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SCALES ARE STUPID

C

caleb5991

Jan 1, 2008
65
0
Kansas
#1
hopefully that got your attention for you to answer my simple questions over scales.

Okay well I know the major scale, and the others im learning, and the patterns are pretty easy to memorize and get down, so that part is not going to be a big problem.

What I don't know/understand is ... lets say I'm playing the major scale. I play 2nd fret on 1st string, 4th fret on 2nd string, 1st fret on 2nd string... so on. Well you can play the major string on different frets cant you? like instead of starting on the 2nd fret on the first string... cant you start on the 6th fret and move down to the eight fret, then on the second string hit your 3rd fret... It's still the major scale right, just on different frets... well if someone said.. play the major scale... how would they tell me to play it but not on the top frets, im not making any sense... !!!!!!!!!!!!!! IDK
IM CONFUSED
SCALES ARE STUPID
I GIVE UP
 
#2
Notes are notes, no matter what string they are played on. I guess your question is about which octave to play it in. That is up to you; whatever you feel is the best voicing.

Oh wait, I think you're asking which major scale they want you to play, like A major, B major, etc?

They should tell you. If not, then just pick a random one.
 
#4
Yup, you got my attention.

Not sure exactly what you mean, but I would recommend you think more intuitively, and less dogmatically about it. The bass (like the guitar) is an instrument that represents the same note at several different sites on the fretboard, albeit the timbre of the notes differ on various strings etc. Although this makes it harder to learn where each note is, unlike a piano (maybe), it ultimately gives you more freedom.

From a musical perspective, scales are the building blocks. You want to know them not just so you can play them, but so you can understand them. Chord changes/harmonic progressions all imply different scales that change on the fly, and the more facile your understanding both mentally and physically, the more bass you'll be able to play. One funny thing--the better you get at the instrument, the more you want to go back to fundamentals. Kind of like Tiger Woods addressing his stance or grip, even after being the world's best.
 
#5
Well there's different keys, like C major (Starts on C to C an octave above with no sharps or flats), D major (Starts on D and ends on D an octave above, with a C# and F#), etc.

It all depends on what the root is, and this in turn will mean different fret positions depending on the key you play in. If you start on the third fret first string, that first note is a G, so it would be the G Major scale. Starting on the first fret first string is the F Major. Third string second fret is C Major. If you can get the patterns down for each mode, you can identify them quickly and play them in alternate positions.
 
#6
of course the 8th fret on the E is the same as the 3rd on the A....but what is important is the pattern that corresponds to the intervals - whether they be whole and half tones of a complete major scale of other intervals of pentatonic/blues scales etc..
Once you have that pattern for a major scale you can play it pretty much anywhere on the neck exctaly the same way. If you try to do what you suggest you now are using a different pattern, and there's now more to remember. It's all possible of course but you gotta make it as easy on yourself as you can :)
 
#7
caleb5991 said:
hopefully that got your attention for you to answer my simple questions over scales.

Okay well I know the major scale, and the others im learning, and the patterns are pretty easy to memorize and get down, so that part is not going to be a big problem.

What I don't know/understand is ... lets say I'm playing the major scale. I play 2nd fret on 1st string, 4th fret on 2nd string, 1st fret on 2nd string... so on. Well you can play the major string on different frets cant you? like instead of starting on the 2nd fret on the first string... cant you start on the 6th fret and move down to the eight fret, then on the second string hit your 3rd fret... It's still the major scale right, just on different frets... well if someone said.. play the major scale... how would they tell me to play it but not on the top frets, im not making any sense... !!!!!!!!!!!!!! IDK
IM CONFUSED
SCALES ARE STUPID
I GIVE UP
Click to expand...

Your not making sense, a scale is comprised of whole and half steps the major scale is WWHWWWH. It doesn't matter where you play it, you can play it on a Kazo if you want.

It sounds like your problem is your memorizing a left hand fingering and not learning the intervals and the names of the notes in the scale. If you know what intervals comprise a scale and what notes you are playing all this confusion will go away! Books help!

Pete
 
#8
What you're referring to is transposing from one scale to another. The first scale (i.e. beginning at 1st string 2nd fret) would be an F#/Gb Major scale (F# and Gb are considered to be enharmonic, meaning they sound the same, thus the scales built off of them are also enharmonic). If you began on the 6th fret of the first string, but kept the same fingering pattern, you would have just transposed the scale you were playing to an A#/Bb Major scale as A# and Bb are enharmonic and appear on the first string, sixth fret, as well as elsewhere. There are numerous threads on this board that list excellent books on music theory, quite a few of which dedicate pages and pages to scale building and mastery.

