What am I trying to accomplish?

Volk · #1 12-30-2005, 03:49 PM

I've begun to seriously attempt to understand theory, however I'm not quite clear on what my goal is.

What I'm trying to say is, what exactly do I need to memorize? Should I be able to recall offhand all of the notes in every major scale and play them out on the bass or is knowing w-w-h-w-w-h good enough? Should I know a moveable fingering position for modes and scales or should I have every note memorized and play it like that?

Thanks for your time

Sippy · #2 12-30-2005, 06:42 PM

Well you should know the notes to the scales because you should know every note on the fingerboard.You can't read music if you don't know what the notes are.

Volk · #3 12-30-2005, 06:47 PM

I know all the notes on the fretboard and I know how to read music, I just don't know what I'm supposed to be memorizing with all this theory.

Hookus · #4 12-30-2005, 07:23 PM

I suppose it is understanding the relationship of musical notes, and being able to understand why the "right" note to play is right, or what makes a melody sound attractive.

JimmyM · #5 12-30-2005, 07:36 PM

Hookus, all nail and no thumb in your reply. That's exactly what this theory does for you. Anybody can memorize patterns, but playing music...that's a whole different ballgame.

DaftCat · #6 12-30-2005, 07:45 PM

Theory helps with playing with others also. I went to a jam last Wednesday and this guy gets up on the 6 and starts playing. Good for him I have a good ear. I asked him what progressions he was doing.. He didn't know what pitch he was in let alone what a progression was. I was OK with that until he got impatient with me. I wanted to say, Sorry Pal my psychic hat is at home.

HTH,

DCat

Steve Brooks · #7 12-30-2005, 10:00 PM

Learn everything you can, and start now. It will take you the rest of your natural life anyway.

brassed · #8 01-03-2006, 07:34 PM

for all playing purposes, you should know the notes of the scales. Knowing the patterns will help you figure out what the notes are in scales/modes you are not fluent in.

example: while learning my minor scales at school I would memorize the Natural Minor scale note for note and for the Harmonic and Melodic minor I would use the patterns, flat 6th with leading tone and the like.(I am a brass instrumentalist who also plays bass, patterns arent as easy to see)