I wanna know how to play the bass

[Bigtime]

I am a keyboard player/ organist, I post alot in the Piano section I have been playing around on the bass for a while and I wanna learn from u guys....I want to know an easy way to learn all the notes on the bass.. and the property techniques to hold and the position of the thumb on the neck.....
thanks

Chris aka Bigtime
1

[T-Block]

Well, for starters each fret on the bass is a half step on the piano.  So, here are the notes for your bass guitar:

4-string

Starting with the 4th string (thinnest) = G (open), G#/Ab (1st fret), A (2nd fret), A#/Bb (3rd fret), B/Cb (4th fret), B#/C (5th), etc.
Starting with the 3rd string = D (open), D#/Eb (1st fret), E/Fb (2nd fret), E#/F (3rd fret), F#/Gb (4th fret), G (5th), etc.
Starting with the 2nd string = A (open), A#/Bb (1st fret), B/Cb (2nd fret), B#/C (3rd fret), C#/Db (4th fret), D (5th), etc.
Starting with the 1st string (thickest) = E/Fb (open), E#/F (1st fret), F#/Gb (2nd fret), G (3rd fret), G#/Ab (4th fret), A (5th), etc.


5-string *Same as the 4th string, except there is an even thicker string added

Starting with the 5th string (thinnest) = G (open), G#/Ab (1st fret), A (2nd fret), A#/Bb (3rd fret), B/Cb (4th fret), B#/C (5th), etc.
Starting with the 4th string = D (open), D#/Eb (1st fret), E/Fb (2nd fret), E#/F (3rd fret), F#/Gb (4th fret), G (5th), etc.
Starting with the 3rd string = A (open), A#/Bb (1st fret), B/Cb (2nd fret), B#/C (3rd fret), C#/Db (4th fret), D (5th), etc.
Starting with the 2nd string = E/Fb (open), E#/F (1st fret), F#/Gb (2nd fret), G (3rd fret), G#/Ab (4th fret), A (5th), etc.
Starting with the 1st string (thickest) = B/Cb (open), B#/C (1st fret), C#/Db (2nd fret), D (3rd fret), D#/Eb (4th fret), E/Fb (5th), etc.

*And the cycle continues as you add on strings. 

Notice that as you go from the 1st string to the 4th string (right to left), the notes move in 5ths.  So, studying the circle of 5ths will help you to learn notes as you move that way.  (G, D, A, E, B)

Also, notice that as you go from the 4th string to the 1st string (left to right), the notes move in 4ths.  So, studying the circle of 4ths will help you to learn notes as you move that way.  (B, E, A, D, G)

I hope this helps you out!!!

[Cherri]

T-Block broke it down all the way down. Follow and this will help you tremendously. Things should somewhat come easy because you are already music literate. Blessing on your new endeavor.

[mr.dj]

Learn different patterns on the bass the way you do on the keys until you learn all the notes.  Thats what helped me out!