Learning All Scale Positions / Relative Modes

[ModulusMaster]

Hello,

I have been playing bass for a few decades, but not really practicing and advancing. I love to listen to jazz fusion and hear how great bass players utilize relative modes all over the neck to create more depth to their playing. I would love to advance my playing in this capacity, but feel a little lost as to how to accomplish this.

Does anyone have any suggestions on books, methods, or direction for this?

Thanks in advance,

Matt

 

[jj.833]

I think this is dealt widely in Rabbath 3 book. Tons of scales, and the general method: learn one way of performing a scale, then learn another way to play the same scale, then yet another etc. If you do it in all keys, it will teach you to play in tune anywhere on the bass. It's way too lenghty method perhaps, but surely it works.

But to be frank, I think that you don't really want to do it by such a book. Why? Because the more you use your brain when you are playing, the faster you will learn. I've been playing simple excersise attached. In all keys. With a drone. Telling myself names of the modes and names of the notes I play. It is not as easy as it looks. When it starts to get easy, focus on the fingerboard places where it gets hard.

 

[jj.833]

Of course, this will not only teach you to find the notes. You will also learn to hear the flavour of modes. But still, you need to know what to do with it, which mode to use at a given chord. This can be found in Mark Levine: Jazz Theory Book. If you can get your hand on it, check it out. Not easy and piano oriented, but the general ideas are understandable.

 

[BobDeRosa]

I agree with @jj.833, but would like to add that you've already taken the most important step by deciding that you want to learn and stretch yourself. The rest is just execution.

 

[ModulusMaster]

Thank you so much guys, this is very helpful. It's also been a while since i've read music (since high school 20 years ago!! lol). I can do it, just going to be a lot of work to get back into the swing of things.

I just realized that I accidently posted this to the Double bass forum. I am really talking about electric bass. Where should i post this question?

 

[bherman]

Thank you so much guys, this is very helpful. It's also been a while since i've read music (since high school 20 years ago!! lol). I can do it, just going to be a lot of work to get back into the swing of things.

I just realized that I accidently posted this to the Double bass forum. I am really talking about electric bass. Where should i post this question?

Cant answer the question about where to post, but I can recommend a book. Look up "Daily Warm Up Exercises for Bass Guitar", Steven Mooney. It lays out all scales and arpeggios by mode degree as well as numerous exercises, written out by key starting with C Maj and going through all 12.

 

[consectaneus]

Of course, this will not only teach you to find the notes. You will also learn to hear the flavour of modes. But still, you need to know what to do with it, which mode to use at a given chord. This can be found in Mark Levine: Jazz Theory Book. If you can get your hand on it, check it out. Not easy and piano oriented, but the general ideas are understandable.

I just found this book, and now I have an electronic keyboard on order which is recommended for playing the musical examples regardless of instrument. (Supposedly you don't need to be a piano virtuoso or even an average pianist to benefit, and indeed there are bass players using this method.) I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Benjamin Earl]

I'm having déjà vu! I posted this in the other thread with a similar question. I thought it may be useful to anyone who may not read them both.

I teach the modes in a step by step method. The following suggestions are the condensed version.

1. Learn & practice how to play every note on the fretboard that is in the major scale (see video below).
2. Learn & practice connecting the Positions (see video playlist below).
3. Study how it sounds to play the major scale starting and ending on different scale tones (see chart below).
4. Study how the modes fit within the major scale (see fretboard graphic).
5. Practice the modes with chords and listen to how they sound (see video playlist below).

#1 Every Fretboard Position in the Major Scale


#2 Connecting the Positions
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLck4qUxuGm_9dX-iOLzaQqanX_8oG4HNO

#3 Study How it Sounds from each Scale Tone

#4 Study how each mode fits in the Positions

#5 Practice with Chords
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLck4qUxuGm_-Fm8ciPsjbEcHVDmQ6x8xX

Obviously this is the cliffs notes version, so please let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!