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Practice w/o a bass?

T

TJ55

Jun 5, 2010
97
6
KY
#1
I seem to have quite a bit of down time at work and I am really trying to learn my way around the fretboard. Do any of you guys have any tips for learning where all the notes are w/o having your bass in hand?

I'm working on reading so I keep some key signature and staff note flash cards in my desk to work on during my down time as well. Obviously tho', instantly recognizing notes on the staff does me no good if I can't find it on the instrument.

I appreciate any bone you guys/gals can throw my way.
 
#4
I hate charts. Spend time thinking through the logic of the fingerboard and draw a fingerboard chart yourself. Then recycle that bit of paper and make another one. MUCH more useful than just looking at a diagram & trying to actually learn where notes are.

I spent a good bit of time on the bus on the way to work by thinking through scales, arpeggios, fingering, etc. wothout a bass or paper.

John
 
#5
Sight singing huh? I will have to give that shot. The walls of my office are pretty thin so I'm sure it could prove entertaining to some of the neighbors.

I will give both the chart and writing and re-writing the fingerboard a go as well. If anybody else has any thoughts I would love to hear'em.
 
#7
Also do finger exercises. Here are a couple.

1) Lay your hand flat on a table. One by one, lift and lower each finger. Do this with each hand. You'll feel a bit of tension in your arms at first, but that will ease and this works to limber up your finger movements.

2) Hold your hand in any comfortable position. One by one, touch each finger to your thumb and back to the out-stretched position. Work on different patterns: 1-2-3-4, 4-3-2-1, 1-3-2-4, etc. Start slowly and build up your speed. This works the muscles and gets those fingers moving very agile.

Okay, so others may look at you funny when they see you doing this, but just say that you're exercising! :)
 
#8
Our bass is a 3 octave instrument, that means there are at least three places for each note. Standard notation will have those three notes occupy specific spaces or lines. You need to be able to read the music and know where THAT specific note can be found on the fretboard. I would hope your flash cards do indicate where that specific note can be found.

Print this off. Notice you proceed to the next page by clicking on a button at the bottom of the page. Proceed to the end of the article. http://www.cyberfretbass.com/reading/open-strings/standard/index.php
http://www.cyberfretbass.com/scales/basic/page2.php Use those patterns and place the red root note correctly and the scale you want is waiting for you. Those numbers are the fingers you are to use, index is #1, etc. Using the root note as home bass - where is the 5, same fret down one string, or, up a string and over two frets. Its like that all over your fretboard. Where is the 2? Same place it always is - same string as the root and up the neck two frets. Figure out the other notes. You want to know where the chord tones are located, i.e. where is R-3-5-b7.


Link Removed

I know JTE does not like charts. I do, I'm a visual learner and charts help me. If you find that you too are a visual learner grab those charts I listed above, find an easy chair and figure it out.

Lot of things we can do with out a bass in our hands. I spent most of the afternoon working on how melody and chord tones interact. All I had was a number 2 pencil, with a big eraser, and some paper.

Have fun.
 
#9
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#10
MalcolmAmos said:
Our bass is a 3 octave instrument, that means there are at least three places for each note. Standard notation will have those three notes occupy specific spaces or lines. You need to be able to read the music and know where THAT specific note can be found on the fretboard. I would hope your flash cards do indicate where that specific note can be found.
Click to expand...

So, the flash card should have "At the second fret/1st string, 7th fret/2nd string, 12th fret/3rd string and 17th fret 4th string" written on it?! That's kinda overblown, I think. That's why I think the process is critical to understand that written notation is NOT a guide to where to put your fingers, but a system that shows you what the sounds are. So, you gotta know that the note on the top line is A, but you also need to learn that it's in at least four places on the neck. That's a LOT of information to pull from a flash card. They're (flash cards) are useful if they're a quick recognition of limited information.

MalcolmAmos said:
I know JTE does not like charts. I do, I'm a visual learner and charts help me. If you find that you too are a visual learner grab those charts I listed above, find an easy chair and figure it out.
Click to expand...
But I AM a visual learner. My contention is that it's detrimental to go GET charts. I say MAKE your own, in your own hand. That makes you get your brain and your eyes working together. Learn the logic underlying the fingerboard, and you'll be able to whip out that very same chart yourself in a very short time. By doing it yourself instead of looking at one already done, you'll also start to visualize it in your head a lot faster.

MalcolmAmos said:
Have fun.
Click to expand...

One of the best bits of advice one can ever get!! I find the journey to be at least as fun as the destination!

John
 
#11
So, the flash card should have "At the second fret/1st string, 7th fret/2nd string, 12th fret/3rd string and 17th fret 4th string" written on it?! That's kinda overblown, I think. That's why I think the process is critical to understand that written notation is NOT a guide to where to put your fingers, but a system that shows you what the sounds are. So, you gotta know that the note on the top line is A, but you also need to learn that it's in at least four places on the neck. That's a LOT of information to pull from a flash card.
Click to expand...
The back side of fhe flash chord should have a picture of where that specific note is on the fretboard. Simple as that. Piano flash cards are like that. I've never been able to find bass guitar fretboard flash cards. Piano flash cards are a snap.
 
#12
Invest in a Gripmaster finger exerciser. They easily fit in a pocket, and you can use them virtually any time you have a free hand. Also, wrap a rubber band around your fretting hand fingers and flex your fingers outward.

These will build strength and endurance in your fretting hand.

I totally agree with the "draw a fretboard and fill in the blanks" and "use flash cards" type comments. Both are totally helpful.

I think Victor Wooten's website has "games" you can play involving fretboard recognition, interval recognition, etc... check that out (unless of course your company has strict internet policies that would get you in trouble for doing so).

I hope these suggestions help.
 
#13
All of my instsruction so far has used a combination of both notation and tab. As I said, learning notation is a priority, but the combination is nice for now to get me fingering the correct "A" or "G" or whetever until I instictively know which one will sound best and/or be easist to get to while playing a piece.

Malcolm: The second part of your post was a bit over my head but I have bookmarked the site and will dig through it when I start working on those skills. The site looks to be useful. Thanks.

Working in a gym, I am very familiar w/ the phrase "Enjoy the process". I use it a lot. Also, "Fitness is not a sprint, it's a marathon", seems to apply to learning the bass as well.


Much obliged everyone...
 
#14
Learn and recite all the notes in each key, around the key circle. Learn and recite all the notes in major and minor triads around the key circle.

I was at a jazz camp for a week a few summers ago, and was required to do it in less than a minute (notes in each key). Having this knowledge has served me very well. Easier to create chords/lines on the fly, and to quickly transpose tunes on the bandstand. Good luck
 
#16
Sorry to say you guys are lame you do not practice in your office!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let help you all out while helping out a fellow bass player! The name of the program is Link Removed download it to your machine and you get a program that you have a fret board in front of you as well as when you click on the note it plays the note! I have used it for years to learn songs while at the office and do not just use it buy it after you try it cause you are going to love it! RTS
 

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