Bass Lesson Octaves Part 1

[Mysteryman]

The Octave

Here are two simple methods of using the octave. The octave can be play with the 1st and 8th degrees of the major scale. If you play the C major scale and give each note in the scale a number, you will find seven tones. The eighth tone is the same as the first tone only its sound is an octave higher.
C Major Scale
C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
C = 1
D = 2
E = 3
F = 4
G = 5
A = 6
B = 7
C = 8 - one octave higher on the neck.

You can walk up the chromatic scale to practice using octaves. The chromatic scale is just moving up the bass in half steps. this means you will move up one fret with each finger. This should be done on all strings where possible. You will play up the neck until you reach the same note you started on or you can play up the entire neck. These examples can be played using the fingerstyle or the slap technique.

http://media.learngospelmusic.com/albums/userpics/10006/lgmbass_octave1.mid
In this example we start on the third string at the third fret on C.
|------5--------6-------7-------8-------9-------10-------11-------12--|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---3-------4--------5-------6-------7-------8-------9-------10--------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

In this example we start on the fourth string at the first fret on F.
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----3-------4-------5-------6-------7-------8-------9-------10-------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--1-------2-------3-------4-------5-------6-------7-------8------------|

Here are the same examples uing the slap or slap/pluck technique.
S = slap
P = pluck

|------5--------6-------7-------8-------9-------10-------11-------12--|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---3-------4--------5-------6-------7-------8-------9-------10--------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
     s   p     s    p

|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----3-------4-------5-------6-------7-------8-------9-------10---|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--1-------2-------3-------4-------5-------6-------7-------8--------|
    s  s      s   s

Now that you have the basics of the octave you can spice it up by adding the fifth to the octave. When you play a root note you must play the 5th note of that root's major scale in order to play the octave with a fifth.
When you play the C major scale you will play C and G. G is the 5th note in the C major scale. You should learn all of your major scales and which notes correspond to the numbering(scale degree) in that scale.

http://media.learngospelmusic.com/albums/userpics/10006/lgmbass_octave2.mid
The notes can be played consecutively backward and forward.
|------5--------6-------7-------8-------9-------10-------11-------12--|
|-----5-------6--------7-------8-------9-------10------11-------12----|
|---3-------4--------5-------6-------7-------8-------9-------10--------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----3-------4-------5-------6-------7-------8-------9-------10-------|
|----3-------4-------5-------6-------7-------8-------9-------10--------|
|--1-------2-------3-------4-------5-------6-------7-------8-----------|

You can implement the slap/pluck technique.
|------5--------6-------7-------8-------9-------10-------11-------12--|
|-----5-------6--------7-------8-------9-------10------11-------12----|
|---3-------4--------5-------6-------7-------8-------9-------10--------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
   s s p

|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----3-------4-------5-------6-------7-------8-------9-------10-------|
|----3-------4-------5-------6-------7-------8-------9-------10--------|
|--1-------2-------3-------4-------5-------6-------7-------8------------|
   s s s

Another exercise is to play the root then play the fifth and the octave together. This can be done a number of ways. You can play the root then strum the two lower strings. Another method is to slap the root and then pluck both strings simultaneously.
http://media.learngospelmusic.com/albums/userpics/10006/lgmbass_octave3.mid

|------5--------6-------7-------8-------9-------10-------11-------12--|
|------5--------6-------7-------8-------9-------10-------11-------12--|
|---3-------4--------5-------6-------7-------8-------9-------10--------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----3-------4-------5-------6-------7-------8-------9-------10-------|
|-----3-------4-------5-------6-------7-------8-------9-------10-------|
|--1-------2-------3-------4-------5-------6-------7-------8------------|

[cogicguy]

I like this!!!!!!

[Cherri]

Ditto.