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Double Bass Playing arpeggio vs playing scales - outcome same?

Andy Mopley

Andy Mopley

Sep 24, 2011
1,335
318
#1
Hi all
without wanting to get into a debate about what one should learn, in so far as outcome from each, is there an advantage one offers over the other?
For example, I can imagine that one advantage of arpeggios is that you learn chord notes. Or with scales, if you play jazz, develop the ability to relate back to chords and learn to recognise 2nd intervals, for example.
But in so far as the technical value, improving ear training, shifting etc, would one be significantly better over the other?

Regards to all
 
#6
I’d say that scales and arpeggios represent different areas of study and different types of importance. That’s why one is called one thing and the other another. They might be built on the same underlying elements but the structures are different. The more thoroughly you investigate -both- of them, the more they make sense in relation to themselves and each other.

Trying to understand one thing in terms of another is like me asserting that my walking down the street not using my phone is only useful because someone else walking down the street while using theirs causes me a problem. Ideas can make sense in relation to themselves as well as in relation to others.

Pick and choose to play scales and arpeggios as you wish, but I don’t see the use in creating an ‘either/or’ when it’s the case that both exist.

It’s almost as if I’m looking for justification for my being on here when I could instead be practising... ;)
 
#8
Yeah I don't see any way to only pick one.

To me, it would be like trying to become a writer and choosing between learning English (or whatever your language) or physically learning to write or type. You have to have both a grip on the language AND the ability to physically string the language along on paper or digitally.

Chords are the framework of the song. Scales are how you melodically get from one chord to another.

If I were going to choose the ORDER in which to learn them, I would go with scales first. Scales will open up the fretboard and teach your fingers how to get around. But, without chord structure knowledge, your playing could easily be busy noodling with no point.
 
#9
In a given key and a given chord, the notes of a scale will either be in the chord or have some relationship with the chord tones. Most you'll play works like this- non chord tones are ornaments to chord tones with their own expressive flavors.

As far as technical improvement is concerned arpeggios are much harder because of all the shifts - that's why I would always start with scales. If things are going well enough, I might continue on to arpeggios.
I usually warm up with a cycle of scales and arpeggios I learned from Rabbath that focuses on stretching and reaching with fewer shifts. This hits both and gets all around the bass
 
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#13
Les Fret said:
Yes I agree. Yet I see a strong emphasis on scales over arpeggios in many (method) books. Much more time and pages are spend on scales in most books.
Click to expand...

Indeed, Les. Also consider that when learning arpeggios, you are familiarizing yourself with the primary chord tones for every chord type, first and foremost. These are the foundations of the harmony and, as bass players, this is where we live much of the time...
 
#14
I mean, if you are picking, like for a condensed everyday practice - then yes, scales. In my "condensed" practice, I do all twelve scales two octaves with a drone, and then a Petracchi exercise that that moves through major and minor thirds and seconds.
I do and have spent many hours on arpeggios and move them in and out of my practice.
If your music involves playing chord changes, then scales & arpeggios should really be side by side.
 
#15
I don’t want to be polemic about this but I feel there’s more tendency to play scales rather than arpeggios. They are equally important but I feel bass player the first thing they do is to a major scale. I do this myself.....
 

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