Learning fretboard on 6 string bass

[Newby6string]

Agreed, I've never been on board with the "Only play X string instruments" advice. Notes are notes. It should be no problem for someone to switch between basses with different numbers of strings.

One thing I'd add to drilling where the notes are is to drill intervals in relation to those notes. If you're soloing you're probably not going to play the root to start or end a phrase but you will still probably use it mentally as a reference point for where you start or end a line.

By intervals I am assuming you mean the pattern between notes as it relates to the scale for the chord being played over...yes?

 

[Newby6string]

By intervals I am assuming you mean the pattern between notes as it relates to the scale for the chord being played over...yes?

Or, keeping in mind that there is a single step difference between E and F and B and C or a combination of both? Sorry, I am a Newby and I am trying to sort things out. I know from my book of arpeggios for bass (which I find very helpful in creating bass lines) that the intervals between notes vary with the chord those bass notes are being played over like C major and C minor where a note in the major scale is lowered a half step for the minor scale.

 

[Mushroo]

Yes, and to play it in three different starting position on the fret board. Interesting way to conceptualize the fret board. I will give it a go. Thanks!

Learning three different shapes for the major scale is a good start. If you want to really master the fretboard, try looking beyond the "scale shape" concept. For example, try playing all of the major scales just going up and down on one string. Or try playing all of the major scales without ever going above the 4th fret. Then you are not relying on muscle memory of a shape; you have to puzzle out each note individually.

 

[Mushroo]

Another advanced way to practice scales is to practice them over the full range of the instrument, not just from root to octave.

For example if you are practicing the E Major scale, instead of starting from low E, you could start from low B, which is the lowest note on your 6-string bass that "fits" the scale of E Major. Or if you are practicing Eb Major scale, you don't start on low B (because that doesn't fit Eb Major) but you could start on low C.

 

[Newby6string]

Hmmmm......those two approaches to the fret board would really force me to think where the notes are located along a single string and between the nut and 4th fret. I could say the notes out loud as I play the scale ascending and descending to reinforce learning them.

 

[Funky Maple]

The way I learned it was using the sliding concept that I got from Mark Michell's Low End University. Every day you pick a note and play all the available octaves of that note on your fretboard with the catch that you must slide between notes on the same string. Sliding into notes rather than picking twice has the advantage of forcing you to think quicker. Every next day do the same thing for the note a 4th higher. When you are comfortable with free sliding, do the same thing on a metronome.

You improve fretboard knowledge, sliding precision, timekeeping and speed at the same time.

 

[JRA]

also: many of the suggestions you're getting come into focus a bit as you work on your sight-reading. learning the fingerboard and sight-reading are synergistic.

Would like a more systematic/efficient approach to learning the notes on the fret board.

there is no easy, fast way to acquire new skills. time and repetition are your friends! good luck!

 

[SteveCS]

Ah....thanks for the clarification. I have three four string basses aside from my six string. I suppose I could read the melody lines in treble clef in the upper register to become proficient in reading treble clef. Choices and options!

You could. Personally, when writing scores for my own use, I use tenor clef at concert pitch on the same (single) stave, so middle C on the clef is C at 17 on the G string. On a 4-string 2-octave neck, the high G is on the first ledger line above. On a 21-fret 4-string the high E is on the top line.
In this way, the first space in the tenor clef corresponds to the second ledger line above the bass 8vb clef.
See attached...

 

[Newby6string]

Another advanced way to practice scales is to practice them over the full range of the instrument, not just from root to octave.

For example if you are practicing the E Major scale, instead of starting from low E, you could start from low B, which is the lowest note on your 6-string bass that "fits" the scale of E Major. Or if you are practicing Eb Major scale, you don't start on low B (because that doesn't fit Eb Major) but you could start on low C.

The way I learned it was using the sliding concept that I got from Mark Michell's Low End University. Every day you pick a note and play all the available octaves of that note on your fretboard with the catch that you must slide between notes on the same string. Sliding into notes rather than picking twice has the advantage of forcing you to think quicker. Every next day do the same thing for the note a 4th higher. When you are comfortable with free sliding, do the same thing on a metronome.

You improve fretboard knowledge, sliding precision, timekeeping and speed at the same time.

Another a good idea. Love it! Thanks.

 

[devnulljp]

I tuned mine like a guitar wit ha low B, BEADGB, so didn't have to even think about it. Did my head in trying to stick to 4ths all the way across, BEADGC

 

[Newby6string]

I thought about that but I don't play guitar and so it is BEADGC for me. Now, a lot of guitarists I know like the BEADGB tuning when playing six string because it is what they know aside from the low B....lol.

