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Not looking at the fretboard

#21
My teacher would never let me look at the fretboard while doing site reading exercises. He said if I learned by not looking at the fretboard then I wouldn't need to look at it. When I was first learning to make jumps beyond the first five frets, he had me slide up to the note to be played at first, so I could learn by hearing when I was at the proper spot. Over time, he had me eliminate the slide part.

Reminded me a bit of my typing teacher in school. If she saw someone looking at the keys while they typed, the next day that student would find all the keys covered with masking tape.
 
#23
I'm just learning, but wanted to play without looking at the fretboard right from the start. So, I am using small masking tape circles (punched out from a simple paper hole punch) placed in the middle of the back of the neck, behind the corresponding 3, 5, 7, 9, 12,... fret markers.

This means my thumb now has anchor positions and I typically will know by reach whether I am at 3 or 5; 9 or 12; and so on. I am also trying to identify notes by their pitch, then translate that to finger position. Now, I'm really new at bass and can't judge whether my method is any good, but it seems to be working for me. I can tick-tick-tick (silent, tactile feel of tape passing under my thumb) my thumb up or down the neck for those large leaps. Also, it is reenforcing the desirable habit of keeping my thumb at the center of the back of the neck.

Thought I would share...
 
#24
Don't worry about it too much because it'll come over time naturally. You will eventually develop an instinctive feel for distance between notes in a particular position on the neck. Large Position shifts usually require a quick glance down. Short position shifts can be worked on without looking.
I've done a lesson on smooth position shifts here:
http://www.talkingbass.net/smooth-position-shifts-for-bass-guitar/#more-244

Just work on these shorter moves back and forth without looking at the fretboard.

As for sight reading, it's imperative that you don't look at the fretboard unless shifting position. I always stress the importance of sight reading not just for the reading aspect but because you learn so much more at the same time. You learn the notes of the neck inside out and develop a really good feel for positions.
As a quick tip, place your hand in a one finger per fret position with your 1st finger at the 2nd fret. This gives you frets 2,3,4,5 under the fingers 1,2,3,4. Now this position gives you all the natural notes (diatonic to C Major) in one area apart from the low F at the 1st fret of the E string. Now you can assign certain fingers to certain notes.
E string : G 2nd finger. A 4th finger.
A string : B 1st finger. C 2nd finger. D 4th finger.
D string : E 1st finger. F 2nd finger. G 4th finger
G string : A 1st finger. B 3rd finger. C 4th finger.
Now it's simply a case of pressing down the appropriate finger when you see or need to play a certain note. Just stretch down or pivot for the F.
Once you become used to the notes in that area you can move on to accidentals.

Mark
 
#27
It's a good thing to have some muscle memory to rely on when starting out, so start out with practised patterns you are comfy with.

Whenever i do bigger jumps on my fretboard, i'm usually hitting the note but not always 100%: My finger lands somewhere in the space between the two frets i was aiming at but not in the perfect postion - but i'm able to feel my way towards the fret and center my hand correctly. This helps me a lot when playing without looking.
 
#28
Well i would say that it looks like scales have another function then?

For all those that seem to think it is chord tones v scales when learning and a player must learn chord tones to avoid running 'endless scales' in their playing, i find the best way to learn the fretboard though visualisation is to play scales.
They wll train your hands and fingers to work in relation to each other, build strength, help tone the hands, and of course improve the muscle memory of where to finds notes by reinforcing what tou hear to what you play.....interval training of sorts......as well as the many other things learning scales 'correctly' will do. :)
 
#29
Practice with a strap and hold the instrument the same way all the time. Remember that all the notes are right where you left them the last time you played. Practicing in the dark is a good idea, or keeping your eyes focused on something away from the fretboard. Connect sound with bodily movement. Don't be afraid of mistake, you'll make them, but they are not an excuse to look at the board.
 
#30
The answer given by "the engine" is pretty much word for word what I would have said (almost to the point of my wondering if I started another account for some strange reason a few years ago).

Permutations up and down the board will give you muscle memory. No more looking at the fretboard. It takes time and it is boring. Do it while watching TV with no amp. Not only does that cure the boredom part but you will hear fret noise and clank as loud as the notes themselves and this will force you to play cleaner.
 
#31
And why would you not want to look the fretboard while playing? Are you planing on playing and driving? ;) - You are just learning, don't think too much about it, it will coming naturally, just practice and soon -or later - you will find your self not looking the fretboard and singing without even trying.
 

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