Welcome, and a question

[kesslari]

Wow, TB gets another one of the truly greatest players and teachers to share his thoughts... AWESOME!

I know you are a strong proponent of "know the notes on the fingerboard" (as, I guess, all really great players must) and that you have some very systematic ways of doing that.

When you work on note identification (finding the notes on a string in random order) do you think of them as the "3,6,2,7 etc of G", or as "B,E,A,F# etc."? (or if you do both, how do you recommend a student approach it at first?)

Hope the question makes sense. And welcome, and thanks for being here!

 

[Ant Wellington]

Yo Jonathan,

I prefer to teach the notes in a lot of different ways,..on the bass and not on the bass. But I find that it's more effective to teach them by pitch. I'll start with the highest note on the students bass. Most bassist know the notes better in first position on the lowest strings. Being the disciplinarian that I am,...I start in the highest position on the thinnest string.

I don' start 'randomizing ' notes until the student has a better understanding of 'keys'.

Oh yea,...we'll get that Skype lesson in!!!

peace,
anthony

"Smells Like Funk"

 

[kesslari]

Excellent. I learn more in a skype session with you than I have in an in-person lesson with just about anyone else - you da man!

 

[Ant Wellington]

Thanks J. We'll tryta' get that Skype lesson in soon.

-aw

 

[wolfinsheep]

Wow, TB gets another one of the truly greatest players and teachers to share his thoughts... AWESOME!

I know you are a strong proponent of "know the notes on the fingerboard" (as, I guess, all really great players must) and that you have some very systematic ways of doing that.

When you work on note identification (finding the notes on a string in random order) do you think of them as the "3,6,2,7 etc of G", or as "B,E,A,F# etc."? (or if you do both, how do you recommend a student approach it at first?)

Hope the question makes sense. And welcome, and thanks for being here!

Just to comment, I find when jamming or writing I tend to think in terms of key, and everything other than the root note is a number (maybe even the root is a number). Example, knowing we're in Gm, I chuck in thirds, 5ths, etc, not knowing or thinking about the names of the notes I'm playing, only that they are a 3rd or fifth in the scale.

Perhaps this trend in my thinking/playing is a result of self-teaching, and following patterns I have taught myself. Dunno if it's a good or a bad thing but I figured I'd offer my perspective.

Cheers!

 

[Ant Wellington]

Thanks for the perspective

peace,
anthony

"Smells Like Funk"

 

[ZH_Driver]

Hi Ant
Thanks for Groove Workshop, a very valuable stimulus for any musician!
I also think mostly in terms of numbers when playing in any given key (not too bad on note recognition up to about the 9th fret and from 12 to about 15 but when playing quicker stuff it is definitely numbers).
Now I know it is a perspective and the nothing is 'wrong' as such if it works for an inividual, but do you see any pitfalls or holdups for future development by using this method more dominantly than knowing the fingerboard more intimately?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Ant Wellington]

Yo ZH-Driver,

My personal motto is and will always be:

Knowing something is ALWAYS better than not knowing something!

peace,
anthony

"Smells Like Funk"

 

[ZH_Driver]

Point taken Thanks Anthony.