dumb noob theory question\circle of fifths

[Old_Noob]

I am new to theory and also still trying to learn the fretboard....tonight I had a ‘whoa’ moment....i think. please tell me if i am missing something...and forgive me if this is super basic.

Am I correct that the strings on a bass are a fourth apart....meaning that the fretboard is just a grid of the circle of 5ths starting at different points? meaning any given note will always be surrounded by the exact same notes?

That, in turn, means that the fourth of any note will always be on the same fret up a string....and an octave is always 2 over and two down, etc, etc?

 

[FatStringer52]

Yes, the bass is tuned in fourths. An octave will always be up two strings and up two frets. The perfect fifth will be up one string and up two frets. Another perfect fifth will be on the same fret down a string. However, there are many more fifths and octaves on the fingerboard, i.e., the open E and the E on the 7th fret of the A string, or the open E and the E on the 12th fret of the E string. In your learning process, you should not only learn where the intervals are located above the root/tonic, but also below the root/tonic. For instance, the Major 7th below the root is just one fret down. The bass, being a symetrical instrument makes it somewhat easier to learn the fingerboard.

 

[FatStringer52]

If you are going to jump into learning theory, start with Intervals. These 3 videos should give you a comprehensive understanding of Intervals.

 

[Malcolm35]

Notice your bass strings E-A-D-G go up in 4ths and come back down in 5ths.
C on the A string then the IV (F) root note will be up a string same fret, and the V (G) root note will be down a string same fret. The I-IV-V all together in one spot. Piece of cake.

And yes it is like that all over your neck.

• From the root where is the 2 note? Same string and over two frets.
• From the root where is the 3 note? Up a string and back a fret.
• From the root where is the 4 note? Up a string same fret.
• From the root where is the 5 note? Down a string same fret, or up a string and over toward the bridge two frets.
• From the root where is the 6 note? Over the 3.
• From the root where is the 7 note? Up two strings and toward the bridge one fret. Or at the root and back one fret.
• From the root where is the octave 8 note. up two strings and over two frets. Right over the 5.

Which makes R-5-8-5 an easy generic bass line.

 

[Old_Noob]

If you are going to jump into learning theory, start with Intervals. These 3 videos should give you a comprehensive understanding of Intervals.

thanks man.....old dogs can learn new tricks