Bluegrass Bowing - Page 3

Jason Sypher · #41 12-17-2007, 06:57 PM

my garageband program did that...of course, it's one line. I'll just bring those notes down to the bass clef and then it will read normally....

Jason Sypher · #42 12-18-2007, 07:20 AM

This is "pretty close". Remember that I use an open A, E and D whenever I see fit underneath the melody to give it more fiddle sound and complexity. I just can't really write that out so you just have to use your own discretion.

mcnaire2004 · #43 12-18-2007, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

This is "pretty close". Remember that I use an open A, E and D whenever I see fit underneath the melody to give it more fiddle sound and complexity. I just can't really write that out so you just have to use your own discretion.

Thank you so much, that is amazing. I am in your debt.

Jason Sypher · #44 12-19-2007, 05:50 AM

Hey great, I'm so glad it worked out. I still see inconsistencies, all the triplett stuff. Occasionally the same part is written out differently but I guess that just gives you two different reads on the same passage. It was a good exercise for me to drag out the garageband and see if I could figure out the notation program. I'm sure it will do everything but I was still having a tough time correcting some passages. It would have been easier to write it out

If you have any questions just let me know. At least this gets you the notes, the rest is in your bow... Cheers

I just realized it's written in 4/4 time, I think it is really in 2/4 but if this reads to you, that's good enough for jazz....or "fiddlin'"

lowEndRick · #45 12-19-2007, 08:31 AM

Jason, I gave a listen to your tracks on myspace. Very impressive. I've been looking to incorporate some bowing on my bluegrass gigs. I've got some 'shedding to do. You've given me, and I assume some others, food for thought. Thanks.

MingusAmongUs · #46 12-19-2007, 08:50 AM

Yes indeed. Thanks for your troubles. Jason -- I don't know if they make a Mac version but I've used a notation app called Finale Notepad -- it's free and may work out better. Just FYI.

Dave R · #47 03-25-2008, 08:01 PM

Just a note...

After reading this thread, I was inspired to pick up the bow for a tune my (new) bluegrass band picked up.

"Ashokan Farewell" is a very legato piece, so I thought it would be cool to bow the last verse. The band loved it.

TalkBass is a good influence.

alanbarnosky · #48 05-18-2008, 03:06 PM

Jason, I just checked out your myspace and am blown away. Within the past couple weeks I've decided to start bowing again with the hopes of playing traditional fiddle tunes and seeing your videos has inspired me. Thanks a ton for putting those up. And the klezmer(?) band sounds awesome.

Does anybody know of any books or cds that have fiddle tunes for bass? My focus is on old time/bluegrass, but at this point I'll take what I can get.

Thanks
Alan

andy rice · #49 05-20-2008, 09:07 AM

Anyone on here ever tried to get the percussive chop that fiddle players and cellists like rushad eggleston do? I've been working on it, and was wondering if anyone has had any success with it.

i've got a couple of examples on my blog at www.riceonthebass.com and i've been trying it out live and did it on a couple of records in the past couple of years.

3pianists · #50 07-12-2008, 08:11 PM

I'm thrilled to finally hear other bluegrass bassists talking about bowing...and playing fiddle tunes!

At one festival my band played, I took a break with my bow. Afterwards, a bluegrass purist told me that "when you play it with the bow, it's a cello!"

gp_bass · #51 07-25-2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy rice

Anyone on here ever tried to get the percussive chop that fiddle players and cellists like rushad eggleston do? I've been working on it, and was wondering if anyone has had any success with it.

i've got a couple of examples on my blog at www.riceonthebass.com and i've been trying it out live and did it on a couple of records in the past couple of years.

I've been working on it off and on for a while. I find that the technique Rushad uses of chopping parallel to the strings doesn't yield the same effects on the bass, and more often than not breaks a ton of bow hairs. I've been trying to get the same effect by chopping perpendicular to the strings (in line with usual bow movement). Also, I find the chop works better on the higher strings than the lower (in contrast to the cello or fiddle chop, where they tend to chop on the lower strings). You get more of the "cccrrch" sound.

What about you?

Darrol Anger's 'Chops and Grooves' DVD is a pretty good intro to the technique, for those who don't know it. Just wish it wasn't so cheezy to sit through.

Jason Sypher · #52 08-12-2008, 01:04 AM

Natalie Haas plays cello and has an assortment of chops that she uses to great effect.

Steve Killingsworth · #53 08-17-2008, 06:28 AM

This may be more Celtic than bluegrass but it is worth checking out. Edgar works some nice chopping into the mix.

andy rice · #54 08-17-2008, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

Natalie Haas plays cello and has an assortment of chops that she uses to great effect.

i love her playing! i've been checking her and rushad eggleston out for a few years now...trying to adapt what they do to the bass. also, darol anger and casey driessen are monsters with the chopness.

i've been employing it alot this summer at live gigs.

i'll hopefully throw some video up on my blog soon.

andy rice · #55 08-17-2008, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gp_bass

I've been working on it off and on for a while. I find that the technique Rushad uses of chopping parallel to the strings doesn't yield the same effects on the bass, and more often than not breaks a ton of bow hairs. I've been trying to get the same effect by chopping perpendicular to the strings (in line with usual bow movement). Also, I find the chop works better on the higher strings than the lower (in contrast to the cello or fiddle chop, where they tend to chop on the lower strings). You get more of the "cccrrch" sound.

What about you?

Darrol Anger's 'Chops and Grooves' DVD is a pretty good intro to the technique, for those who don't know it. Just wish it wasn't so cheezy to sit through.

i actually learned alot from the video and i chalked the cheesyness up to those guys being pretty goofy....they kind of are.

i definitely break some bow hairs...at least one per tune that i chop on. i'll have to try that perpendicular thing...

i usually aim for the d string when i go for the chop, for the same reason you said....the low strings don't speak as easily.

Jason Sypher · #56 08-22-2008, 06:07 AM

I threw these up in the last couple of weeks. Nothing heavy-weight, just me working some simple tunes into my bass fiddling. One is an irish original from Liz Carroll and the other is a standard bluegrass/oldtime chestnut, Big Sciota. It's been a good exercise to just play these into my laptop camera and force myself to hear, see and share them. I'm learning a lot from the experience. Enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms0l6Pgr0Gs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiDL6-cwPa4

MingusAmongUs · #57 08-22-2008, 09:36 AM

Great stuff as usual, Jason. Why did I not know you played lefty?

Also, thanks for the Natalie MacMaster video. dig it. But why do these video have to be so cornball? I wish they wouldn't cut it up like they do, and just show the live thing as is.

Jason Sypher · #58 08-22-2008, 09:39 AM

I don't play lefty, it's the mirror image of the webcam on my computer and I always forget to turn it around before I upload them...a rainy day project I guess. Thanks for the listen.

MingusAmongUs · #59 08-22-2008, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

I don't play lefty, it's the mirror image of the webcam on my computer and I always forget to turn it around before I upload them...a rainy day project I guess. Thanks for the listen.

Oh. Hah. I had a hunch but didn't bother typing it.