ok, i have been playin bass for 10 months now. i am learning music theory. i can play 30-40 songs completely with another 10-15 partially. i feel im doin ok. i have learned octives are 2 strings over and 2 frets down. 5ths are root note one string over and two frets down. anymore tips like these? any other suggestions? thanks for helpin out.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
tip questions
- Thread starter mike phillips
- Start date
Same note= 1 string down (higher tone), 5 frets up (towards the nut)
Major scale...
2nd = same string, 2 frets down
3rd = 1 string down, 1 fret up
4th = 1 string down, same fret
5th = You know that one. Now find that note one octave lower.
6th = 3 stings down, 1 fret up
7th = 3 strings down, 1 fret down
Find the octave - lower and/or higher of each note
Find each note on another string.
Getting familair with the pattern of where these notes are in relation to the root is an important step.
Start learning the location of notes on the fretboard
Major scale...
2nd = same string, 2 frets down
3rd = 1 string down, 1 fret up
4th = 1 string down, same fret
5th = You know that one. Now find that note one octave lower.
6th = 3 stings down, 1 fret up
7th = 3 strings down, 1 fret down
Find the octave - lower and/or higher of each note
Find each note on another string.
Getting familair with the pattern of where these notes are in relation to the root is an important step.
Start learning the location of notes on the fretboard
How about the 'spider' - 4 finger/1 per fret exercise?
1. Start first fret, lowest note string (E for 4str, B for 5str)
2. 'crawl' up 1 fret at a time, 1st finger-1st fret - 2nd finger-2nd fret... when you hit 4 move down 1 string and down 1 fret and keep going.
G ---------------------------------5-6-7-8-----------
D -------------------------4-5-6-7--------6-7-8-9--
A -----------------3-4-5-6----------------------------
E ---------2-3-4-5-----------------------------------
B -1-2-3-4---------------------------------------------
Not sure if this is clear, but on a 5str. starting the B string, 1st fret (low C) play chromatically up to D#, 1 finger per fret. Then shift to the E string, 2nd fret (F#) and do it again. When you hit the G string at fret 5 (C), play chromatically up 4 up to D# then return to the D String at the 6th fret (G#) and keep going travelling back toward the B string and up toward the bridge, moving 1 fret at a time.
Great warm up.
1. Start first fret, lowest note string (E for 4str, B for 5str)
2. 'crawl' up 1 fret at a time, 1st finger-1st fret - 2nd finger-2nd fret... when you hit 4 move down 1 string and down 1 fret and keep going.
G ---------------------------------5-6-7-8-----------
D -------------------------4-5-6-7--------6-7-8-9--
A -----------------3-4-5-6----------------------------
E ---------2-3-4-5-----------------------------------
B -1-2-3-4---------------------------------------------
Not sure if this is clear, but on a 5str. starting the B string, 1st fret (low C) play chromatically up to D#, 1 finger per fret. Then shift to the E string, 2nd fret (F#) and do it again. When you hit the G string at fret 5 (C), play chromatically up 4 up to D# then return to the D String at the 6th fret (G#) and keep going travelling back toward the B string and up toward the bridge, moving 1 fret at a time.
Great warm up.
excellent tips. they helped very much. thank you for your time and sharing your knowledge.
~mike~
~mike~
Make metronome or drum machine your best friend. Good time is critical to a bass play. A bass player who can play even simple lines with perfect time will get lots of work.
steveb98 said:
+1
I wish someone had told me this 16 years ago. It's a lot harder to learn to play steady after years of never playing to a steady click.
thank you for all yalls replys. if given a choice what would you rather play with, a metronome or a drum machine. im thinkin a drum machine would give me the feel of playin with someone vs tick tick tick. but what do i know. what do yall suggest. my daughter printed out your replys so i have them with my lesson books. how does the c diatonic major scale go? is it just the c major scale? why this scale over all the others? again thank you for all your help.
