Importance of knowing chords..

rk.cu.000 · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 12:29 am Post subject: Importance of knowing chords..

I've been playing bass for about 6 months now and was wondering how important knowledge of chords is to play bass well.I ask because I have very good technique and ear and can play bass to almost any song although I know no guitar chords except for 3 or 4 basic ones.I'd like to hear your opinions on the importance of knowing chords for bass players.

Apostolis · Tadpole Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Greece

Generally speaking theory is nothing but experience in writing.
The reason why we need it is obvious. We don't have to "re-invent the wheel" every time we are trying something new and take every step from the start.

This applies to music theory also. As music evolves through the years it's theory evolves too.
Music above all is a matter of culture.
In our age most of the music that we listen to (at least in the Western World) comes from Classical music. People lived those days took their music legacy (mainly the Greek modes and Byzantine scales) and adapted it to their needs and liking.

This ended up to be 1 - 5 - 2 - 4 - 3 chord progression. This is where all started for "our" music. For example the most common chord progression in Blues is 1 - 4 - 5. Playing 1 - 3 - 5 notes also was established as the main way to play a chord.

When you know the chord structure and the chord progression of a song it is easier to "pick-up" the appropriate note that suits the song (so the guitar man won't shoot you in the back). It is easier to jump to a different scale without playing strange notes.
In fact the ironic thing about music theory is tha there are no strange notes to a chord. There are so many substitutions you can apply in music that every note will fit in every chord and scale.
But it's all about knowing what you are doing and not just pluging frets.

It's obvious that you won't know what you are doing unless you know music theory.
What i've told you about chord progressions etc. is only 10% of the music theory. It's a whole new universe out there.

Knowing theory is not important for playing Bass. It helps when it comes to playing music.
You might be a magnificent musician without knowing notes, scales etc.
No one doubts this. There are many of this kind among us.
But if you ask them if they wish they knew theory, 9 out of 10 of them they will answer "yes, I wish I knew".

rk.cu.000 · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 2:45 pm Post subject: music theory

Yeah that's what I thought. I played the keyboards and piano for more than a decade before taking up bass and thus know a lot about music theory, just not much about guitar chord patterns. Anyway, thanks for your insight.

Apostolis · Tadpole Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Greece

Then all you have to do is become familiar with your freatboard and learn those little tricks that you can apply in the Bass guitar. For example playing octaves or 5ths in the Bass is easier than in any other instrument.
Just place your fingers the same way all over the fingerboard, unlike the guitar where the B string messes up everything.
Changing tonality is also very easy. Just tell your guitar player to play Whitesnake's "Fool for your love" in F# and see what happens.
On the other hand you "can't play" chords in guitar way.

And of course you have to figure out how the Bass works into a song.

rk.cu.000 · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 1:03 am Post subject: 5-string and 6-string basses

True.. octaves on bass is far easier than in other instruments. I would also like to know your opinion on the advantages and disadvantages of 5-string and 6-string basses. Obviously they provide more range than a regular 4-string, but are there any further advantages? And what about disadvantages?

Neil Gray · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 2:31 am Post subject:

5 and 6 string basses are 'icing' on the cake. 4 string basses are 'THE CAKE!!!'
5 & 6 strings offer, as you suggest, more range, but at the end of the day, no more NOTES. I play a six string bass, but learned solidly on a four string. Even today, if I want to expand my music theory or any other area of learning, I pick up the four string before anything else.

Unless you really want to be a specialist 5 or 6 string player, dedicate yourself to the four string. There are so many 5 string players out there who never play their fifth string unless it's to shock the room into silence the moment the plug it in. The same with six string players. So many six string players never need to replace the extra two strings on their axe.

Five string is good for groove, as it provides a bit more bottom end. But in my opinion, you need to be working in order to justify it, as you need a good speaker and amp setup to handle the thicker, muddier lower end.

Six string is great for funk and soloing. I use mine for both of these things, and admittedly provide more 'icing' than most muso's deem necessary for bass. Realistically, you wouldn't ever pump out a walking bass line on the 9th fret of the upper F string of a six string bass! But at the end of the day, each to their own.

Four string is everything you need to learn, and more. Five and six string basses are a waste of money unless you're going to really dedicate yourself to being different.
_________________
Alright!
Who siphoned the blood out of my cat?

