Fundamentals!

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, I will start a series on "Fundamentals ". Why? Because everyone needs to continually study them. Beginners to seasoned professionals..even the "godz". Understand, I mean FUN-DA-MENTALS! The beginnings and basics of it all. Music on the molecular level! They should be your "go to" at the beginning of each shed session or when approaching any new tune, skill or playing situation. They are the foundation! In coming weeks, I will cover all the areas i feel are relevant. Feel free to PM me with any u think I missed. Today we cover level 0. The notes on the neck. What? U say u don't need this? U already know them? Well, in my decades of teaching all levels, I have yet to come across a player that knows the neck perfectly...me included. I work on it every day!  Most method books teach the fretboard in four fret increments thinking it is easier. IMO, this is a flawed approach. Most students learn the first four, some the next four, many then give up. The goal is to learn the board ALL AT ONCE as a unit, therby eliminating any comfort zones or terror areas. Difficult? Unfortunately. Tedious? Absolutely. Worth it?...YES! How can u translate ur ideas to the instrument if ur limited to WHERE you can play? The shed is the place to obsess over every movement...every note..so u have creative freedom "in the heat of battle". Ok..how? This is a simple one. Choose one note per shed session. Find it all over the neck...4 string, 5 string...27 string...whatever. Find them singly and as the note itself! Not relative to another note..or number of frets. Take ur time. It will be slow at first (we never realize how deficient we all are in this). Make a list of the notes and enharmonic spellings and choose a random one each time. Once complete, start again! It never ends! You will be surprised how this opens up a world of creativity and freedom in your playing. As always, I invite your insights. #yamahamusicusa #makewaves #pirastro #glasserny #laklandbasses #sitstrings #tsunamicables #philjonesbass #uptonbassstringinstrumentcompany #basslessons  #remotelessons