Journey on the Bass - 4hisglory

[4hisglory]

Well, today I begin my musical journey on the bass I decided to chronical it here.  I am a complete beginner so we will see how it goes. Maybe someone else will chronical their bass journey to the next level also.

[uriahsmusic]

...A DOCUMENTORY....THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING! :idea:

[ladybass]

hmmm very in-terrrr-esting    

Will this be text, video, audio, or pics?  Maybe a mix of all.

[4hisglory]

I was sick for 2 days so didnt get to do anything but now I am back.

Learinging the fretboard.

Even though I know I could start messing around with the bass off the bat, I'd rather familiarize myself witht the fretboard first.  I want to learn my A B C's before I learn to read.

This is what I noticed.

Since I am playing a 4 string bass, it should be easy to memorize the strings.  This is what I feel I need to memorize.

Horizontal (along the string)

A Bb B C Db D Eb E F Gb G Ab

or

A A# B C C# D D# E F G G#


Vertical (from string to string, or up and down)
-each note is a perfect 4th apart

C F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb B E A D G

or

C F A# D# G# C# F# B E A D G

[4hisglory]

Here is what I have learned from studying the fret board.

Progressions for key of F#
:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - 4 - -+- - - - -+- - 5 - -+- - - - -+- - 6 - -+- - - - -+
:- - 7 - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 2 - -+- - - - -+- - 3 - -+- - - - -+


Two different major scales.

Major Scale
:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+
:- - 6 - -+- - - - -+- - 7 - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+
:- - 3 - -+- - 4 - -+- - - - -+- - 5 - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 2 - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+

:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - 7 - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+
:- 3 - - -+- - 4 - -+- - - - -+- - 5 - -+- - - - -+- - 6 - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 2 - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+

[ladybass]

Try the F# scale this way also:

[B3Wannabe]

:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - 4 - -+- - - - -+- - 5 - -+- - - - -+- - 6 - -+- - - - -+
:- - 7 - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 2 - -+- - - - -+- - 3 - -+- - - - -+

You might want to take a look at the scale concepts post I made. It'll show you all the notes for the Bb scale, but across all 4 strings. I was playing songs on two strings like this at first.

One thing to note is that the whole progression is 7-3-6-2-5-1-4. This means that if you're going across the strings and the fret you're playing is the 4th note in the scale then the next string below is a note that's not in the normal scale. The same goes if you're going up and the fret you're playing is the 7th note in the scale; the next string up will be a note that's not in the normal scale.

On a 7-string bass, you can go through the whole progression, just by crossing strings on 1 fret. If you look at that scale post, you'll see the pattern.


Here is another version of the major scale. I got this from the Adam Nitti site. It helps you with your stretch.

:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - 3 - -+- - 4 - -+- - - - -+- - 5 - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - 7 - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 2 - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - 4 - -+- - - - -+- - 5 - -+- - - - -+- - 6 - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 2 - -+- - - - -+- - 3 - -+- - - - -+

I like this pattern the best. It goes through all the inversions, on my 8-string. Also, on a 5-string, you can cover two octaves, without moving your hand much.

[B3Wannabe]

Try the F# scale this way also:

Dern it! You beat me to it!

 :wink:

[tondee]

:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - 4 - -+- - - - -+- - 5 - -+- - - - -+- - 6 - -+- - - - -+
:- - 7 - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 2 - -+- - - - -+- - 3 - -+- - - - -+

You might want to take a look at the scale concepts post I made. It'll show you all the notes for the Bb scale, but across all 4 strings. I was playing songs on two strings like this at first.

 


:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - 4 - -+- - - - -+- - 5 - -+- - - - -+- - 6 - -+- - - - -+- - 7 - -+
:- - - - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 2 - -+- - - - -+- - 3 - -+- - - - -+

I actually see it this way.  It helps me keep up with the keyboard players (2).  Especially when things are moving real fast then suddenly that 7-3-6 pops in from nowhere.  I see both 7s (a-string) but this is the one that saves me every time.  It also helps my ear training.  Even when I am playing the stacked way (Adam Nitti), this is what I see and hear first.


Sometimes, in minor areas, I would find myself focused on some stupid dogmatic stuff like this...  


:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - 4 - -+- - - - -+- - 5 - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 2 - -+- - - - -+- - 3 - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - 6 - -+- - - - -+- - 7 - -+- - - - -+

...instead of this:

:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - 5 - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - 2 - -+- - - - -+- - 3 - -+- - 4 - -+
:- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - 6 - -+- - - - -+- - 7 - -+- - 1 - -+

...or this:

:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - 7 - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - 4 - -+- - - - -+- - 5 - -+- - 6 - -+
:- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 2 - -+- - 3 - -+


Fingerwise, the 2nd and 3rd is easier to play but my ear can keep up with the first (dumb) way better.  I play the other ways, but when things get hot and critical, the dumb ways bail me out.  What I did was found one way to play and one way only.  Then let the other stuff gradually move in.  It might not be the best way, not even a BETTER way, but it's how I am doing it.  Sorry for taking up so much space and time.

