I love this exercise and it's a big part of the Chord Tone Essentials class on the website. Working the cycle on a single string was a HUGE improvement to finding notes on the fretboard.
I played bass in my teens to late 20’s. Taught myself for the most part, my guitar playing friend needed a bass player. He showed me how to tune it and a few other minor things. Finding the notes on the fretboard or scales wasn’t a thing back then for me. It was learn songs, play shows and make a little money. I changed to guitar after not touching an instrument for about 20 years. I’m learning everything I can that I didn’t back then. I’m learning bass and guitar, I’m disabled and dirt poor so is their a cheap but good bass scales book you recommend?
Another way to practice the cycle of fourths is to go across the strings. Start with C on the 8th fret on your low E string. Using the first 12 frets do C’s, F’s, Bb’s, Eb’s Ab’s Db’s Gb’s, B, E, A D & G on each string and then come back down to the 8th fret on your low E string. Then do it on the next 12 frets, or as high on the neck as you have frets. I also like to do the cycle of fourths on each string starting with C at the 8th fret and move up a sting when I get the end of the cycle on each string. Once I’m done with the highest string I then do the same thing coming back down the strings. Then do it on the next 12 frets, or as high on the neck as you have frets. It has been recommended to also say the notes out loud as you go through the cycle. Having said that I don’t always do that, but always say the notes in my mind. Both ways above are normally how I practice the cycle of fourths and it has really helped learn the fretboard and get speed up doing it! NOTE: It doesn’t happen over night, LOL!
@@talkingbasslessons Thanks for the comment, Mark. Yes, I did watch the video and just watched it again after your comment. You are correct, my second paragraph is what you were talking about in the lesson. However, I never heard you say, “Then do it on the next 12 frets, or as high on the neck as you have frets.” In the first paragraph I don’t recall you saying to do it how I said “Another way to practice the cycle of fourths is to go across the strings. Maybe I didn’t word it correctly for you to understand? Perhaps I should have said: Using the first 12 frets, play all single notes, start with C on the 8th fret on your low E string, then play C on the A string, C on the D string, C on the G string, then come back down through the strings doing all the C on each string back to the C on the 8th fret on the low E string. Next do all of the F’s as you just did the C’s then Bb’s, Eb’s, Ab’s, Db’s Gb’s, B’s, E’s, A’s, D’s, & G’s on each string and then come back down to the starting note on your low E string. Then do it on the next 12 frets, or as high on the neck as you have frets. If you did explain how I just did in the video, I am sorry and have missed it twice now. If you could show me the number on the video where you said this way of doing it I would appreciate knowing where that is at, thank you.
This was really helpful at just the right point in my learning process. Lightbulb moment! Maybe I should get your course :) I'm just realising for myself that it's not patterns but notes that I need to know to play confidently , and you have confirmed it.
The circle of fifths/fourths is an essential element of learning music. They are at the heart of key signatures and a LOT of chord progressions move cyclically (through the cycle of 4ths). Forget about improving your playing. Learn music rather than bass. The bass playing will improve as a bi product and you will have knowledge rather than basic motor skills.
you played the circle of fourths there and it sounded like it belonged in rush or dream theater so i had fun with that and made a prog of my own ua-cam.com/video/d0N0bgsBExc/v-deo.html
Your problem is first your bass is to far from the camera nobody can see what you're doing second you are going a 100 mph. Thirdly I can't see what frets you're fretting if you're going to teach- teach slowly so bass viewers can learn your videos are frustrating. I would like to see more from you but a lot slower, it would be great if bass instructors use one finger slowly to show what note is being played I think it would really help beginners and intermediate players out.
@@johnclement7473 All of this could be taken as decent constructive criticism. But…. looking at the fretboard here is totally irrelevant. This is a lesson about the cycle of fourths. You shouldn’t be watching what I play. That’s the complete opposite of what the lesson is about.
I love this exercise and it's a big part of the Chord Tone Essentials class on the website. Working the cycle on a single string was a HUGE improvement to finding notes on the fretboard.
Chord Tones Essentials was an amazing course! It opened up so much for me. I will always be grateful for Mark.
Random thought... you could also think of it as a standard tuning of a 5 string bass (B-E-A-D-G), first time with flats and then without :D
I like it, and it even works for standard bass with an acronym:
Circle of Fourths for Bass standard tuning EADG
First time flat and then without.
Great practice technique for learning the fret board
Good lesson - I learned from it and I've been playing for about 20 years. Thanks Mark.
This deserves more than a like and subscribe. Thank you.
Great workout routine..! Limber those digits..😁
Excellent!!!
This was great! Thanks!
Great!
