Ive been trying to learn actually theory lately as apposed to playing by ear as I have always done. Ive been studying walking bass lines, arpeggios, modes etc. The books I purchased are great, but I am having issues actually applying it. The books assume you (and the guitarist) know if the are playing minor, 7th, etc. I play mostly punk and all the guitarists I have played with are self taught and cant always tell you what they are playing. I know you have progressions like I IV V, etc. and I vaguely remember a teacher talking about how a scale can be harmonized which will tell you which chords are which. Even if it is a power chord, the chord is a implied minor or seventh. Something along those lines. How do you figure out the progression and the implied chords? I would like to do scale runs and walking bass line type things in parts, but am lost at what mode, scale, arpeggio, etc to use. I'm replacing a rather well known punk guitarist (he played bass with this band) and he came up with great bass lines, but I have no decent recordings to learn off of so have to make my own. I spend so much extra time playing bad notes in an attempt to find the right one. Here are a some examples. Im putting the root note the guitarist gives me when I ask the chord name... 1. Verse: B / A / G# / G# Chorus: E / C# / D / D 2. Verse: F / F / F / F / B / B / B / B Chorus: D / A / F# / F 3. Verse: D / D / C / C Chorus: D / D / F / G 4. Verse: B / G / A / B Chorus: E / G / A / B 5. Verse: E / D / A / A Chorus: D / D / C / G Really basic songs, but if I try using a major key for all the chords, it doesnt sound right.