I believe the C major scale (same as c diatonic major) is used as beginner scale because there are no sharps or flats in it. This makes it easier to learn sheet music because you don't have to take the key signature into count while trying to play sheet music.
When discussing notes, you will sometimes hear "down" or "up" in regards to the pitch, you'll definitely hear "higher" and "lower" in regards to pitch, so it's important to get that right.
As you move UP the frets, the notes are getting higher, as you are getting closer to the body of the bass.
This has nothing to do with the position of the bass or whether you are physically moving up or down.
By the same token, when you are crossing strings you are moving UP when you are moving to a higher (pitch) string (even though your hand is getting physically closer to the floor)
So, to correct the first post - the octave is found UP two strings and UP two frets. To find the 5th move up one string, up two frets. The same note can be found up one string, down 5 frets...
Sorry for the rant, but it's a pet peeve of mine… and probably a good thing for a beginner to try to get their head around... and it's something that's been flubbed throughout this thread... Hey, you asked for suggestions.
As you move UP the frets, the notes are getting higher, as you are getting closer to the body of the bass.
This has nothing to do with the position of the bass or whether you are physically moving up or down.
By the same token, when you are crossing strings you are moving UP when you are moving to a higher (pitch) string (even though your hand is getting physically closer to the floor)
So, to correct the first post - the octave is found UP two strings and UP two frets. To find the 5th move up one string, up two frets. The same note can be found up one string, down 5 frets...
Sorry for the rant, but it's a pet peeve of mine… and probably a good thing for a beginner to try to get their head around... and it's something that's been flubbed throughout this thread... Hey, you asked for suggestions.
+1
That's a big +1 for practicing with metronome
I'm not sure what type of tips you're looking for in this thread, but you did ask for tips for beginners, so I'm posting some things that are very basic.
As far as scales go. I think it's important to think of the intervals - That is, step one is learning that the intervals in a major scale go: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. Then, you must know that a minor has a lowered 3rd, 6th, and 7th. From there you can begin practicing your Major and minor scales. At first, I think that it's okay to play major and minor scales from root to octave - just to get the sound of a Major and a minor scale into your head. Make sure to play them in all keys. As soon as you get down the very basics of scales, you'll want to switch to playing all of your scales in position from your lowest note available in that position through the highest note in that position. (See Pacmans scale primer for a complete explanation of this) Practice arpeggios in a similar fashion and always practice both with a metronome.
That's a big +1 for practicing with metronome
I'm not sure what type of tips you're looking for in this thread, but you did ask for tips for beginners, so I'm posting some things that are very basic.
As far as scales go. I think it's important to think of the intervals - That is, step one is learning that the intervals in a major scale go: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. Then, you must know that a minor has a lowered 3rd, 6th, and 7th. From there you can begin practicing your Major and minor scales. At first, I think that it's okay to play major and minor scales from root to octave - just to get the sound of a Major and a minor scale into your head. Make sure to play them in all keys. As soon as you get down the very basics of scales, you'll want to switch to playing all of your scales in position from your lowest note available in that position through the highest note in that position. (See Pacmans scale primer for a complete explanation of this) Practice arpeggios in a similar fashion and always practice both with a metronome.
Matthew Bryson said:
I agree with you MB, and I probably should have done it that way in my earlier post. Learning correctly the first time is a lot less painful than trying to un-learn bad habits.
As for the metronome vs. drum machine thing, they both provide a wonderful steady rhythm to practice with, but the stark click of a metronome makes timing issues much more apparent. A drum machine certainly provides a more entertaining backdrop, but spend some time with just the click, too.
I believe that most drum machines also include a metronome feature. I use my Korg Pandora multi-fx/headphone amp or my Zoom 4-track digital recorder. Both include a variety of drum rhythms and a metronome.
this is allll really good information..i dont got much tips since ive only been playing 8 months..but this stuff is solid stuff
