Double Bass Some assistance needed please

[LowFreqVeee]

Hello,

I hope everyone is doing well. I had a question if you all don't mind, and this section of the forum looked to be the best fit. I've been playing the bass for a month and have recently been interested in just putting on a song and playing along to it on my own trying to figure it out.

However, I want to play along to a piano piece, and I want to see if I have the right idea. Here is a Youtube video of the piano to the song I want to play.

Eminem - Walk On Water feat. Beyoncé - Piano Tutorial + SHEETS - YouTube

In my mind, I need to play the correct scale and just piece together the proper notes in order to play along to the piano with the bass guitar, correct? So, say the song is in C major, I pick out the C major notes and fit it with the song? I essentially want to replace what you play on the piano with the bass guitar instead of playing the actual bass portion.

I hope this makes sense. I am only beginning to learn music theory, and I have been reading a lot, but I want to make sure. Thank you so much for your time.

 

[Papageno]

What you ask for is not entirely clear to me.

Do you want to play the melody by ear? If that's what you want, then the first step is to listen to it until you can sing it. Once you can sing it, you may start looking for the notes of the melody on your fingerboard. The more knowledge of your fingerboard you have, the more successful you will be in that second step (initially, you will find this challenging).

But frankly, the most recommended approach is to find a teacher to guide you in learning the instrument technique, music theory, etc.

 

[LowFreqVeee]

Yes, that's correct, I want to play the melody by ear. Sorry I tried to explain it in the best way I could ha. I'd like to get a teacher, but my only option right now is to study online I'd like too eventually though! I'll practice in the way you said and develop further knowledge of the fingerboard.

 

[Papageno]

Yes, that's correct, I want to play the melody by ear. Sorry I tried to explain it in the best way I could ha. I'd like to get a teacher, but my only option right now is to study online I'd like too eventually though! I'll practice in the way you said and develop further knowledge of the fingerboard.

Actually I had not viewed your YouTube video. Now I have. The point is : there is actually no melody there, only a quite poorly written piano comping with chords. That's not really something of much interest to play on the bass. I would rather suggest trying to learn some bass line you like.

 

[LowFreqVeee]

Ahh okay. Yeah I’ve been practicing bass lines, playing scales with a metronome, etc. but I wanted to create my own melody to something I like and make it sound nice.

Thanks for your assistance!

 

[TroyK]

Composing a melody over changes is a reasonable project. So, find the tonic (most consonant notes through the harmony and/or the note it resolved to. Check the harmony to decide whether it is a major or minor chord/key. Then start improvising.

 

[LowFreqVeee]

Thank you! I will keep practicing so that I develop a better ear for it and the necessary skills.

 

[AGCurry]

Part of my practice routine (not every time, but often) is playing melodies by ear. Any old song, as long as I can sing it from memory. I believe it helps in developing recognition of intervals and "transferring" those intervals to the fingerboard. It's not improvisation, but it's a necessary step in learning improvisation.

 

[LowFreqVeee]

@AGCurry

Thank you! This is what I am trying to do as I think of ways to keep improving. Do you mind giving me a rundown on what your practice routine generally is?

At the moment I do the following,

1. Fingerboard exercises to better develop dexterity and speed. What I do at the moment is

1st finger - 1st fret
4th finger - 4th fret
2nd finger - 2nd fret
3rd finger - 3rd fret

I start with the G string and make my way up to E. I move over one fret and go down. I do this up to the 12th fret a few times with a metronome going very slowly. I am also trying to control my pinky from flying too high up.

2. Playing actual songs. Now that I can actually play the bass and understand it enough, I am playing through songs slowly and picking up speed.

3. Practicing scales as I say the notes out loud for memorization.

4. Trying to play melodies by ear and act like a bassist for a band. Essentially "okay I have a background track of an acoustic guitar playing the G chord, let me play along."

The toughest part is #4.

 

[AGCurry]

@LowFreqVeee ,

If you hadn't noticed, you're in the Double Bass section of TalkBass ... we don't talk about "frets" here, and very few of us use our left-hand ring fingers until we get up to the octave.

But many principles apply for both bass guitar and double bass. Your first three exercises are fine, but don't omit minor scales... they can be tricky but quite useful.

Your #4 - "play melodies by ear and act like a bassist for a band" - is actually two distinct tracks. Playing melodies by ear helps your fingers learn intervals and all things related to that, but playing in a band doesn't usually involve playing melodies unless you're called on to solo. Playing in a band is so much more about rhythm; the right note at the wrong time is worse than the wrong note at the right time.

I hardly ever practice on bass guitar, but my double-bass practice routine is more or less:

1. Open-string long tones with the bow ... similar to breathing or meditation;
2. Some Simandl exercises as assigned by my teacher; it helps cement fingering, shifts, intonation, and sightreading;
3. Practice pieces from my orchestra; often I'll play along with online music;
4. Play some familiar pieces from Vance books, Bach, Marcello, etc.

 

[Stuart.C]

I need to play the correct scale and just piece together the proper notes in order to play along to the piano with the bass guitar, correct? So, say the song is in C major, I pick out the C major notes and fit it with the song?

Trying to play melodies by ear and act like a bassist for a band. Essentially "okay I have a background track of an acoustic guitar playing the G chord, let me play along."

The toughest part is #4.

If I read this right you are asking: 'How does one go form practicing scales and note locations to making your own bass lines and jamming with other people?'

first learn (by ear, or just google the chords) the harmony of the song. (Bass is primarily supporting the harmony and rhythm)
then play the root chord note on the beat.
so if the guitar is playing the chords G,C,D, then you play G,C,D on the beat with the guitar. work on getting the chord changes at the same time.

then experiment with other notes from the key of the song on the other beats.
so if the guitar strums G for 4 counts, you play G on count 1 then try a D or B ... on the 3rd count or any other beat or off beat until you have something you like.
Viola you're playing bass

 

[LowFreqVeee]

@AGCurry

I did not notice, sorry about that! My mistake. Thank you for your explanation! I appreciate the clarity and going over your routine as well.

@Stuart.C

Yup! That's exactly what I wanted to do. Thank you that was super helpful, I'm going to try this out.