always clear on where all this pratice and learning will show up and be used.

Along the way (if we're fortunate enough) there are the 'A Ha!' moments of clarity, where you step back and stuff starts to make sense.

Which ones were yours? Which keys did you find buried in that work that unlocked a hidden door to you?

For the longest time I was in a learning mode. I was never satisfied with my playing.

I was asked to organize a group to play at a local Farmer's Market. The friends in my ensemble lesson also had questions about their playing. We all played Battle of the Bands events with an audience of critical musicians. This is good experience but, doesn't always build confidence. Just the same, they agreed to show up on Saturday Mornings.

After 4 or 5 weeks getting compliments on the music I turned to them & said; "The audience doesn't hear mistakes. They hear music.!" I still hear every note I play & most of those played around me but since that time, I have been a very relaxed, confident performer.

[FranR]

My A ha! moment was when I finally understood the magic that is the major scale; it's intervals, degrees and modes; and how that applied to the fretboard.

It suddenly just connected, like a domino effect.

[MarkTAW]

This Thread on the same topic, on another forum has lots of great AHA moments.

FranR - you know the major scale is just 3 major chords on the I, IV and V....

[bassteban]

The first time I played w/better players than myself- AHA!

[the_hook]

Another A ha moment yesterday; I finally figured out the cirle of 5th's and 4th's. I would look at the circle chart but nothing sunk in. I could never remember which key had which sharps/flats. So I wrote it all out in Excel and A ha....I see the pattern now...