BASS
EXPANDING SEQUENCES | Adam Nitti
If you have done any type of scale studies in the past , chances are you have played through phrases that utilize subgroupings known as sequences . We create sequences by breaking down larger forms or patterns ( likes scales and modal patterns ) into smaller fragments in order to create melodic themes or motifs . When working with scales , it is helpful to practice extracting and connecting individual sequences in order to create ideas that are more interesting and musical than just the scale , itself .
Sequencing approaches in general work really well with scales , arpeggios , and other academic components that connect a series of notes together . For example , the following three note per string pattern for the major scale ( Ionian mode ) provides a great shape to sequence from . ( Figure 1 )
On a 4-string bass , this pattern offers us 12 notes total to work with in a single position . You have probably played shapes like this before in a basic ascending and descending fashion . However , by breaking this twelve-note shape into smaller sequenced fragments , we can create exercises and phrases that challenge our technical facility and also encourage us to create lines that are more interesting and melodic in nature . descending examples are each limited to the range of a single octave G major scale , but could of course be extended to the full range of a larger pattern such as shown in Figure 1 :
Example 1 : Sequenced 2 ' s 1-2 , 2-3 , 3-4 , 4-5 , 5-6 , 6-7 , 7-8 , 8-7 , 7-6 , 6-5 , 5-4 , 4-3 , 3-2 , 2-1
Example 2 : Sequenced 3 ' s 1-2-3 , 2-3-4 , 3-4-5 , 4-5-6 , 5-6-7 , 6-7-8 , 8-7-6 , 7-6-5 , 6-5-4 , 5-4-3 , 4-3-2 , 3-2-1
Example 3 : Sequenced 4 ' s 1-2-3-4 , 2-3-4-5 , 3-4-5-6 , 4-5-6-7 , 5-6-7-8 , 8-7-6-5 , 7-6-5-4 , 6-5-4-3 , 5-4-3-2 , 4-3-2-1
Example 4 : Sequenced 5 ' s 1-2-3-4-5 , 2-3-4-5-6 , 3-4-5-6-7 , 4-5-6-7-8 , 8-7-6-5-4 , 7-6-5-4-3 , 6-5-4-3-2 , 5-4-3-2-1
Regardless of the size of the sequenced subgrouping , each ordered sequence is just a fragment of the complete scale or pattern . Here are some examples of how some specific sequencing exercises can be written out using scale degrees . Note that these ascending and
Example 5 : Sequenced 6 ' s 1-2-3-4-5-6 , 2-3-4-5-6-7 , 3-4-5-6-7-8 , 8-7-6-5-4-3 , 7-6-5-4-3-2 , 6-5-4-3-2-1
Figure 1