Free Bass Lessons -- Electric Bass Questions Answered: February 2007

Octave Equivalence

>Andrew,
>
> I have a question for you regarding scales and patterns.
>can you explain to me how you would transition from one pattern to the
>next. I have been playing rock guitar by ear for years and recently
>have gone to the bass but I cant figure out the transition of the
>patterns. The tabs themselves are easy to figure out but like in Hal
>Leonard's Bass method he shows you the patterns (i.e. pattern 1 pattern 2 and
>pattern 3 etc etc) of the same note and scale and they are always not in order
>from the fret on. I am wondering (feel stupid because I years ago took
>theory and harmony and have played for years) if each pattern is actually the
>next step in key structure IE the circle of fifths.
>
>In other words, take a c major Ionian pattern three. The root is at
>the nut, or E then the scale progresses to f, g a b(root) c, etc etc, However
>pattern 1 starts at the c on the 8th fret. Now I understand that this
>is also a c major scale but what I am looking for is what the relationship from
>one pattern to the next is and why would the not be nut pattern as number 1 then
>progressively up from there?
>
>I hope this questions isn't to moronic for you as I really want to learn
>this and get very good at base. I would like to actually learn musically
>so I can join in on anything group playing rather than the head banging noise
>that I have done for years. So any help you have would be great on this
>subject.
>
>Thank you
>
>D. P.

Hi D,
Without actually seeing the book, it sounds like each pattern is a rotation of
the major scale in question (in the case of your example, C major).
The rotation, or pattern, of the scale starting at the nut on E, seems like it
should start on the 12th fret of the E string or the 7th fret of the A string,
because you are starting from the third step of the scale.
While that is logical, the point to remember is that there are only seven letters
in the musical alphabet (ABCDEFG) and they keep repeating octave after octave.
The E at the nut is equivalent to the E at the 12th fret E string or 7th fret A
string (or 2nd fret D string), but sounds one octave lower.
So your book is dropping the register by one octave to make it more convenient to
learn and play.
Hope this helps,
Andy