What Music Knowledge is most important for bass???

bongo499 · #1 02-01-2005, 12:37 PM

i have been playing bass for more than a year seriously and have gotten pretty good. The past couple fo days i have been interested in learning more about music and theory. I want to ask people what do you think is most important knowledge for a bassist to know abotu music theory. Thank you

mikemulcahy · #2 02-01-2005, 12:41 PM

Learn everything you can. Knowledge gives you options.

Mike

Ed Fuqua · #3 02-01-2005, 12:57 PM

All of it.

geoffkhan · #4 02-01-2005, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

All of it.

Ditto. Master ever subject in music, don't just skim over it, either.

**IvanMike** · #5 02-01-2005, 03:42 PM

all of it is good

2 biggies

be able to name every note on your fingerboard/play all the positions of any note someone names.

know the chord tones of every chord

JimK · #6 02-01-2005, 03:46 PM

Two really big "biggies"-

Rhythm
Harmony

PlayTheBass · #7 02-01-2005, 03:47 PM

Scales, which lead into chords, and then available tensions of those chords (for melodic construction). Start with major and minor scales and the chords there, then go to the other diatonic scales, and then get into altered scales.

Against Will · #8 02-01-2005, 04:22 PM

All of it, start with scales and work from there.

ADbassman · #9 02-01-2005, 07:47 PM

I'm taking music theory in school and its all been pretty useful to me, even figured bass.

After all, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!

keb · #10 02-01-2005, 08:34 PM

Get started on theory as soon as you can. You'll wonder how you ever did without it!

Kevjmyers · #11 02-02-2005, 07:21 AM

Every aspect of theory is equally important since all concepts intertwine so beautifully with one another. If I HAD to pick one aspect with regards to importance I would say probably intervalic relationships. Start today!

I-Love-Ratm · #12 02-02-2005, 07:24 AM

Could someone explain chord tones?Is it like intervals?

Ed Fuqua · #13 02-02-2005, 08:56 AM

Chord tones are the intervals that make up a chord. Root third fifth seventh. Although some folks feel the seventh is a TENSION (like the b9, 9, #9 etc etc).

**IvanMike** · #14 02-02-2005, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Love-Ratm

Could someone explain chord tones?Is it like intervals?

kinda sorta but no
chord tones are all the tones/notes in a given chord.

for a major chord that woudl be the tonic, (the Root or the "1"), the 3rd (3) and 5th (5) so A is A-C#-E
for minor that would be 1-flat3-5, a 7th chord is 1-3-5-flat7, major 7th is 1-3-5-7, a minor 7th is 1-flat3-5-flat7, etc

i belive it was caol kaye who said "average bass lines are built on scales, great bass lines are built on chord tones."

in tom petty's "running down a dream" the outgoing solo is played over the repitition of C-D-E. to change it up sometimes i play a descending line on the E string G-F#-E. that works because G is the fifth of C, F# is the third of D and E is well, E.

nonsqtr · #15 02-02-2005, 09:23 AM

IMO, the most important thing is the ear. My recommendation would be, play along with CD's and the radio as much as possible. Ear traning is where it's at, and that's the poor man's method for moving in that direction.

That's where I'd start. Musical notation makes no sense without an ear. Harmony and structure follow.

Then, there's the "rhythm" part. Drum machines are good. Once in a while, don't get dependent on them though. The whole point is to use them as "practice", not as the gospel. There's no substitute for playing with a live drummer. Do that as much as possible. Jam sessions are good. Pick-up gigs are good. School bands are good. Anything that gets you (a) playing in "real" situations and (b) playing in front of some kind of an audience - even if it's only your own band - is good.