Theory or technique first?

[parmezans]

What should I focus on?
I really currently only know the Am scale by heart. Like, I could transition in fast playing to any note in the Am scale without thinking about it.
I'm not sure whether I should play different scales and patterns until I memorize them or work on right/left hand technique and other techniques, like more advanced slapping, tapping or whatever really, just perfecting my technique proficiency.

 

[prd004]

Same time. You can develop your technique by learning scales and practicing them. Kill two birds at a time

 

[Sam Evans]

Same time. You can develop your technique by learning scales and practicing them. Kill two birds at a time

Bingo.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

To function as a bassist you need to know more than just the Am scale. So yes you do need some more theory, however for technique you need to be working with another bassist. Save yourself some time..... sitting knee to knee with a teacher will get you started and save you a lot of time. If a teacher is not in the cards, I'd recommend www.studybass.com and the book Bass Guitar for Dummies.

Start on page/screen one and don't skip pages for a couple of weeks.

Good luck.

 

[ItchyPBass]

What should I focus on?
I really currently only know the Am scale by heart. Like, I could transition in fast playing to any note in the Am scale without thinking about it.
I'm not sure whether I should play different scales and patterns until I memorize them or work on right/left hand technique and other techniques, like more advanced slapping, tapping or whatever really, just perfecting my technique proficiency.

If you know the Am scale by heart, you already know most of the scales and modes there are to know.

For example, if you play the 'shape' of Am (whole tone, half tone etc), but starting on B, then the scale becomes Bm. If you play the notes of the Am scale (in order), but start on C and end on C instead of A, it becomes C major.

I like to experiment with starting scales in different places: starting on the second note (or supertonic, to get technical ) and playing this new shape all over the fretboard (turns out its known as the Dorian mode in some circles ).

You should try and improve your left and right hand at the same time: maybe try different ways of playing these scales and modes with your right hand; you should find yourself improving. You could even try slapping and/or tapping them if you wanted

Ignore all the above if you want,

Harry

 

[BassChuck]

You do need theory. But IMHO the way to make theory work best for you is to learn it as part of your technique. In other words, what notes are in a major scale, a minor scale, why do they sound different and how do they work? Learning the different intervals by sound AND placement on the neck.

Music theory is a large and involved sugject starting with intervals, scales and chords and going all the way to understanding just why Stravinsky made the choices he made. At this point in your development, the best bet is to learn how music theory is usable on the neck of a bass guitar, then worry how chords and scales apply to the music you are playing. Someday you can knock on Igor's door and see what's he been up to.

 

[Araman]

all your exercises must be done on a scale , with a metronome
see my website if you need some ideas

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Knowing all the music theory that exist won't help you play the instrument if you can't at least pluck the string and keep the rythm going ...

So in all, your physical ability to play the bass should develop at the same rate as your theory knowledge.

 

[chuck norriss]

What should I focus on?
.

Soul

 

[topo morto]

when people say 'theory', they tend to mean a number of things:

1) science
2) notation and terminology
3) stylistic knowledge
4) opinions

Science may help you, if you are good at thinking in the right way.

Notation and terminology may help you communicate - though musical terminology isn't always the clearest.

Stylistic knowledge may help you, if you are interested in that style.

Others' opinions may not help you at all. Then again they may.


learn to recognise which is which. People are always presenting one as the other.

 

[azureblue]

What should I focus on?

the groove. Learn to feel it, first.

Theory for bass is fairly simple, you can begin with learning chords up to 4 note chords to get a good foundation.

Learning scales is so much learning of patterns, major, minor, and various keys, and it's how most players begin learning theory, but understanding chords and why a ii/V7 works and how other chords can be made to work in place of a ii/V7, will go a long way towards getting your to think in terms of progression. In my experience, learning and understand song structure - why those chords were used and what I can play with them, and how the melody works with those chords, turned out to be much more useful. I enjoy learning, for instance, how a simple melody can be made memorable by the chords that are used, or not used, to support it. "Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life" is a great example.

The classic mistake beginning bass players make is not paying attention to how the bass functions within a song, both with the other instruments and the chord structure and the melody.

And I think it is good to learn by reverse engineering - what am I playing here, and why does it work? What does it look like on paper? You can learn a lot by taking a bass part out of context and applying it to some other song, and in a different key.