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what is your favorite scale?

Discussion in 'Technique [BG]' started by metalhed, Nov 1, 2001.

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  1. Nov 1, 2001 #1
    metalhed

    metalhed Guest

    Oct 6, 2001
    california
    i really have problems with coming up with cool riffs and i would like to know from you all what i could do with theory ideas or scales.
     
  2. Nov 1, 2001 #2
    monkeyfinger

    monkeyfinger Moderator Staff Member Gold Supporting Member

    Oct 29, 2001
    Warwick, Rhode Island, USA
    I am going to assume that you already know about scales, chords, arpeggios, and tensions, etc based on your question.

    You should practice playing on one string. Don't even worrry about the fingering. Using one finger for this exercise is fine. Identify all the notes on the string for the scale you want to play in. Now try playing some melodies. Make anything up. You don't need to worry about remembering phrases, arpeggios, or anything. Just try to make it sound musical. Pay attention to phrasing and how the intervals sound. Don't forget to throw in some chromatic approaches, and out of key notes. Listen for how they affect the feeling. If you really want to get good at this, try to sound like a sax player.

    Try not to get hung up to much on phrasing within a measure while doing this. Bass players are often so accustomed to playing patterns that we forget how to play outside the box.

    Now ask yourself: Does your playing make you feel strong emotion? Does it make you want to laugh or cry? If not, how can you expect your audience to feel this way?

    Once you feel comfortable with one string, try another. Once you get 3 or 4 strings down try combining them. You almost never need more than 2 strings.

    This will do more for you playing than almost any other exercise.
     
  3. Nov 1, 2001 #3
    sideman1

    sideman1 Guest

    May 7, 2001
    Nashville, TN
    Listen to some different styles of music that you haven't listened to for a while or have never listened to. Or, I read (or reread..) and old article in Bass Player mag. that one way to come up with a new line was to retune your bass , i.e.- tune each string up or down a step or two, then play a familiar pattern and see how it sounds. As strange as it sounds, I've tried this and actually came up with something.
     
  4. Nov 2, 2001 #4
    JMX

    JMX Vorsprung durch Technik

    Sep 4, 2000
    Cologne, Germany
    credited to Joe Pass
     
  5. Nov 5, 2001 #5
    jazzbo

    jazzbo Guest

    Aug 25, 2000
    San Francisco, CA
    G# major.
     
  6. Nov 5, 2001 #6
    VoodooChile

    VoodooChile Guest

    Jun 2, 2001
    Pod 6, under the water
    c major. j/k. how and why would someone have a favorite scale? i just play the notes that sound good to me, then i go back and see if it was actually even in the same key and give that info to my guitarist.
     
  7. Nov 5, 2001 #7
    Hexanity

    Hexanity Guest

    Aug 28, 2001
    Wellington, New Zealand
    I've made some cool riffs with using a Blues scale.

    I also use alot of arpeggios and major scales.
     
  8. Nov 5, 2001 #8
    Son of Spam

    Son of Spam Guest

    Jun 28, 2001
    Moreno Valley, California (thats SoCal for you)
    Either C# Blues Scale

    Or Gminor
     
  9. Nov 5, 2001 #9
    Hategear

    Hategear Workin' hard at hardly workin'.

    Apr 6, 2001
    Appleton, Swissconsin
    The kind that tells you both your body mass and your weight. :D
     
  10. Nov 6, 2001 #10
    Muttluk

    Muttluk Guest

    Jan 19, 2000
    Oakland, California
    d minor... its really just the saddist scale... :D :D

    (in case you didnt get it, go rent "This Is Spinal Tap" right away, and you'll soon get it.
     
  11. Nov 6, 2001 #11
    Hategear

    Hategear Workin' hard at hardly workin'.

    Apr 6, 2001
    Appleton, Swissconsin
    Hey Muttluk, lick my love pump. ;)
     
  12. Nov 6, 2001 #12
    Nomadic Herder

    Nomadic Herder

    Aug 20, 2000
    Worcester, MA
    A major or A# major or A minor. Notice a bit of a theme?
     
  13. Nov 8, 2001 #13
    FatFunker

    FatFunker Guest

    Sep 6, 2001
    Rochester, New York
    mixolydian from g I just love that flatted seven:D
     
  14. Nov 8, 2001 #14
    ZoomBoy

    ZoomBoy

    Jul 24, 2000
    Sutton, Massachusetts
    34 inches....oh wait a minute...

    :eek:
     
  15. Nov 8, 2001 #15
    Player

    Player

    Dec 27, 1999
    USA Cincinnati, OH
    Chromatic..... but I use different notes from it on different songs. ;)
     
  16. Nov 8, 2001 #16
    jazzbo

    jazzbo Guest

    Aug 25, 2000
    San Francisco, CA
    My lame G# major joke has gone unnoticed.

    I don't understand how someone can have a "favorite" scale. Context people. Context.
     
  17. Nov 8, 2001 #17
    Freakapotamus9

    Freakapotamus9 Guest

    Jun 20, 2001
    Nebraska
    was jazzbo the only one listening in band class??? :rolleyes: :D
     
  18. Nov 8, 2001 #18
    jazzbo

    jazzbo Guest

    Aug 25, 2000
    San Francisco, CA
    Well, this one time, at band camp.....
     
  19. Nov 8, 2001 #19
    Chris Fitzgerald

    Chris Fitzgerald Student of Life Staff Member Administrator Gold Supporting Member

    Oct 19, 2000
    Louisville, KY
    That's a good one. I also like to play from the modes of the whole-tone scale for variety.
     
  20. Nov 8, 2001 #20
    jazzbo

    jazzbo Guest

    Aug 25, 2000
    San Francisco, CA
    Wait, wait, let me add that to the Idiot's Guide to Scales thread.

    Okay, let me think, modes of the whole-tone scale. Hmmmmmm........




    Bite me Chris. :)
     
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