More theory stuff!
The great thing about Bass and Guitar is that ideas can be moved from one point on the neck for the most part with minimal trouble! What do you mean Uriah?...
Check this tab out:
------------------------------------------------------------
-------------3-4-5-6-5-4-3-4-3--------------------------
---3-4-5-6-----------------------6-5-4--------------------
-4---------------------------------------------------------
You can play this where it is written or you can move it up the neck or down the neck…up a string or more depending on how many strings your bass has.
Think of the riffs you learn as patterns to remember. Think of their relationship to the chord you are playing the run against. Or the key you are playing in.
For example…that run in the tab above is in Ab. But if you moved the whole thing 1 string higher it is in Db!
Usually the note that a bass line starts on will indicate the key you are playing in.
I suggest that you take the bass riffs and patterns that I have provided and look at them as a pattern to play everywhere and anywhere that you desire.
I have only picked runs that are widely used and that will sound good and useful every time you play them. So as an example the run in the tab can be played with a 1 -4 -5 progression!
There goes those numbers again ! in the key of Ab 1 -4 -5 is Ab as the 1……Db as the 4…..and Eb as the 5!
1. So play the tab right where it is for the Ab or the 1.
2. For the 4 or the Db move the whole tab down one string to the A string!
But remember the pattern you just played just play it starting on the A string 4th fret!
3. for the 5th or the Eb (by now you should know the pattern and not need those tab numbers!) move the whole progression up one whole step on your bass…(or two frets up the neck)..(up is toward the pickups on your bass!..not the other way!)
you have now graduated!...you have used the pattern in the tab to play against a 1 -4 -5 progression. Now try it in other places on the neck…start on different strings or different frets…
Now go practice!!!
