Most methods of learning the neck fret-by-fret require memorizing unrelated four-note blocks in which every note changes with every new fret memorized.
In this approach, we'll only be adding one new note every time you learn a new fret, making it easier to learn several frets a day without overloading your brain.
Some basics about the bass (and music) I'm assuming you already know:
- The (chromatic) scale looks like this: (# = sharp, b = flat)
A A#/Bb B C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab (then it starts over at A)
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Each note in the scale corresponds to one fret of your bass, in the order shown above.
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Each string of your bass is referred to by the name of the note that sounds when you pluck it without fretting a note: the "open" string.
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The frets starting at 12 have exactly the same note names as their counterparts 12 frets down on the same string: fret 12 on your low string (the thickest one, closest to you) is an E, and so is the open string. Fret 15 on the low string is a G, and so is fret 3. This is important, because every time you learn a fret, you're getting two for the price of one: one between the nut and 11, the other between 12 and the end of your bass (if you have a 24-fret bass).
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You know how to tune your bass with the fifth-fret/open-string method.
