Unsure Bassist.

notmeagain

Hey,
I've been playing bass about a year and a half now, mostly learning songs off tab and simple ones by ear. I have basically no music theory whatsoever and I'm just wondering if anyone could give me any tips on where to start. i.e. whether it is worth learning scales and the like.
I'd really appreciate it if some bassists told me what worked for them. My aim is really to be competant jamming with a band and coming up with original stuff and not just playing root notes.

Giblet

try www.activebass.com

It helps to hear lots of different styles, and try to play them.

You should be practising every day, playing more complex things and generally learning how certain styles are formulated.

fortysixand2

Well, I'm a guitarist, not a bassist, but it's all really the same thing. Myself, I had only training in the basics of how to play the simplest stuff, from then on in I had to train myself, and research the theory myself. There are any number of online resources where you can pick up bits and pieces and whole chunks of theory.

Also, I agree with Giblet wholeheartedly on the practise point - I worked for three to eight hours a day (I had a LOT of free time and not much to do with it ) to learn new methods, new things to do, new keys to play in, blah blah blah. It takes time and effort to build yourself up past the basics, but trust me on this - it's well worth the investment! No matter the instrument

GiantSpacePanda

Just go to www.powertabs.net and enjoy

and yes, learn scales but remember that rules are made to be broken.

Fusion251

notmeagain wrote:

whether it is worth learning scales and the like.

:eek:

Of course it feckin is! Learning by ear is a good thing but you're gonna need to have some theoretical knowledge too in order to develop and create you're own basslines over chord patterns.

Start off with Major Scale theory: Here's C maj:

---

7--8----]

---

8--10

---

]

---

7--9--10

---

]

---

7--9--10

---

]

---

7--8--10

---

]
-8--10

---

]

So when you start from the 8th fret (c) you will be playing C Ionian
If you start from the 10th fret (d) you will be playing D Dorian
'' '' '' '' '' 7th fret 2nd string (e) you will be playing E Phrygian
'' ' '' '' '' 8th fret 2nd string (f) you will be playing F Lydian
'' '' '' '' '' 10th fret 2nd string (g) you will be playing G Mixolydian
'' '' '' '' '' 7th fret 3rd string (a) you will be playing A Aeolian
and lastly 8th fret 3rd string (b) you will be playing B Lochrian


Chords related to scales:

Ionian : Major 7
Dorian: Minor 7
Phrygian: Susb9
Lydian: Major7#11
Mixolydian: Dominant 7
Aeolian: Minor 7
Lochrian: Minor 7b5

These are just a few chord examples.

Anyway, good luck.

(Yes I'm in work and I'm bored, thus the tab etc ha ha)


Fusion
:cool:

notmeagain

Thanks for the replies, really appreciate it.
I suppose what I'm actually looking for is info on how to apply this theory to my actual playing. I know it's a really awkward question to answer. As I said, I have no musical theory at the moment whatsover, bar knowing the notes on the fretboard.

Mr. CooL ICE

I know what youre on about, im playing almost 4 years now and im only as good as someone whos been playing for about 2 years, cos i skipped learning theory and certain techniques when i first started and spent the last year covering my ass.

It really is worth learning scales, since they help your technique too. Learn The Immigrant Song and Communication breakdown by Led Zeppelin, cos jp jones really makes use of scales in the choruses of both songs.

What are your influences? Im a metalhead, so i just picked up bits of theory by looking at how iron maiden form their harmonies and how steve harris changes the base note (?) of the riffs in Fear Of The Dark and The Trooper. When i first started jamming with people on acoustic guitars, it hit me how bad i was at playing along with people and not being able to play much more than the root note.

Fusion251

notmeagain wrote:

Thanks for the replies, really appreciate it.
I suppose what I'm actually looking for is info on how to apply this theory to my actual playing.

O.k well you don't seem to have much motivation to try and figure things out yourself so I'd recommend you get a few lessons to get you on track tbh.

Fusion

notmeagain

Fusion251 wrote:

O.k well you don't seem to have much motivation to try and figure things out yourself so I'd recommend you get a few lessons to get you on track tbh.

Fusion

Sorry man, probably didn't pay enough attention to your last post, limited time online. Lessons are out of the question moneywise unfortunately.......

Into nothing heavier than muse really, mostly indie and older stuff, like zeppelin.
If anyone else has any stuff that helped them improve their playing it would be cool.

bonzai bob

fusion gave you pretty much everything you need to know to start off from, just keep playing that scale..

Also learn where each note is on the fretboard, playing scales will help this.. Don't just learn to play the scales, learn what notes you're striking in them as well, that will make things ALOT easier when improvising, you'll know how to keep in key eventually.

