Ima Newbie with a basic question

[RWILLIAMS3000]

ok im new to the bass!!! i bought a used bass and on the neck the previous owner had written the notes on the neck. would you say that helps one learn the bass better or sort of becomes a handicapp???

[dhagler]

He wrote the notes on the neck?   Ouch!

IMHO you become too dependent on looking at the neck. Also, it does nothing for learning the relationships between notes in a scale (for example in the key of C F is the "4" to C's "1").

[ddwilkins]

Take them off. What if you decide to tune flat like I do? and you will get messed up with relationships of scale degrees.

[BimmerFan99]

+1 on taking them off.  You don't think about the spelling of every word you say when you speak, do you?

[bass_mann1]

take them off, I would say a handicap, learn to listen to your ax

[bassthumpa]

Get rid of that crutch.  Take 'em off.

[Quebass86]

Get rid of them, they will be more of a distraction than a help. Wehn you type do you look at the keys or do you look at what your typing? Assuming your a good typer you want to learn how to play the same way, knowing where you fingers are going and knowing how to get there. Learn your progressions, scales, modes, etc. Trust your ears. If you can read music great, even better but looking at notes on the neck will only slow you down.

[RWILLIAMS3000]

Thanx to all

[Steelpulz]

What they said!!

[T-Block]

Take them off. What if you decide to tune flat like I do? and you will get messed up with relationships of scale degrees.

CO-SIGN all that, especially that part.  I tune my bass down to get the low registers on my 4-string.  Funny thing is, I played on another 4-string that was tuned correctly and I forgot the notes for a brief minute cuz I was so used to my tuned-down bass, LOL.

[MrEdabass]

Man, i never thout id c the day. I get anoyd enough by pepl who write on nice keyboards but basses? Aye wat a worl' we liv in

[Steelpulz]

CO-SIGN all that, especially that part.  I tune my bass down to get the low registers on my 4-string.  Funny thing is, I played on another 4-string that was tuned correctly and I forgot the notes for a brief minute cuz I was so used to my tuned-down bass, LOL.

That's one of the reasons I got a 7-string. I wanted to play below "B", but I didn't want to downtune.