Trouble connecting the "boxes" across fretboard

[cire113]

I understand all the modes and everything but i have troubles connecting it across the entire fret-board.. i know its all the same notes.. It seems that i have to like go note for note and find it across the entire fret-board... I feel comfortable just staying in one position

I just get really confused when i switch positions... Would saying the note notes and knowing all the notes help out?...

I tried that scale exercise but just get more confused....

maybe i just have to suck it up and actually learn the note names better to make moving around easier

[quale213]

Originally Posted by cire113

maybe i just have to suck it up and actually learn the note names better to make moving around easier

Thats what I would...

[fretlessman71]

Yep - there's really no substitute for it.

[mambo4]

Memorize the finger board, there really is no excuse if you are serious about music.

And try to appreciate the difference between knowing a fingering pattern and really understanding a scale, musically speaking.

You need to be able to play a scale in any position, confined to any string(s) or fret ranges, starting and ending on ay scale degree, backwards and forwards etc, before you can really claim to understand it.
Check out "Pacman's surefire scale practice method" in the stickies of this forum.

here's a my standard memorize the fingerboard cut n paste of an earlier post:

LEARNING THE FINGERBOARD
---------------------------------------
when I first picked up the bass I memorized the open strings (EADG) and then memorized each "dotted" fret up to the octave:
open:EADG
3rd fret:GCFA#
5th fret:ADGC
7th fret:BEAD
9th fret:C#F#BE
Ocatve:EADG

With those notes memorized, I could quickly figure out "in between" notes based on the dotted ones. If you can instantly find E then you can almost as instantly figure out where E flat is. It was enough to get me by at first.

I never made a deliberate effort to memorize the rest of the neck, eventually I just absorbed the knowledge via experience.

[JTE]

Take the time to learn where every note is. Start with G for example, and find all the Gs on the bass neck. Then move up a fourth and repeat for C, then F, etc.

Like the others have said, scale practice needs to include starting the scale on any note on any string. Just learning the G major scale in the 2nd position doesn't mean you know squat about the G major scale. You need to be able to start the G major scale on the D at the 10th fret and it until you run out of neck AND BACK DOWN.

Instead of wiggling your finges when you practice scales, do this. Sing the note name, then play the note, then sing it again. So for that simple G major in 2nd position, you'll sing "Gee", then play the G at the 3rd fret, then sing "Gee" again. Then sing "A", play the note at the fifth fret, and sing it again, then sing "Bee", play the B at the second fret, and then sing it again. Repeat over two octaves. Then when you've got that smooth, use another key and repeat the same process.

This helps you actuall LEARN the fingerboard as opposed to rote memory, AND it makes you use your ear. I'm a huge fan of singing what you're playing because it trains your ear and helps you get to the MUSIC instead of the physical part of playing.

jte

[mike1762]

The "Fretboard Logic" series has a unique (non-piano) approach to the fretboard which made perfect sense to me. It was written for guitar, but its approach works for bass as well. You would probably want to use a guitar to work through the exercises. That's OK since even a lowly bass player should have some understanding of chords. When you learn the 5 basic chord forms (CAGED) and understand how they "fit" together, you will see that the scales are "contained" in them. Once you get through the first book you should be able to visualize the patterns up/down and across the neck.

[cire113]

thanks for the replies.. ive been saying the note names and singing while im playing.... i think its more a visual thing.. i guess i just need to keep practicing....



seems that learning the scales on one string helps a bunch...

I understand how all the modes are constructed i just need to be able to move around the fret-board smoothly

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by cire113

maybe i just have to suck it up and actually learn the note names better to make moving around easier

Not only learn the note names but HOW scales are constructed. If you how your major and natural minor scales are constructed then all you have learn is which notes to tweak to make modes or other scales.

Also start practicing scale in number of strings you limit yourself to. Like a G Major scale on one string, next two string, everyone know how to do it on three strings. Learning that little exercise will teach you so much about your fingerboard. Learning how to play scales on one or two strings is the key to learn how to play two, three, octave scales for playing a scale from lowest available note to highest on your instrument.

[Michael Case]

Originally Posted by cire113

maybe i just have to suck it up and actually learn the note names better to make moving around easier

Can you think of a better way to spend your time? Or your life for that matter? Music is a life long process, there will always be new things to learn, at least when you do it right.

[Michael Case]

Originally Posted by cire113

thanks for the replies.. ive been saying the note names and singing while im playing.... i think its more a visual thing.. i guess i just need to keep practicing....



seems that learning the scales on one string helps a bunch...

I understand how all the modes are constructed i just need to be able to move around the fret-board smoothly

Another problem seems to be this visual thing, you should strive for an aural understanding. How the scales sound, use your ears some more, that'll help too.