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gary willis - fretboard harmony book/cd

F

Fishbrain

Dec 8, 2000
1,910
4
38
England, Liverpool
www.mattlawtonbass.com
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: Warwick Bass and Amp
#1
Hey all, I got this book a few weeks ago and i'm really struggling to get into it. It seems to have all the stuff in that I want to learn (being very theory shy at the moment) but it just seems impossible to learn!

I'v only got up to the first few lessons and I'm really struggling. For those not familiar with the book it is quite basic, its like, making walking basslines through chord sequences. Learning which notes go with which chord and that. I'm quite a proficient bass player technique wise but my theory leaves a lot to be desired and I'm getting frustrated with it.

Any help?!
 
#4
Thats completely normal. I learned alot from that book and also the Ed Friedland's Walking Bass Lines which in IMO was more intuitve and way easier to understand.

So forget learning the the shapes of the fingerboard for now, That will trip you up. Or better yet dont think of it as shapes. Take one measure at a time. Play the measure in position as in the book and then somewhere else on the fretboard. So, if Gary wants you to start the Cm7 on the A string 3rd fret do it first. Then start the same measure on the E string 8th fret and play the measure from there. (Its not in the book, but might as well learn a different position, after all, when you bought the bass you paid for all the notes on it. )

Dont forget to use the open strings also.

Then go to the second measure and practice the F7 the same way. Play it as written, then play it on the A string 8th fret.

Soon you will know the fretboard. or at least those chords/arpeggios

Now put the 2 measures together, say the note names. Get the sound of the phase in your head.

And things become much easier. Soon by reading the music, you will know if its a third, a fifth, the octave..etc. just by looking at the sheet music. Soon you will find the perfect position to play all the notes with minimal shifting.

Training the eye to sight read and play at the same time takes a long time to master. Its very difficult.

Practice this stuff for short periods at a time. you will absorb it much quicker.
 
#6
I'm just getting back into playing, and this is one of those books I bought and never really got to grips with (too busy practicing flash b*stard stuff - doh!). Now I'm playing more again I've come back to it, and although I'm theory literate I have to concur this really pushes a theory-centric note choice and playing philosophy. It's very tough to get into - but I think it's extremely worth the effort!
 
#7
I have that book too. It's a lot tougher than it looks. I think the most difficult part is that he has you 'forget' about hitting the root on 1. Coming from a long history of hitting the root on 1, I took a long time to come to grips with this (I understand the theory behind it, but it's just second nature for me by now.)
 
#8
Fishbrain said:
I haven't gotten past the first chord or two. Where it shows you the shapes on the fretboard of all the notes for that chord and then the same with the next and then plays a short sequence alternating through the two. After once or twice through it I lose me footing and get completely lost!
Click to expand...

I have the same problem. I can go for quite a lot of bars but always get lost. I supose it'd be a good idea to use transcribing software (theres a free one, but i can't remember the name), stick in the notes for x amount of bars and get used to how that sounds, and then try playing it.
 
#10
This book annoys me so much. I ordered it of the net when I was just beginning and it didnt have tab. At thetime I just wanted to play rock songs. I tried for a while writing the notes above the staffs but it was still solid. I've been meaning to pick it back up again but I just dont have the motivation to! When I buy a book/dvd. I use it like a teacher to a certain extent and just play and learn for a month. With this book it will take six months!!! One day I will conquer it
 

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