To answer your question more directly, the major scale is the same sequence of intervals no matter what key you are in (Starting with the root note: Whole step, Whole step, Half step, Whole step, Whole step, Whole step, Half step with a half step equal to 1 fret distance and a whole step equal to two) so it can be transposed up and down the fretboard and to a multitude of positions for similar passages in different keys.

I know I'm not being as clear as I could be as I'm not sure your level of understanding as far as music theory goes, feel free to PM me if you have any questions and I'd be glad to answer them to the best of my ability. Also, definitely check out this thread if you haven't already. There's a ton of useful information there.
 
#10
IMO, knowledge of theory/scales is not needed to be a competent bass player or to have fun creating music. Developing ones "ear" and being familiar with the fretboard can be good enough.

So if you don't get it, don't sweat it. :cool:
 
#11
you can start a major scale (7 notes plus the octave) on any root note but you will need to start in the right key the rest of the band are playing in. you can also play modes of the major scale. If its in a minor key you can use the relative major scale. Like if the song was in Bm you can use D major scale which is the relative major. But I think for bass playing minor pentatonic is the best way to go unless you are getting into jazz.
 
#12
think of it this way

go to the fifth fret. first note of the scale is middle finger. middle, pinky, pointer, middle, pinky, pointer, ring, pinky. that's the order your fingers should be going in if your starting any fret other than open position (which in open it'd be nothing, middle, pinky, nothing, middle, pinky, pointer, middle)
 
#13
caleb5991 said:
What I don't know/understand is ... lets say I'm playing the major scale. I play 2nd fret on 1st string, 4th fret on 2nd string, 1st fret on 2nd string... so on. Well you can play the major string on different frets cant you? like instead of starting on the 2nd fret on the first string... cant you start on the 6th fret and move down to the eight fret, then on the second string hit your 3rd fret... It's still the major scale right, just on different frets... well if someone said.. play the major scale... how would they tell me to play it but not on the top frets, im not making any sense... !!!!!!!!!!!!!! IDK
Click to expand...

First of all, lets get some of the right terminology down.
E string = 4th string
A string = 3rd string ... etc.

Not the other way around, which I guess is what you're describing.
But, uh, this scale you're describing doesn't look like anything. It could be an out of order fragment of the major scale if you treat the E string as string 1.
What are "top frets?"
Going from the 6th fret to the 8th is going up.
 
#15
I don't understand the question, either, but my advice is to take some music theory classes or bass lessons (or both).

Check out http://www.teoria.com for free music theory articles, lessons, and exercises.

And pardon me for saying so, but this has been beat to death... PLEASE do a search before you start a new thread... You've started four new threads in the last two days and you only have 15 posts to begin with... Try the search function; it's really useful! lol
 
#19
Like many beginners you learn a major scale fingering doesn't mean you've learned major scales. Do you know which notes are which in the fingering pattern? Which note is the 6th, which notes of the scale are on the highest string and lowest string of that finger pattern.

You need to learn how a major scale is constructed, the scale degree root, 2nd,3rd, etc. You start learn than in relation to your fingering patterns for scale. Then you will find that you will start making your own finger patterns or be able to play two octave scales or scales from the lowest note on the your bass to the highest.

When you just learn a finger pattern you have barely scratched the surface. Also I see those who only learn a fingering pattern are the ones who say SCALES ARE STUPID. They tend to be the ones who say learning scale ruins their playing they sound like scales. Learn the fingering pattern, then learn which notes are which in the pattern, start experimenting with the scale and making music with it. When you come up with a riff or melody you like with the scale, figure out the notes in it that you like so you can create more like it. Learn to sing the scale and the interval in it. That is the path to master a scale so you can make it do what you want, otherwise the scale is playing you.
 
#20
Keep asking questions Caleb, it will only serve you well. But, I wanted to mention one thing, and this is something that I feel quite strongly about. It sounds like you would do yourself well to save your money, and even if you're not interested in lessons long term, find a teacher and take 4-5 lessons. Identify one or two specific things you want to develop in that limited time, (learning songs by ear, learning the basics of scale/chord theory, etc.), and be very clear with the teacher. Say, "Look, I only have money for 4-5 lessons, but the way I see it, that's better than nothing. I'm just getting started, and am excited about playing, but I really am not yet too comfortable with (chords/scales/slapping/whatever). I want to emphasize in these lessons, how to ________".

Also, you should check out my linked home page. That may help with learning scales/chords.
 

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