6 string Bass Scales, Modes, Chords.

[Bodhammer]

 

[HolmeBass]

When say “chart” them out what do you mean by that? Do I Google them and then take notes on my phone? Or just screenshot them for reference? Then after that search for fingering approaches?

“Chart out” was a reference to you writing up your own tabs for the various scales you want to learn. Either on graph paper or music staff paper, or they actually sell blank tab books that allow you to fill in the tab locations yourself.

Once you have that, that is the chart. Making your own chart will promote deep learning, much more so than downloading one.

The next step is working on the right fingering, including when to shift position. You might find some YouTube videos about various ways to finger 2-octave scales, or you can just use trial and error to come up with fingerings that work for you.

So the first part, the chart, is a map of where the notes are on the fingerboard.

The second part, the fingerings, is which fingers to use to play each note in an efficient and smooth manner.

There will be more than one possible fingering for each scale; there is often more than one place on the fingerboard to play a particular note. You want to explore all of these options in your practice so you can handle any musical situation that might come up.

 

[SteveCS]

All he asked was for a website or a book. And all anyone tells him is figure it out for yourself. I thought we were more helpful than that

if I knew of any I would tell you. But I am sure they must exist.

This stuff really is a case of "give a man a fish". In fact, writing this stuff out is easier than fishing and delivers better results in terms of learning, retention and recall than reading a scale pattern dictionary. IME, most books of this nature get through the important stuff - that which can be worked out easily yourself - in the first few pages. Much of the remainder - pages of repeating moveable patterns - is often just a waste of paper, IME.

I am having trouble finding a book that includes all the scales, modes and chords for a 6 string bass in both major and minor. Can someone help me either find a book or web site that has all that information? Thank you.

But if you really do want a book, this one isn't bad: All of the arrangements are for 4-string and consist of actual music rather than chord or scale dictionaries. In know you said 6-string, but as you know (or will come to know), once you get away from open strings everything can be reduced to moveable shapes and patterns. What is important at this stage is to also make sure you embark on learning where the notes are (by letter-name) in all areas of the fingerboard. That way you won't lose track of where you are when you start moving the patterns and shapes around.

Regarding general theory, any good general music theory book will do. If you want to know about bass 'function' get a good general book on harmony or composition.

 

[logdrum]

Assume that you are using a I-M-R+L to go horizontally across 3 frets. There are 3 scale shapes you need to know first and they are major, minor and dominant and this means starting with the index finger and reaching the octave with R+L. That is your vertical movement. With a 6 string you have a string on both sides and the rule is the string down is the fifth and the the string up is the fourth. So what you learned on the fourth string is applicable

 

[Watchootognbout]

This book has what you need.
And the author dcgbass is on TB.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/on...-good-what’s-not.1447540/page-2#post-23797191

 

[Dincrest]

I was just about to suggest that 6-string Bassics book above. When I used to play 6-string, it was a very useful book. 6-String Bassics Hal Leonard Online

 

[MrLenny1]

Play through the cycle of 4th's starting on all open strings.

 

[KenD]

Assuming your 6 string is tuned in 4ths, the shapes for fingerings (and alternate fingerings) are the same on a 6 string as they are on a 4 or 5. There's just more room and octaves available without so much shifting.

 

[TOOL460002]

i really, really feel your efforts are misplaced. hear me out.

1. learn the notes on the instrument. it takes time! but memorize which note goes where.
2. learn the notes of the scales
3. expand your range by practicing the scales down into the low B, or up into high-C territory.

you do not need an instrument-specific book for this.

I really feel like such a thing would hinder your progress. I say this as a 6-string bass aficionado, as well as a full-time music teacher.

Never touched a 6er so I don't have a mental image or any muscle memory for how the patterns look over the neck, but I also didn't have that for a 4 string before I started practicing. It took time and it's not like you can say "Dm Hungarian in 5/4 and a 1, 2, 3..." and I'm good to go, but I think you just gotta run scales.

