Major Scales and Bass...Part Three

Ok so we went over the formula of the major scale and the circle of fifths.  Did you learn anything?  Were you able to apply it to your bass.  If you are looking for some patterns here is one...




Notice the how the red is the root of the scale.  The fingers of your left hand are 1 thru 4 or index to pinkey.  notice that each finger is assigned a fret.  Start on the red 2 and play the notes in order going up.  So it would be 2,4 then 1,2,4 of the next string (which is the A string) then 1,3,4 of the nest string (which is the D string).  Notice that it keeps going on the next string which is the G string. 
As you learn the fingering of the major scale on your bass you will find that there is patterns that you can follow.  If you move the root of the major scale from the 5th fret to the 12th fret and play the same fingering you will have a major scale.  It is the same every where you play it on your bass.  Next post I am going to start teaching you how to spell out chords.  For example, what notes make up a C chord?  They are C, E, G.  This is important when you are reading charts and writing bass lines.  See ya next time.  Happy New Year....

Major Scales and Bass...Part Two

Major scales and bass...So lets review... what is the formula of the major scale?  W-W-H-W-W-W-H....so if you start on a C you would play this notes...C D E F G A B and back to C.  Then we went over a few other major scales.  Remember, whatever note you start on if you apply the formula you will know what notes to play for that key.  So lets go over the keys that have the sharps in them...

C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C
G-A-B-C-D-E-F#-G              1 sharp  F#
D-E-F#-G-A-B-C#-D            2 sharps F#, C#
A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G#-A          3 sharps F#, C#, G#
E-F#-G#-A-B-C#-D#-E        4 sharps F#, C#, G#, D#
B-C#-D#-E-F#-G#-A#-B      5 sharps F#, C#, G#, D#, A#
F#-G#-A#-B-C#-D#-E#-F#  6 sharps F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#,

Theoretically you could continue on with more scales.  I want you to notice something...Notice as I go from C major scale to G major scale then to Dand then to A to E to B there is a intervalic relationship.  From C to G is a fifth.  From G to D is a fifth.  From D to A is a fifth, so on and so on.  Each time you go up a fifth you add a sharp.  Also notice that there is a order of sharps that develops as you go up a fifth.  The order is F,C, G, D, A, E, B.  This is the sharp side of the "circle of fifths", which is another phrase for key signatures. 


 Now lets look at the flat side. 

F-G-A-Bb-C-D-E-F                1 flat Bb
Bb-C-D-Eb-F-G-A-Bb            2 flats Bb, Eb
Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C-D-Eb          3 flats Bb, Eb, Ab
Ab-Bb-C-Db-Eb-F-G-Ab        4 flats Bb, Eb, Ab, Db
Db-Eb-F-Gb-Ab-Bb-C-Db      5 flats Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb
Gb-Ab-Bb-Cb-Db-Eb-F-Gb    6 flats Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb

You might have noticed that there is a order of flats as well.  B, E, A, D, G, C, F

This will complete the "circle of fifths".  I highly recommend that all musicians study the key signatures and learn them inside and out.  Knowing the key signatures is the foundation for so many things in music.  For a bass player it will teach you how to build chords quickly and help you understand other scales you will learn.