Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaita  I am fairly a newcomer to bass guitar. Only been playing about 6 to 7 months. I used to learn with tabs, but then I realized I wasn't progressing in the way I wanted to... I'm all self taught because I have no money for a teacher (I also got my bass and amp for free) but that's besides the point.. Now I play by ear and I find it really really hard to tell what songs are in what key. I don't know notes or anything at all.. I just play.. So can anyone tell me how I can tell if a song is in drop C or just standard? I always have to ask people and I think they are getting tired of it.. So I have to learn! help me PLEASE!
(sorry if you don't understand what I am trying to ask) |
Finding the key a song is in -- is not a secrete and should be shared with all band members. Simple as who ever calls the song says something like this; "Next one is go kiss Ole Sallie. and let's do it in G." Even if you have never heard the song before you can lay down an acceptable base line doing .......
If it's in G expect the chords to progress through a I IV V I (G, C, D7, G) progression in each verse. Expect this, but, sneak a peek at the person that called the song and watch his fingers to see what chord he is playing - then do likewise. That I IV V I chord progression will get you a whole lot closer than; "Just playing what ever you think will be right." So don't be afraid to ask once or twice. Hint write the title down and notate the key this band plays it in so you don't have to ask all the time.
One quick way to find the key that is being used is to find the tonal center of the song. Do that this way - walk the E string one fret at a time till what you are hearing from the song and what you are doing on the E string come into sync, i.e. sound good together - when this happens you've found the tonal center of the song, thus the key. Just look at what fret this happened on, i.e. at the 3rd fret your key is G, if at the 8th fret your key is C. Why? What is the 3rd fret on the E string? It's a G note, 8th fret is a C note. After you've used this method awhile you'll be able to pick out the key after hearing 2 to 3 measures of the song.
OK after you got the key what do you play? Over the G chord a G note is a safe bet. So is a G-5 riff, or a G-3-5-3 riff usually works fine. For what those 5's and 3's are go to:
http://www.studybass.com/ Then when the chord progression moves to the C chord you start playing a C note or a C-5, or a C-3-5-3 riff and yes when the song moves to the D7 chord you start playing D notes, etc.
Spend some time at
http://www.studybass.com/lessons/com...ots-to-chords/ http://www.studybass.com/lessons/com...rds/exercises/
Good luck.