Thanks Mark!💪🔥
I played bass in my teens to late 20’s. Taught myself for the most part, my guitar playing friend needed a bass player. He showed me how to tune it and a few other minor things. Finding the notes on the fretboard or scales wasn’t a thing back then for me. It was learn songs, play shows and make a little money. I changed to guitar after not touching an instrument for about 20 years. I’m learning everything I can that I didn’t back then. I’m learning bass and guitar, I’m disabled and dirt poor so is their a cheap but good bass scales book you recommend?
Great Tutorial
One is found between the third and fourth scales degrees and the other between the seventh and eighth scales degrees.
My recommendation would be a video that goes through all the modes in 2 octaves :)
Another way to practice the cycle of fourths is to go across the strings. Start with C on the 8th fret on your low E string. Using the first 12 frets do C’s, F’s, Bb’s, Eb’s Ab’s Db’s Gb’s, B, E, A D & G on each string and then come back down to the 8th fret on your low E string. Then do it on the next 12 frets, or as high on the neck as you have frets.
I also like to do the cycle of fourths on each string starting with C at the 8th fret and move up a sting when I get the end of the cycle on each string. Once I’m done with the highest string I then do the same thing coming back down the strings. Then do it on the next 12 frets, or as high on the neck as you have frets.
It has been recommended to also say the notes out loud as you go through the cycle. Having said that I don’t always do that, but always say the notes in my mind. Both ways above are normally how I practice the cycle of fourths and it has really helped learn the fretboard and get speed up doing it! NOTE: It doesn’t happen over night, LOL!
That’s great. But did you watch the video? You’ve just described the exercise in the lesson.
@@talkingbasslessons Thanks for the comment, Mark. Yes, I did watch the video and just watched it again after your comment. You are correct, my second paragraph is what you were talking about in the lesson. However, I never heard you say, “Then do it on the next 12 frets, or as high on the neck as you have frets.”
In the first paragraph I don’t recall you saying to do it how I said “Another way to practice the cycle of fourths is to go across the strings. Maybe I didn’t word it correctly for you to understand? Perhaps I should have said:
Using the first 12 frets, play all single notes, start with C on the 8th fret on your low E string, then play C on the A string, C on the D string, C on the G string, then come back down through the strings doing all the C on each string back to the C on the 8th fret on the low E string.
Next do all of the F’s as you just did the C’s then Bb’s, Eb’s, Ab’s, Db’s Gb’s, B’s, E’s, A’s, D’s, & G’s on each string and then come back down to the starting note on your low E string. Then do it on the next 12 frets, or as high on the neck as you have frets.
If you did explain how I just did in the video, I am sorry and have missed it twice now. If you could show me the number on the video where you said this way of doing it I would appreciate knowing where that is at, thank you.
This was really helpful at just the right point in my learning process. Lightbulb moment! Maybe I should get your course :) I'm just realising for myself that it's not patterns but notes that I need to know to play confidently , and you have confirmed it.
oh my gosh I memorised this first time - thanks for this!!!!!
Excellent, thank you. You are unstoppable.
Father Charles goes down and ends battle
Battle ends and down goes Charlie's father
Besides helping to memorize the fretboard how can you use the circle of fourths to improve your playing?
The circle of fifths/fourths is an essential element of learning music. They are at the heart of key signatures and a LOT of chord progressions move cyclically (through the cycle of 4ths). Forget about improving your playing. Learn music rather than bass. The bass playing will improve as a bi product and you will have knowledge rather than basic motor skills.
Sorry dude, I was already confused by the 2:30 minute mark. :(
The open strings and notes on the Bass are played out in the circle of 4ths.
I don't have 20 seconds. Is there something that will make me great in less time?
😂
Nice you call it 4ths, many call it fifths which only applies if you go down in pitch.
f bead Go Catch Fish.... i always learned the whole thing as the circle 0f 5ths
you played the circle of fourths there and it sounded like it belonged in rush or dream theater
so i had fun with that and made a prog of my own
ua-cam.com/video/d0N0bgsBExc/v-deo.html
Learn in 20 seconds
Seven and a half minute video.
the method for learning is about 20 secs. The rest shows you how to use it. But I guess you’ve seen it now so you should know that.
Just learn the patterns, that actually only takes 20 seconds.
Your problem is first your bass is to far from the camera nobody can see what you're doing second you are going a 100 mph. Thirdly I can't see what frets you're fretting if you're going to teach- teach slowly so bass viewers can learn your videos are frustrating. I would like to see more from you but a lot slower, it would be great if bass instructors use one finger slowly to show what note is being played I think it would really help beginners and intermediate players out.
@@johnclement7473 All of this could be taken as decent constructive criticism. But…. looking at the fretboard here is totally irrelevant. This is a lesson about the cycle of fourths. You shouldn’t be watching what I play. That’s the complete opposite of what the lesson is about.