Apostolis · Tadpole Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Greece

I agree with Neil.
In my opinion 5 and (especially) 6 strings basses are for soloing. Apart from this there is nothing that a 4 string bass can't do. And pay attention to what Neil says about equipment. Your made-for-4 strings amp might not do the job for the other ones.
And don't forget that 5 and 6 strings have bigger fingerboards. This requires slightly different technics as your fingers have to "cover" a bigger surface. Injuries are easier to happen, especially during the first period, when you are switching from one instrument to the other.

rk.cu.000 · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 10:51 am Post subject: 5-string basses

I was looking at a particular 5-string bass, the Rickenbacker 4003 5-string model. For many, the bass guitar is purely a rhythm instrument but as bass players, we all know that it sounds just as great as any other instrument when at the forefront of a song, irrespective of genre. I was considering buying a 5-string with a low E purely because I liked the idea of increased range with which to experiment and improvise. Now you mentioned that 5 and 6-string basses have bigger fingerboards. Do you think it's worth the hassle of learning to play on a bigger fingerboard for the increased range? Though I consider myself to be a fast learner, I'm still very much in the infancy of my bass-playing career. This leads me to believe that now is the time with which to experiment with different methods as this becomes difficult later when you're secure and settled with a particular style. I would greatly appreciate your views on this.

Apostolis · Tadpole Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Greece

5 and 6 strings bass guitars are a little bit wider. Don't let this scare you, just be carefull with your technique as your hands have to stretch more in order to reach the frets.
I don't see why you shouldn't buy a 5 string since you fancy them. Just don't idolize them. Is the willing to experiment and improvise that counts, not what you are using.
Is it worth the hassle? As Bob Marley said: experience teaches wisdom. If people didn't have the need to dare and experiment we would have still been living in caves.
That said there is no time to experiment and time to settle. We'll always have the need to learn something new,play that same old song even better etc. The only things might stop you are coming from the outside of the music world (your career,your family etc.).

So go ahead and buy your 5 string bass guitar, maybe later a 6-7-8-9... string, start learning other instruments too and don't waste your time.

rk.cu.000 · Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 12:20 am Post subject: Bass guitar jargon - need help

Fair enough. I've decided to go ahead and buy a 5-string bass. Chances are it'll be a painful learning curve but hey, no pain no gain. My only problem is that I don't understand some of the technical jargon associated with bass guitars. I was looking at the Fender Dimension V bass. Can someone please translate the following into English?

1) Precision Bass/Jazz Bass pickups - I get the basic idea, but what does this actually entail? Does it give the bass added versatility?

2) Split Single-Coil American Deluxe Precision Bass pickup(MID) & Dual-Coil Vintage Noiseless Jazz Bass pickup(BRIDGE)

2) Pan Pot pickup switching - switching between and combining the effects of the Deluxe Precision and Noiseless Jazz pickups, but who or what is a Pan Pot?

3) 3-Band Active EQ with Treble, Mid and Bass Boost/Cut

4) 5-saddle convertible bridge

Forgive my ignorance, but I wanted to thoroughly understand every single aspect of this bass before I go ahead and buy it. Would greatly appreciate some clarification.
_________________
I know a mouse and he hasn't got a house I don't know why I call him Gerald. He's getting rather old but he's a good mouse.

Apostolis · Tadpole Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Greece

I'm afraid i can't help you on this. I can't give you technical answers and if i try to explain them in simple words i might puzzle you.
I bet you can find some pretty good information on the web.

Neil Gray · Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 10:40 pm Post subject:

Okay... I don't know the in's and out's of all the pickups, as they are generally only trademarked names for certain manufacturers. Eg, Fender have the "Split Single-Coil American Deluxe Precision Bass pickup(MID) & Dual-Coil Vintage Noiseless Jazz Bass pickup(BRIDGE)" which you will not find on any other bass. All it means is that there is a single coil pickup (not very aggressive with it's sound) half way between the bridge (where the strings end) and the fretboard, and a dual-coil (more aggressive) pickup closer to the bridge. Vintage noiseless simply means that it is an older style Fender sounding pickup with some added technology to ensure it doesn't hum at higher volumes, etc. Jazz bass pickup means that it is found in Fender Jazz basses (supposedly the ideal bass for Jazz), and Precision bass pickup means that it is found in Fender 'P' basses (supposedly the ultimate plectrum bass). American Deluxe is just a way of saying American made.

Don't be blinded by a lot of the terminology. As you look around, you'll see that most bass ranges offer one or two options, and as you get into the more expensive basses, the options become more varied as pickups are ACTIVE (electrified) and 'on board EQ's' are added. These just give you more versatility. It is where you find your BASS BOOST and BASS CUT, etc.

When you're next in a music store, ask to play a 'P' bass, and a 'Jazz' Bass. Don't worry when the sales guy starts talking about deluxe models or vintage reissues, just remember whether you have a P bass or a Jazz bass in your hands. Play and listen to the difference. No matter what happens next, or how many fancy names come before or after that Precision or Jazz, you will know the difference through experience.
_________________
Alright!
Who siphoned the blood out of my cat?