Finally, we have the easiest exercise for your ears and your hands, but
the most challenging for your brain. This is what I call "Long Scales".
While it's a pretty simple drill in one way, it will challenge you as
long as you play bass. I generally like to use major scales when I do
this one, but any scale is fine. And you should use more than one scale
every time you do it. Stick to one a practice session, though. What
you're going to do is very straight forward. If you have a 4 string
you're going to play a 2 octave scale up the neck and a 2 octave pattern
back down. If you're playing a 6, then you're playing a 3 octave scale
up and back down the neck. BUT (aren't you sick of that word by now?)...
You NEVER play it the same way, either up OR down. On a 4 string use F
major as the first scale you try. On a 6 I recommend C major. On a 7, 8,
9 or more string bass, I suggest G major.
Start with a major because you don't want to have an open string as
your first or your last note. It denies you maximum stretch and you're
probably most familiar with the keys based on open strings anyway. As a
second challenge try and play 3 or 4 notes on one string before you
change to the next highest string. You'll find this really hard by about
the 3rd or 4th time you run through the drill, but it's a great
challenge to have.
Now an interesting way to enhance this drill once you get the hang of
it is to play arpeggios instead of whole scales. By approaching the neck
intervallically instead of from a scalar point of view, you will get the
added benefit of hearing some rudimentary melodic structuring.
Further, you can play intervals aside from thirds. Try the same drill
playing fourths, fifths, or sixths. Granted, on a 4 string you will not
have as far a climb or a descent, but the point is challenging your
hands and your brain.