I started experimenting with drop tuning after playing over 25yrs in standard with the same relationships and patterns. That threw me off and took a few months to really get it fluid. It still doesn't feel as comfortable as std/all 4ths, but after about 2yrs it is pretty effortless to double stop octaves across dropped strings etc.

Time and effort. I'm a mediocre bassist at best so anyone can for sure get comfortable on a six string.

 

[paulunger]

Great 6-string stuff here: Johnny Cox Music - Welcome Page - Johnny Cox Music
and here: Dave's Six-String Bass Resource Page - Chords

 

[tb-player]

bassology.net

One-on-one lessons with Anthony Wellington. What OP is seeking is exactly what he teaches. And he teaches it on 4, 5, 6 or 7 string bass. I cannot recommend Anthony enough. His influence is worth every dime.

 

[Standalone]

The patterns are the same as for 4 or 5 string bass, just extended across more strings. Is it really that hard to figure out for yourself?

What’s often hard is the motivation. I’m sure that you’d find a book written for three string bass less than inspiring.

There’s nothing wrong with seeking a good resource for a particular sort of bass.
Let’s be supportive, not dismissive.

 

[Standalone]

Seconding others:

If you don't know how to figure this out yourself, you really need to learn.

You should know the structure of each pattern, in a few different ways. (E.g., a minor scale goes by 2 frets, then 1, then 2...; or, a minor scale is just like the major scale with the 3rd, 6th, and 7th degrees lowered; or, a minor scale uses the same notes as the major scale that starts three frets higher. Or, if you know the notes of one major scale then you can lower the seventh to get the notes of the scale a fourth above. Etc.)

It's a lot, it'll take time, but just take it in small bites and you'll get there. As you practice you'll also get to learn the sound of each thing, so you'll recognize when you make a mistake.

If you know all this, but just find it frustrating and slow trying to figure it out from first principles each time--hey, I get it, I've been there. But I've learned to take the frustration as a sign that my brain's being forced to learn something new, which is a good thing. Do a little bit every day, and it'll get easier. Write out your own charts if you need to. Don't rely on somebody else's.

If it’s so easy, why not write the book for the OP? I’m sure it would be appreciated.

 

[bholder]

What’s often hard is the motivation. I’m sure that you’d find a book written for three string bass less than inspiring.

There’s nothing wrong with seeking a good resource for a particular sort of bass.
Let’s be supportive, not dismissive.

I am being supportive - supportive of them being more effective and efficient in their learning. Figuring it out for themselves is simply the best way to learn it, imho.

 

[bholder]

If it’s so easy, why not write the book for the OP? I’m sure it would be appreciated.

You're missing the point. Doing it for the OP completely defeats the point, which is for them to figure it out for themselves. That's the only way it's going to "stick", imho. That's where the educational value is, not in reading something pre-published.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

I immediately thought of this video. Helped me change the way I think about scales and patterns.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Great 6-string stuff here: Johnny Cox Music - Welcome Page - Johnny Cox Music
and here: Dave's Six-String Bass Resource Page - Chords

The "Dave's six String Bass"page was the other suggestion that I had.But could not find it.
Now I can re-bookmark it for myself again.

 

[Les Fret]

Lots of good books and advice given already.

Books can sure help but I tend to agree with learning the fretboard first. Just memorize all the basic (natural) notes first over and over. This takes time (maybe months). If you have mastered that you will see scale and arpeggio patterns yourself and you don’t need a book anymore. But you can do all this along learning from a book. Better yet find a specialized 6 string bass teacher, that will help a lot.

 

[Nashrakh]

All he asked was for a website or a book. And all anyone tells him is figure it out for yourself. I thought we were more helpful than that

It's a "teach a man to fish" situation. Would you rather give him the fish?

 

[SteveCS]

It's a "teach a man to fish" situation. Would you rather give him the fish?

I saw a great paraphrase of that recently:

"Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank today; give a man a bank and he can rob the world forever!"