Theory from Carol Kaye

[JeffreyW]

I'd have to agree with her...Gospel and really Southern Gospel, is great at this. Coming into it completely blind (musically) I was baffled at first. Scales, theory, etc. go totally out the window. Mainly because the musicians (the ones I played with) knew zero of it..absolutley nothing. Not even the notes on the neck of the guitar. But they could play they're tail off and this is the reason.
It's all about the SOUND and not the NOTE.

It is good to know your theory, but it's better to be able to play if you ask me.

The Bass player has a paticularrly important part in the group.
1. Groove
2. Establiblishing Harmony

Many players, Horn Players, Guitarists can in fact play they're tails off by ear and licks that they learned. The difference with us is that bass player are not primarily soloists and mostly create and atmosphere for the soloist. Try giving those player that have no knowledge of harmony a chord chart on a tune they have not heard and no rhythm section and tell them to solo. You will get nothing. This is essentially what us, the bass player has to do and that is why the knowledge of chord tones is so very important to our role. Learning a couple of scales may get you by but when your bag of tricks is all used up the band will be looking for another bassist.

 

[Ric5]

I agree with Carol ... too much emphasis on scales can make bass more mechanical and less musical.

Playing bass can be scales, patterns, or simple playing the root of the chord. Or playing bass can be like playing lead guitar. You can create a melody in the lower register that ties the drums in with the other instruments. That is taking bass beyond scales.

 

[g&lplayer]

On the flip side of that I have a drummer (imagine that) friend of mine who's total music theory is "I just go by feel man". The funny part is he has problems trying to figure out why he has trouble playing Tool's grooves. Simple really. It's not in 4/4. That's why it's not working for you and that your fills don't "fit".

Funny you mention this, going through something like this with a drummer I work with. He knows absolutely no theory, doesn't ever count...and somehow can't figure out why he can't play in three.

 

[Ric5]

I played with a drummer who was taught to read music and he would learn his drum parts that way. He would learn his parts exactly correct. But if you sprung a suprise song on him he would be lost and unable improvise. He didn't have good play by ear skills.

I played with another drummer who was a music major. This guy used to write classical music. He was a reasonably good drummer but not one of the best drummers I ever played with.

 

[MtManiac]

I played with a drummer who was taught to read music and he would learn his drum parts that way. He would learn his parts exactly correct. But if you sprung a suprise song on him he would be lost and unable improvise. He didn't have good play by ear skills.

I played with another drummer who was a music major. This guy used to write classical music. He was a reasonably good drummer but not one of the best drummers I ever played with.

Theory is no substitute for practice... Both are essential to growth.

 

[Billnc]

I was taught chord melody on guitar, so I had a strong foundation when I moved to bass. I was taught much like Carol teaches. Start on triads, move to 7ths and alterations and on up to 13th chords. When you understand this, you have learned the sound of each note in the chromatic scale against the root.