Q. G string, 9th fret, what note is it? Quickly!!

dross

you're getting way too much **** here.
do this(really):

1.start learning the names of the notes on the frets. start with the open strings then move up, it takes time to get it good, but IT IS SOOOOO NECESSARY
2a.learn the "pentatonic scale". **** that complicated ****. this ones all you need to start with, and you'll kick the **** with it. it's just a pattern you learn off that starts on the root note of whatever key you're in. theres on for major (happy) and minor (sad, and blues)
2b. start playing with it. when you're in g and you wanna go to c, try walking up through the scale towards c. this is called a fill, the most basic improv thing.
3. learn the major and minor arpeggios. they're easy, three note patterns. you just start them on whatever the root note of the chord is. then you can hit different notes in the chord and make good sounding riffs all the time(like money, by pink floyd, is all one arpeggio(although a more complicated one than you'll be doing right now))

seriously man, these three steps andblablabla

Fusion251

dross wrote:

you're getting way too much **** here.
do this(really):

1.start learning the names of the notes on the frets. start with the open strings then move up, it takes time to get it good, but IT IS SOOOOO NECESSARY
2a.learn the "pentatonic scale". **** that complicated ****. this ones all you need to start with, and you'll kick the **** with it. it's just a pattern you learn off that starts on the root note of whatever key you're in. theres on for major (happy) and minor (sad, and blues)
2b. start playing with it. when you're in g and you wanna go to c, try walking up through the scale towards c. this is called a fill, the most basic improv thing.
3. learn the major and minor arpeggios. they're easy, three note patterns. you just start them on whatever the root note of the chord is. then you can hit different notes in the chord and make good sounding riffs all the time(like money, by pink floyd, is all one arpeggio(although a more complicated one than you'll be doing right now))

seriously man, these three steps andblablabla

Don't mind that lad, he's talking rubbish.

First of all an arpeggio depending on the chord consists of the 1st, 3rd and 7th note of the chord and if there are any extensions e.g 9th, 11th, 13th.

His explination of chromaticism, which he calls a "fill" is rubbish too. Chromatic scales are a completely different thing. Yes in some cases if you're playing and Aminor chord and moving to C you can play A Bb B & C to reach the C that's fine, but that lad explains none of his ramblings.

Stick to what I said, get the scale under you're fingers and experament with it, try to relate your starting point to the chords mentioned and if all else fails €25 a lesson from me 2 lessons and you'll be sorted!

Fusion

:cool:

dross

...
i didn't explain chromaticism, i explained the pentatonic scale. and i didn't call it a fill, i called a fill a fill.
your problem is you're giving him too much. you think he knows what your **** means? "phygrian", bollocks man, you don't explain you're own ****ing ramblings! WE all know what it means but he's just starting, right? and not trying to point out your flaws, i don't know what kinda stuff you play, but what about the fifth in the arpeggio?
I'm speaking from personal experience, I'm not a >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>"TEACHER"<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<i don't need his money, you sound like you're spewing **** at him to confuse him so he thinks you're smart and goes to you.

you won't be sorted in 2 lessons. you've gott build up muscles and reflexes over time.

i apologise for ranting giblet

Fusion251

First of all the fifth is unimportant in an arpeggio, second, drummers do fills bassists do chromatic passing tones. And yes if he was given 2 lessons and the right advice he could go and work on it himself at his own pace.

Anyway I'm not going to argue with you, I have my opinion on what he should do and if you don't agree that's fine, just like I don't agree with you. No need for the ****'s.

Fusion
:cool:

dross

"you'd be sorted!" is kinda false advertising and...yes...i do not agree.
****'s are just the way i talk, i wasn't trying to be offensive.

Fusion251

I'm not advertising. I'm not a full time teacher ethir. I prefere to play. My point is that lessons can get very monotonous and can actually impede your playing and creativity by giving you too much info too soon, what I was saying was that if he doesn't want to figure the stuff out for himself a couple of lessons would help get him on the right track. Very simple really.


Fusion

GiantSpacePanda

look man, just go here http://rockbass-beginnertoproinfourweeks.com/ that will get you moving nicely.

notmeagain

Thanks
Any advice, even contradictory, is always welcome. Really wanna start taking my playing seriously now rather than pissin about with tabs and root notes.

dross

yeah, totally agree with that monotony thing. every week 20 quid and i don't even think he knows what we were at last week.

Fusion251

dross wrote:

yeah, totally agree with that monotony thing. every week 20 quid and i don't even think he knows what we were at last week.

EXACTLY!

You need to get the most outa your money!

dross

but 2 intensive lessons is still stupid.

Fusion251

They don't have to be intensive dumbass. All he needs to know is the basics.

dross

that's what i was saying. you're **** was complicated. my **** was basic.

eoin5

I got a copy of chord wizard music theory, taught me 90% of what i needed to know. really good program, i think theres a demo of it somewhere online.

Brother A

Is there -ANY- chance that you know those girls Eoin.
And if so let me be the first to offer them a personal tour (of the city/a sleazy hotel room/whatever...)