 

[Newby6string]

also: many of the suggestions you're getting come into focus a bit as you work on your sight-reading. learning the fingerboard and sight-reading are synergistic.


there is no easy, fast way to acquire new skills. time and repetition are your friends! good luck!

I am putting in the time....lots of time...and it is getting easier little by little. My wife got a little dog to keep her company during the times I am in the back room practicing sight reading/playing songs for church. Yes, you are quite right about the repetition as I spend more time looking at the sheet music rather then the fret board. When I first started, I was looking at the fret board much more than the sheet music...lol! Carol Kaye emphasized looking at the sheet music and not so much the finger board and what her fretting hand was doing. Yep, "synergistic" is the exact word for sight reading/playing an instrument activity.

 

[Newby6string]

You could. Personally, when writing scores for my own use, I use tenor clef at concert pitch on the same (single) stave, so middle C on the clef is C at 17 on the G string. On a 4-string 2-octave neck, the high G is on the first ledger line above. On a 21-fret 4-string the high E is on the top line.
In this way, the first space in the tenor clef corresponds to the second ledger line above the bass 8vb clef.
See attached...

Forgive my lack of knowledge. Tenor Clef? That is a new term for me. I know treble clef and bass clef. Tenor Clef is that like Fender Bass VI tonal range or something else?

 

[Newby6string]

You could. Personally, when writing scores for my own use, I use tenor clef at concert pitch on the same (single) stave, so middle C on the clef is C at 17 on the G string. On a 4-string 2-octave neck, the high G is on the first ledger line above. On a 21-fret 4-string the high E is on the top line.
In this way, the first space in the tenor clef corresponds to the second ledger line above the bass 8vb clef.
See attached...

I found a reference for Tenor Clef (There is an Alto Clef too!) Man, you ask a question here and you get an educated fast....lol!
Tenor Clef

Tenor clef is not seen very often; it is occasionally used to represent the upper ranges of the cello, double bass, bassoon, and trombone. Its symbol is identical to the alto clef, but is moved higher on the staff. Similarly, C is moved up one line from alto clef, making the notes on the lines D, F, A, C, E and notes in the s

 

[Newby6string]

You could. Personally, when writing scores for my own use, I use tenor clef at concert pitch on the same (single) stave, so middle C on the clef is C at 17 on the G string. On a 4-string 2-octave neck, the high G is on the first ledger line above. On a 21-fret 4-string the high E is on the top line.
In this way, the first space in the tenor clef corresponds to the second ledger line above the bass 8vb clef.
See attached...

Thanks for the sheet music....it makes your explanation clear.

 

[Newby6string]

I can see how the tenor clef makes reading bass lines easier. If the same parts were in Bass Clef, you would have all these ledger lines above the staff making the bass lines above middle C hard to read.

 

[Newby6string]

I can see how the tenor clef makes reading bass lines easier. If the same parts were in Bass Clef, you would have all these ledger lines above the staff making the bass lines above middle C hard to read.

BTW Looking forward to working off the sheet music you gave me. Went on line to hear the song and recognized it straight away. I like bass lines in standard notation!

 

[SteveCS]

I found a reference for Tenor Clef (There is an Alto Clef too!) Man, you ask a question here and you get an educated fast....lol!
Tenor Clef
View attachment 3688408Tenor clef is not seen very often; it is occasionally used to represent the upper ranges of the cello, double bass, bassoon, and trombone. Its symbol is identical to the alto clef, but is moved higher on the staff. Similarly, C is moved up one line from alto clef, making the notes on the lines D, F, A, C, E and notes in the s

The symbol is known as the C clef and is moveable. The line through the middle is always middle C, but you can anchor it to whichever line suits. Tenor and alto just happen to be the most common uses.

 

[Newby6string]

It really just takes time and practice, sounds like you are doing everything correctly. As far as sight reading goes most stuff way up on the G/C strings would in tenor or treble clef.

Yes, a bassist in the UK made the point of using Tenor clef for upper register bass lines and even provided a sheet music example I could use. I will give it a go when I get home.

 

[Newby6string]

The symbol is known as the C clef and is moveable. The line through the middle is always middle C, but you can anchor it to whichever line suits. Tenor and alto just happen to be the most common uses.

Moveable...hmmm. C Clef ...got it.