Cycle of fifths or Circle of fifths? - Page 2

bass12 · #21 12-29-2012, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phmike

Carol Kaye will set you straight on this - it's CYCLE !!!

And she, not James Jamerson, played on it!

jmattbassplaya · #22 12-29-2012, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swervy jervy

Cabinet of Fifths.

I wish.

Groove Master · #23 12-30-2012, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Kind of nothing, really. If they're major scales, then yes you're going around the circle of fifths (Cmaj, add 1 sharp you get Gmaj, and another sharp you get Dmaj, etc.) but if you use it to practice other scales, just using the tonic note from the circle, it's just kind of an arbitrary construct. Because if you choose the root/tonic C and play a melodic minor scale (C D Eb F G Ab B C), then adding a sharp doesn't really get you to any kind of G scale right?
Personally, I would suggest mixing it up. Do them in 4ths, up a minor 3rd and down a whole step (and repeat). That way you don't get locked into a pattern.

Again thank you Mr. Ed. It makes sense.
Thanks for the tip also, I'm so forge into the "cycle" of fifths that I forget to mix it up. I take note ;-)

Groove Master · #24 12-30-2012, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hgiles

I prefer "Cycle of Fourths", i.e. C, F, Bb, etc... not the other way around.

That is exactly the cycle of fifths descending. Same thing and it is the cycle I'm using because it sounds better since music tend to go down, just like Newton's apple.

It is easy for us bass players to think in fourths because we are tuned that way and it is easier on a bass to play C to F as an ascending fourth instead of a descending fifth. But it is the same thing really. Also, the movement of a descending fifth is really strong in our ears and it fits nicely the usual 4/4 time sig.