Tony

[4hisglory]

Here is another version of the major scale. I got this from the Adam Nitti site. It helps you with your stretch.

:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - 3 - -+- - 4 - -+- - - - -+- - 5 - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - 7 - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 2 - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - 4 - -+- - - - -+- - 5 - -+- - - - -+- - 6 - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 2 - -+- - - - -+- - 3 - -+- - - - -+

I like this pattern the best. It goes through all the inversions, on my 8-string. Also, on a 5-string, you can cover two octaves, without moving your hand much.

B3,
    How ould you finger this??  1...shift to 2 thing use the 4th finger??

@Tony.  Nice explaination.  I love to hear how different people view the fretboard since that are alot of different ways u can see it.

[B3Wannabe]

Here is another version of the major scale. I got this from the Adam Nitti site. It helps you with your stretch.

:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - 3 - -+- - 4 - -+- - - - -+- - 5 - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - 7 - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 2 - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - 4 - -+- - - - -+- - 5 - -+- - - - -+- - 6 - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 2 - -+- - - - -+- - 3 - -+- - - - -+

I like this pattern the best. It goes through all the inversions, on my 8-string. Also, on a 5-string, you can cover two octaves, without moving your hand much.

B3,
    How ould you finger this??  1...shift to 2 thing use the 4th finger??

@Tony.  Nice explaination.  I love to hear how different people view the fretboard since that are alot of different ways u can see it.

Yea. It's 1-2-4. If you can't reach it, you'll have to shift, but you should try to stretch your fingers. At first, I couldn't reach it, but with stretching, it's gotten easier.

When I'm not playing, I constantly stretch my fingers, so my reach will increase. For finger stretching, I just lay my hand on something flat and go between each finger and my thumb pushing down until the angle between the two is flat. I also stretch my fingers apart from each other horizontally, up and down, and by pushing my fingers backwards on a flat surface. My left hand is stretched the most already though, from playing keyboard. I just realized that a month ago.


@tondee: Your last tab is off slightly.

[tondee]

Thanks, B3
It would be more appropriate if I stated it like this:


:- - - - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+
:- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 3 - -+- - 4 - -+
:- - - - -+- - x - -+- - - - -+- - 1 - -+- - - - -+- - 3 - -+- - 4 - -+

It's the minor fingering pattern I was trying to refer to.  The previous one didn't reflect that the 3, 6 and the 7 are flat.  Sorry, I usually don't communicate with others about this stuff.  Nobody talks to me.  I have to listen and catch on the best way I can.  So, when I DO get a chance, it comes out unedit...as-is.  

That last tab REALLY shows how I think.  I shouldn't had posted it.  It can get weird.  Let's say I'm playing minor from the 3rd position and someone asked for the 7th of that (chord) position I would automatically give a flat 7 even though he didn't say 'flat.'  If I was in the 2nd spot, I would give a natural 7.  It's almost like reading music.  After the key signature, the music sheet won't tell you that the B is flat anymore.  Once the music's key position has been established, you're suppose to know what's flat.  

So, in my mind, that post wasn't wrong, it's the way I think, especially on-the-fly.  I told you, it gets weird.  


Tony

[B3Wannabe]

That's right. You posted the aeolian mode. For some reason, I was thinking major, even though you had said minor. Sorry about that. I see what you're saying now. It's not weird. I wasn't paying attention.

[djgroovin]

All that TAB gives me a headache.  Maybe I'm the only one that doesn't like TAB, but it looks like you're on the right track with your fingering.

Check out that Steve Bailey Hazzard exercise on cyberfrettbass.com.  Man I thought it was impossible at first but I finally got it after 2 days.  My hand muscles were sore after the first night.

[B3Wannabe]

Yea. I saw those.

[tondee]

All that TAB gives me a headache.  Maybe I'm the only one that doesn't like TAB, but it looks like you're on the right track with your fingering.

A lot of people treat tabs as substandard but how else would you relay your thoughts to us considering the fact that most of us probably can't read music?  A lot of us don't even know our fingerboard notes...

Tony

[4hisglory]

I understand what djgroovin is saying but I have to agree with Tondee on this one.  For me as a beginner, the tabs really help me spend more time practicing rather than figuring stuff out.

[djgroovin]

Yeah, I understand.  I kinda enjoy figuring things out.  I do most of my study through books and videos so there are a lot of diagrams for fingering.  I think that that diagrams helped me to understand the patterns.  I guess that is just as efficient as tabs.

As far as relaying your thoughts, I have information that might be useful on hand positions and scales.  I make a seperate post on that when I get home tonight.  Stay tuned!

[4hisglory]

Thanks djgroovin.  Do you have any videos that u recommend???

[djgroovin]

Sure, I highly recommend Norm Stockton's stuff.  I posted a detailed list of his videos in an earlier post about videos.  I don't remember what the post subject was but I assume that you can do a search on this site.