Getting position from music notation

[PlanetEarth]

i'm not down with that and i'll tell you why...if you leave the tabs in place, you'll never have any incentive to read.

+1 on that.... And, screw someone else's idea of a "pattern" - learn the notes on your instrument, read the music, logic and efficiency will dictate the rest - it'll give ya a headache at first but hey - if it don't kill ya....

-PE

 

[JimmyM]

+1 on that.... And, screw someone else's idea of a "pattern" - learn the notes on your instrument, read the music, logic and efficiency will dictate the rest - it'll give ya a headache at first but hey - if it don't kill ya....

-PE

i will return the +1 to you, dude. 100% agreed. patterns get you into trouble. there will come a time you won't be able to use one of your patterns to play something and it'll throw you into a tizzy. seen it happen a million times.

 

[shadow_FIX]

I think patterns serve a good purpose as efficient ways of maneuvering around the instrument, but knowing where everything is in relation to your patterns is key so you don't get lost if you go outside of said patterns.

 

[Chris K]

But the answer is being able to read ahead, so you can find where you should be on the neck - how you should finger the upcoming notes. (...)

^^^^^^^^
Azureblue said it all.

 

[Febs]

I'd like to keep my notes around the first 4 frets then go up the 1st string for the 3rd octave. That's the way I recognize / relate to standard notation

Understand I'm learning not trying to be ^%&*$$#. Why would you use A string 7th fret?

Where would you play the E in measure 7? If you play it on the D string, you have a big jump to the D in the next measure. If you play it on the 7th fret of the A string, you are already in position to play that D in measure 8. As Azureblue said, the key is reading ahead. Position is often dictated not by the note that you are playing at the moment, but by the notes that you need to play in the next couple of measures.

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

The big advantage of standard notation is that it doesn't include "instrument-specific" information - so could be played on any instrument!

So - your written bass line could be played on Double Bass, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Bass Clarinet, Piano etc etc. and nothing would need to be changed!

As soon as you put in things like positions - you lose that big advantage!

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Thanks for all the advise. At this point in my musical journey I'm happy with first position. Why? Well at 75 and less than a year on the bass my plate is pretty full. I'm happy to be holding my on in a Country band. I understand there is a better way, and I'll keep it in mind.

Appreciate the comments .......

Happy trails.

 

[fmoore60]

i'm not down with that and i'll tell you why...if you leave the tabs in place, you'll never have any incentive to read.

JimmyM is wise! I agree with this, you need to read every day to stay up and progress. If it is frustrating right now, good, that means you are thinking. I have played for 30 years and still find it challenging at times. Always pick a piece just past your ability and work on it, you will surprise yourself. Remember Tab is a suggestion for position, if you feel comfortable at a certain part of the neck use that. At practice make yourself work from a different position. KEEP Playing!

 

[JTE]

RE Malcom's example. I' with Jimmy (and his JB/Devo self). Glancing at the exercise on my phone shows that the highest looks to be the D and there's nothing lower than the A (scrolling back to verify ain't easy so I could be wrong). That puts it very neatly in 5th position.

What you gain by playing it there instead of at the first fret is easy and fluid access to the high notes. Always starting in open positions hampers your options. I reiterate- look through the selection and note the extremes first. Then work out what transitions are important. Don't use preconceived limits.

John

 

[JimmyM]

Thanks for all the advise. At this point in my musical journey I'm happy with first position. Why? Well at 75 and less than a year on the bass my plate is pretty full. I'm happy to be holding my on in a Country band. I understand there is a better way, and I'll keep it in mind.

Appreciate the comments .......

Happy trails.

75? wow, congratulations for taking up something new!

 

[LowDown Hal]

Excellent replies all. I am good with the octave difference on the staff (stave??), I guess my original example was not a good one.

I'm working blues (specifically the stormy monday line) and I see G - C - D, well because I'm new to reading music that D is the open D string. However the pattern for this line is to play it on the 5th fret of the A string - the pattern is movable, the open D is not.

Basically my instructor said to leave the tabs in place until I get more advanced in reading and the know the different positions better. I'm taking a break from the blues book anyway, it's ahead of my music reading ability although only by a little bit.

But that D can also be played at the 5th fret of the A string.
Personally I try to avoid too many open frets. Out in the world, at least around here, someone always wants to change the key on you. If you haven't "learned" open frets you can slide the whole mess up or down the neck and change keys without much effort at all.