Why learn chords on bass

[SkinnyP411]

Hey guys, it's been a while! Hope everyone is doing well! Here's the Q: If I memorize the notes that make up chords on a bass guitar, how will that help my playing? And how can I use that knowledge to improve my overall playing? Thanks in advance!

[BritPicker]

You don't really need to "remember" them, so much as understand HOW the chords are constructed.

I would concentrate on majors, minors and 7ths. For most rock-type music that's 99% of it.

Each chord type with have it's own "shapes" on the fretboard. Get familiar with them.

It will help you in making up lines to songs, that aren't just root-notes and with understanding and working out existing bass lines you might be learning.

[odin70]

I think it would be easier if you try to come up with the answers yourself. Its not that hard and you will learn more.

[JehuJava]

Look what you did! Bad!! [rubbing nose in the search button] Bad!

Perhaps you should reach back into TB history to find this oft discussed piece of bass playing knowledge. We'd rather discuss Fender vs Fodera...

From a simple TB search:
Chord Tones Are Primary

[JimiLL]

Why should you know chords? Do you want to be a root note rider the rest of your life?

[JehuJava]

And just for the record...knowing chord tones might possibly help when your playing with a guitarist who is playing chords or a keyboardist who is playing chords. If the guitarist is playing CMAJ you automatically know that at a minimum R, M3, and P5 can be played.

[JehuJava]

Sorry for the jerky responses. I've just noticed a huge trend of new members not searching the 10+ years of TB info. Sorry. Chords are as important as scales and rhythm subdivisions. As you progress you'll understand.

[tri33]

Learning how chords are constructed is essential to being a good bass player. Like another person said, if your guitarist says "im playing a Cmaj7" then you will know what notes would be appropriate to play over that chord. Inasmuch, if your looking to do some improvising, knowing how chords are built is, once again, pretty much essential to creating sophisticated solos.

[Dubista]

Originally Posted by tri33

Like another person said, if your guitarist says "im playing a Cmaj7"

You mean, IF a guitarist knows what chord he's playing, right?

From my limited experience, you learn chords on the bass guitar... so you can tell the guitarist what chords they are playing.

[Ric5]

Learn enough guitar so you know chords and a little lead. Then when you are in a band you can look at the guitar players neck and know what he is playing.

[SkinnyP411]

So far these are all great thanks! I started out on guitar so I usually watch the acoustic players fingers if I have any questions about what we're playing

[JehuJava]

Originally Posted by Dubista

You mean, IF a guitarist knows what chord he's playing, right?

From my limited experience, you learn chords on the bass guitar... so you can tell the guitarist what chords they are playing.

True...that's what happens when you learn a bunch of patterns from Guitar World and don't put any thinking behind it...but we should strive to be playing with better players.

[BagelBruin]

Also, if you memorize the notes that make up chords on a bass guitar, you can play chords on a bass guitar! Huge sound!

[repoman]

Why learn chord notes to play bass is sort of like asking why learn letters to write words?

[JehuJava]

Huh...chords? One of the fundamental building blocks of music? Never heard of 'em.

[DiabolusInMusic]

Chords are overrated just play the 5th.

[MalcolmAmos]

Why chord tones? IMO scales are for solos and chord tones are for accompaniment. Of course that is not absolute and there is more than this, however, if you are accompanying using chord tones under the chords, that are active in the song, you are harmonizing (sounding good) with what is happening in the song.

Why chord tones? If you have a 4/4 time signature. Four chord tones (notes of the chord) fit nicely. A song is made of three things, melody, harmony and rhythm. Melody is the part of the song you could sing. Harmony, the part we play, is best served with notes of the chord played one note at a time, in time with the rhythm of the song. So our primary job is to provide harmony and rhythm. Chord tones let us do this.

Now that does not exclude scale notes as fills or scale notes when we are playing lead, but, chord tones occupy 90% of what we do.

Now how you play chord tones is left up to you. I use the major scale box pattern and once I visualize the pattern on my fretboard and play the scale degrees necessary to make that chord the pattern places the correct notes under my fingers.

So you could if you like learn what notes are in every chord or, it is only necessary that you know what generic scale degrees are found in each chord. As that normally is a major chords, minor chords, diminished chords and/or the dominant seven chord, that is not a large learning curve.

Sometime only the root is necessary, sometime the root and the five work better, and sometime you will need the complete chord tone. The song will dictate what is needed.

Our job is to have some generic bass lines in muscle memory so when we see a major chord we know what to do, that is left up to you. I rely upon; see a chord play as many of its chord tones as necessary.

Your choice.

[schmig]

Chords or double stops can be used to great effect in the right places, such as sliding into them high on the neck during the transition between one bar and another for instance. Listen to Scott Thunes playing live with Frank Zappa - later versions of "Cosmik Debris" spring to mind. Also, I've found that they help with my fretboard visualisation, as well as helping clear up my fear of the dusty end.

[tri33]

Originally Posted by Dubista

You mean, IF a guitarist knows what chord he's playing, right?

From my limited experience, you learn chords on the bass guitar... so you can tell the guitarist what chords they are playing.

Lol.

Well luckily for me my guitarist is fairly knowledgable when it comes to chords.

Although I will admit it feels kinda good when you, as a bass player, can inform your chord-heavy bandmates as to what they're actually playing, or what they should be playing.

[tri33]

Originally Posted by DiabolusInMusic

Chords are overrated just play the 5th.

They're both overrated. I'd say just play the b11th, it's really all ya' need.

This is a totally seperate topic, but how does one go about putting multiple quotes from different users in their posts? I see there is a multi-quote button but I am not sure how to use it.