Dundee

If your having problem with a certain technique then for me the best thing to do is to identify the part of the technique that you are having problems with. Break the line down, play it slowly and look at what your hands are doing. A few things that can help... 1. Say your having problem with using the double thumb technique. Try playing other exercises you know (say a scale or string skipping exercise or even a simple bass line) with the double thumb technique. 2. Use a metronome! Take the speed right down (say 80bpm) and focus on playing double thumb in time and with the desired tone. then slowly increase the speed, or even reduce the speed and play quavers, triplets or semiquavers over the beat. Also I wouldn't recommend practising one thing for the whole day. A long period of what seems like little success can be deeply frustrating. take breaks, practice other things that you find easier. Finally remember that the book Staurt Clayton has written will use the techniques that HE finds best. Don't be a slave to what the book says is best, 90% of the time it is probably right, but for you as a different player with different physical characteristics you may find that adjusting what is suggested may produce better results.

It helps with using modes because it breaks down the intervals within each mode one by one. For me it is far better to learn a scale through understanding it's intervals. So I'd always look at Lydian by saying it's an Ionian mode with a sharp4. Phyrigian is the aeloian mode with a flat2 etc etc The exercise is a wierd way at looking at it but it is something that is clearer when played. By playing through the exercises you can hear how the intervals change through each mode even though your playing the same notes. As for historical context, I know little more than the basics when it comes to the historical basis of modes. Anyway if I was to make 1 point when trying to get your head around modes it is this. Treat the major scale as a mode (because thats what it is) not as something separate. Modes are nothing more than sets of scales of which the major scale (Ionian) is 1. I think a lot of people are confused by modes because they learn major/minor scales then get introduced to this apparently higher level of thinking.

Heres an exercise that I use a lot either when warming up, teaching or trying to learn new modes. If we take the major modes... Starting on, say, G. G - Ionian A - Dorian B - Phyrigian C - Lydian D - Mixolydian E - aeolian F* - Locrian The exercise involves playing each interval of the scale on by one in each mode. Play the root of each mode on the E string (going up one string punk rock style), followed by whatever interval your on. So if we start with 3rd's we get a tab that looks something like this.... A----B---C---D---E---F*---G---A E--G---A---B---C---D---E---F*-- So what we've done is play the root of each major mode in G followed by its 3rd. See that Ionian, Lydian and mixolydian have major 3's while Dorian, phyrigian, Aeloian and Locrian have minor 3's Then we progress to 4th's. so... A----C---D---E---F*---G---A---B E--G---A---B---C---D---E---F*--- This time we notice that all the modes have perfect 4ths, except lydian which has a sharp 4. Notice that throughout this exercise we never play a note outside of the G major scale. 5ths, A----D---E---F*---G---A---B---C E--G---A---B---C---D---E---F*--- This time we see that Locrian has a flattened 5th, while all others are perfect. 6ths D----E---F*---G---A---B---C---D A----------------------------------- E--G---A---B---C---D---E---F*--- This time we see that Ionian, Dorian, Lydian and Mixolydian have major 6th's while Phyrigian, Aeolian and Lociran have minor 6ths. 7ths D----F*---G---A---B---C---D---E- A----------------------------------- E--G---A---B---C---D---E---F*--- Ionian and Lydian have major 7th's, while the rest have flattened 7ths. 9ths (For me 9ths are better to learn than seconds. Partly for the techinque building, partly because 2nds would be hard to hear but mainly because 9ths are more commonly played than 2nds) G----A---B---C---D---E---F*---G D---------------------------------- A---------------------------------- E--G---A---B---C---D---E---F*-- with 9ths/2nds we see that Locrian and phyrigian are the exceptions with flattened 9th's/2nds I'd extened the exercise to 10ths (3rds), 11ths(4ths) and 13ths (6's) as well. This exercise allows you to see how the modes are constructed 1 interval at a time. As you are playing the intervals at the same time then you are able to 1. hear the differences 2. Get those intervals under your fingers 3. realise that the major modes all use the same notes as each other but by shifting the root you get a totally different set of sounds as the importance of each note changes. Hope this is of some help in getting modes under your fingers.

Hi, I'm an experienced bass player and teacher based in London. Been playing for 8 years, teaching for 4. Currently studying a contemporary music course at Goldsmiths College. I cater my lessons to what YOU want to do, whether your interested in becoming a member of a band, pro player or just playing for fun. Focus on teaching left and right hand technique, tone, developing your ear, theory, stylistic feel and awareness, playing with other musicians and building a repertoire of common riffs and progressions. For beginners I can also teach basic musical theory including learning how to read sheet music. I am also able to teach exams, particularly those offered by Trinity Rockschool. All styles as well; pop, rock, jazz, funk, reggae, disco, latin styles, afrobeat etc. I mainly hold lessons at my house in Lewisham, but will come to you if necessary. However I do charge for my travel expenses (Max £5) Charges are £15 for 40 minutes or £20 an hour please get in touch if you are interested in lessons. Beginners are especially welcome Allan [email protected]