This is a very valuable article by John Goldsby, writing for Bassplayer.com. He discusses using intervals of 6ths and 7ths, and how they can make your bass playing more melodic.
Here's an excerpt:
A 6th Sense for Melody
Why do some bassists play more melodically than others? It’s not that they possess a 6th sense - a mysterious talent channeled only by mystics and bass gods. Their well-kept secret? They've mastered the fundamentals of music technique and theory. Melodic bassists have a good command of wide interval jumps - 6ths and 7ths - and these large intervals make for compelling, melodic lines. Intervals are the building blocks of music, and you can improve your playing by learning to use intervals in a musical way.
Intervals of 6ths and 7ths usually require crossing over two strings, or shifting positions, so they are harder to grab on the fingerboard than smaller intervals like 2nds, 3rds, 4ths, and 5ths. But the 6th interval is useful to have under your fingers all over the bass. Practice large intervals and you’ll develop your 6th sense for melodic playing!
Read the entire article HERE.
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