Trying to play by ear?

[Mushroo]

I tend to think of scale study as a binary thing: if you DON'T know your scales then there is no better use of your practice time, but once you DO know your scales, you're good for life and don't need to practice them much (or at all).

Since the OP has 20 years as a musician, but is new to bass, I think some scale practice is an excellent use of his practice time. Learning all the notes on the fretboard will help him translate his existing musical knowledge over from the saxophone.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Start learning how to play multi-octave scales with minimal shifts. That will put your fingers in the right place so you can follow your ears.

 

[ScrewDevil]

Find the root notes and noodle around those areas of the fretboard. You'll hit on something.

 

[IamGroot]

My DB instructor practices scales an hour a day. And thats after a half hour of open bowing.

To each, his own.

I practice scales daily until I can play them perfectly, then i move on to something else.