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Theory/Reading music - Where should I start?


AinsleyWalker
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I've been playing bass (and guitar) for about 6 or 7 years now. I'm 99% self taught and I've gotten to a point where I'm technically pretty proficient but I feel like my lack of theory knowledge or ability to read is something I should try and improve, especially as I've been learning a lot of jazzy stuff lately. I know chords and some of the major/minor type stuff that you just pick up through playing.
Anyone got any advice or tips to someone in my position? where would be a good starting point? Thanks!

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[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1450979755' post='2937622']
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/71857-the-majors-bass-boot-camp-session-1/"]http://basschat.co.u...camp-session-1/[/url]
[/quote]

Thanks for the links, however I seem unable to open the files he's included as they are .ipb format. not sure what that is.

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The book that served me well and I still use to this day to teach with is The Complete Electric Bass Player by Chuck Rainey. Well worth the price. It takes you through all the keys with repetitive patterns that are incredibly useful. Can't recommend it enough.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Electric-Bass-Player-Book/dp/0825624258

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[quote name='AinsleyWalker' timestamp='1450987513' post='2937710']
Either I'm looking at the wrong thing but Session 1 includes two files. One is sheet music and one is a track... The whole point is that I can't read yet, so I'm not sure how I'm supposed to progress from there...
[/quote]

Well, I linked it because it is here and pinned on Basschat but maybe it's too difficult but maybe if you worked at it you 'll make some progress. Did you read the major's introduction?

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[quote name='AinsleyWalker' timestamp='1450987513' post='2937710']
Either I'm looking at the wrong thing but Session 1 includes two files. One is sheet music and one is a track... The whole point is that I can't read yet, so I'm not sure how I'm supposed to progress from there...
[/quote]

Lessons are a good idea. I good teacher should have a few different ways to explain something. It needn't be a bass teacher, I learned loads at uni from guys who were primarily pianists.

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The Major-Minor thread is excellent.

Another great tool if you're starting from absolute scratch, Stuart Clayton's Bass Essentials - Reading Music series, can't recommend these enough

https://www.basslinepublishing.com/bass-essentials/the-bass-guitarist-s-guide-to-reading-music-beginner-level.html

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[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1450998545' post='2937821']
Well, I linked it because it is here and pinned on Basschat but maybe it's too difficult but maybe if you worked at it you 'll make some progress. Did you read the major's introduction?
[/quote]

Yeah I mean, I read through the whole thread and downloaded the links but my problem is that I'm at the very beginnings of learning to read. Whereas this seems to start from a point of someone who has already been taught the basics and is now practicing what they know.
Which might come in handy at another point, cheers :)

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1450999003' post='2937825']
Lessons are a good idea. I good teacher should have a few different ways to explain something. It needn't be a bass teacher, I learned loads at uni from guys who were primarily pianists.
[/quote]

Yeah I did have a few guitar lessons years ago from a family friend and we scratched the surface of reading but I don't remember any of it, I'm sure he'd be able to teach me some stuff if I got in touch again.

[quote name='Drax' timestamp='1450999326' post='2937827']
The Major-Minor thread is excellent.

Another great tool if you're starting from absolute scratch, Stuart Clayton's Bass Essentials - Reading Music series, can't recommend these enough

[url="https://www.basslinepublishing.com/bass-essentials/the-bass-guitarist-s-guide-to-reading-music-beginner-level.html"]https://www.bassline...nner-level.html[/url]
[/quote]

I'll check this out at some point, thanks!

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I'm far from an experienced player but I have been working on the basics of theory a lot recently so hopefully this will help:

(1) Get yourself a few lessons with a good teacher - it is well worth the money as if you go in knowing what you are after it's amazing how much you can learn in that time. I started with my hand around the 5th fret so I have access to the A on the lowest string.

(2) Start by playing everything in just one position. It'll be a bit odd to begin with but it means you know exactly which notes you are going for. You can add positions shifts in once you are comfortable with the basics.

(3) The bass staff is very easy to learn really, since the lowest note between two lines is an 'A' - the next a 'C', then 'E' then 'G'. Start by getting those into your head and practice with them. Then you can learn the other notes by reference to these.

Those are the tips that I was given when I started a while back and it really helped.

Edited by Naetharu
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Guest bassman7755

[quote name='AinsleyWalker' timestamp='1450979329' post='2937617']
I've been playing bass (and guitar) for about 6 or 7 years now. I'm 99% self taught and I've gotten to a point where I'm technically pretty proficient but I feel like my lack of theory knowledge or ability to read is something I should try and improve, especially as I've been learning a lot of jazzy stuff lately. I know chords and some of the major/minor type stuff that you just pick up through playing.
Anyone got any advice or tips to someone in my position? where would be a good starting point? Thanks!
[/quote]

Its worth pointing that sight reading and theory are different (but overlapping) subjects and that learning to sight read will not result in an understanding of musical constructs just falling into your lap (although it will help) - you need to work on theory as subject in its own right to some extent.

Heres a list of basic topics in some rough order but they are somewhat interrelated:
[url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_(music)"]Scales[/url]
[url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_fifths"]Cycle of 5ths[/url]
[url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chord_(music)"]Chords[/url], [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arpeggio"]Arpeggio[/url]
[url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatonic_scale"]Diatonic scales[/url], [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mode_(music)"]Modes[/url]
[url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonization"]Harmonization[/url] , [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chord_progression"]Chord progressions[/url]
[url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consonance_and_dissonance"]Consonance and Dissonance[/url], [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadence_(music)"]Cadence[/url]

Edited by bassman7755
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