Sir Knight

[Mike Barrow]

When I was first learning bass I was told to use the way a Knight moves in chess. Example C on 5th string then F on 4th string then G on 4th string . this is how a knight moves in an L shape. Now the L can be up side down or right side up. That's the 3 basic notes in the key of C Maj.
This helped me so much. Anyone use this to help learn bass?

 

[Garret Graves]

Never heard that, but it's great! Box shapes for the pentatonic scales, such as 'little boot' - Ariane Cap has an excellent book called Music Theory for the Bass Player. It has a great chapter or two about pattern play- I think it would resonate with you.

 

[Stranger Danger]

You lost me at 5th string.

 

[saabfender]

Sure. Any kind of established pattern recognition leveraged to understand the logic of a musical instrument is always good. If you play Tetris on your bass, that would be cool also. Tic-Tac-Toe. Checkers. Parcheesi. However you like to do it. Let your freak flag fly.

 

[TrustRod]

Whole tone scale, nothing but diamonds for the Bishop....

 

[Mushroo]

Very clever! These types of mnemonics can be useful if you don't have a teacher or access to any educational books, videos, or websites. Your progress will be slower than learning "the real way" but you'll get there eventually.

ps A trained musician would say that C, F, and G are the "1, 4, and 5." That way you don't need to learn chess first, you can just play the 1st, 4th, and 5th notes of C Major.

 

[Spidey2112]

Well, you might as well ask Santa for one of these, in your stocking...

... you are seriously running out of time, though.