Originally Posted by
jarrhead
I don't know what instruments you play, but bass is all about shapes. Since we are tuned consistantly across all 4-7 strings, (five-seven here) then we can learn like this. Guitars, however, have inconsistant tuning from G to B. It should be a C, as with 6 string basses. If I ever mess around I tune EADGCF. :D
We don't memorize notes. Not at all! Sure, we know where they are on the fretboard so that we can play over chord changes and lock a key, but from there it's all SHAPES.
You may not understand substution chords (I call this chordal modes..) It's like playing modes, except for chords, not scales. I cannot imagine thinking of the noted structure, such as saying "Okay, play an E, G, and B over this CMaj7 chord.."
I would say "Lets play off the third of this E and play the chord tones."
From there, I would use shapes. I even use shapes to get there. I know that the third is one finger left on the root (using middle finger as home.) I then know to use 4th finger, third, and third again. I don't have to say that to myself, but it's instictive.
Point i'm trying to make is (wow I got WAYY off topic..) that i would memorize by shapes, not by relative pitch. Although I would keep it buried in my head incase my shape is flawed.