Bach Cello Suite no. 1 in G

joebingo · #1 02-11-2007, 07:03 PM

hey guys, I'm well proud of myself, cos today I worked out the first 9 and 3/4 bars of the aforementioned piece of music on my bass guitar. (slightly ridiculous sentence structure and wording, i think so!)

anyway, the link is: www.myspace.com/chasmmusic - it should play automatically when you get on the page.

yes, I know I'm playing it slowly and it's clicky (I decided to up the treble on my EQ so that it didnt sound too muddy - I'm DI'ing the bass) so yeah.

comments, criticisms, anything at all.

cheers!

**Mark Wilson** · #2 02-11-2007, 08:04 PM

It was good!
You need to make it 'sing' more.
And the part at 0:29 was wrong.
You're playing an F# A C B C.
It's actually F# A D C# D

joebingo · #3 02-12-2007, 05:47 PM

cheers man, I've ammended my error lol and also got to the end of that bar (bar 10).

I was wondering, could someone possibly record themselves playing it, I've heard it played all the way through on the cello (by paul tortelier), but not on the bass!

as for making it sing - I'm trying to learn the thing first, artist interpretation comes afterwards (in my books at least)

**Mark Wilson** · #4 02-12-2007, 08:46 PM

I might have one, but a crappy version. Let me look.

**Mark Wilson** · #5 02-12-2007, 08:52 PM

Alright i found out.

it sucks. I screw up at 1:40, add in an extra bar, and take a huge speed boost haha.

I was doing it by memory though.

Link will be up in a minute

Andrew Jones · #6 02-12-2007, 08:52 PM

John Pattatuci did a nice version on 6 string (up one octave from normal "bass" Guitar versions) on a video of his. It's got to be on youtube or something, you may want to look for that.

Aj

**Mark Wilson** · #7 02-12-2007, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Jones

John Pattatuci did a nice version on 6 string (up one octave from normal "bass" Guitar versions) on a video of his. It's got to be on youtube or something, you may want to look for that.

Aj

+1. Killer version.

Here's mine.

Jeff Moote · #8 02-12-2007, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

+1. Killer version.

YouTube link

I don't really like his phrasing on that recording but it nonetheless demonstrates how the suites lay on the bass. I like to play it up the octave at the written pitch, not only since it was written there but also because that register of the BG allows for easier fingerings that translate to better phrasing.

bassjus · #9 02-12-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

YouTube link

I don't really like his phrasing on that recording but it nonetheless demonstrates how the suites lay on the bass. I like to play it up the octave at the written pitch, not only since it was written there but also because that register of the BG allows for easier fingerings that translate to better phrasing.

That video did absolutely nothing for me. Joebingo, sounded pretty good, keep up the good work.

Yvon · #10 02-13-2007, 12:11 AM

The speed is alright to me. That's the about the same as my when I play that song.

Great song to learn on bass.

c-ba55 · #11 02-13-2007, 10:03 AM

I did this 5 or 6 years ago.
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~cstump/..._Suite_1.1.mp3

boonefiddler · #12 12-14-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joebingo

cheers man, I've ammended my error lol and also got to the end of that bar (bar 10).

I was wondering, could someone possibly record themselves playing it, I've heard it played all the way through on the cello (by paul tortelier), but not on the bass!

as for making it sing - I'm trying to learn the thing first, artist interpretation comes afterwards (in my books at least)

Didn't know if you were still looking for versions of this Bach piece, as this thread is 2 years old, but here's mine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Pwt1dcUKXg

So Low Bass · #13 12-14-2009, 04:07 PM

Hey Boone-

As I already wrote you... very nice job... and hours of work! The experience of working this kind of music out is invaluable to learning the instrument and developing as a musician.

bottomzone · #14 12-14-2009, 08:05 PM

Check out Martin Motnik:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkZMlP7SRKk

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

Playa · #15 12-18-2009, 07:33 AM

Michael Manring plays JSB:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUsUyaG5dYw

........not a great recording, but hey, its Live.

Also, illustrated here...........

http://www.instituteofbass.com/lesso...ff_engel/bach/

So Low Bass · #16 12-18-2009, 12:12 PM

Thanks! A very fine rendition.

Coming from a classical back(bach)ground, the obviously fine musicianship is misplaced; this is a highly Romanized approach to Baroque music. The capo … though not exactly cheating…moves the bass into the world of a guitar. Part of the challenge of playing this kind of music is using the instrument you have, not one that you find more convenient

MistaMarko · #17 12-18-2009, 11:39 PM

Abridged version I did...came out pretty well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OgDcxD9GdM

standupright · #18 12-18-2009, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Playa

Michael Manring plays JSB:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUsUyaG5dYw

........not a great recording, but hey, its Live.

Also, illustrated here...........

http://www.instituteofbass.com/lesso...ff_engel/bach/

while appreciate the talent......i don't think that what he is playing is correct.

Andrew Jones · #19 12-19-2009, 12:13 AM

I just don't like Manring's interpretation. It's a flower's and pastel's and not enough earth.

For a piece that I usually complain that bass players Don't inject interpretation,,,,well,,this is just too far.

Aj

So Low Bass · #20 12-19-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MistaMarko

Abridged version I did...came out pretty well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OgDcxD9GdM

Very nice BUT (here comes the open can of worms)…

The sixth suite was written for a five string instrument, one that doesn’t exist anymore, outside of an oddball one or two of a kind in this big world. If a cellist took that oddball and played the sixth suite, OR any of the other five, in front of a jury at Iowa State, Juilliard, or an orchestral audition… he/she would be cut off by the committee and failed. A serious musician would hear a recording of that instrument and wonder why it sounds so flaccid and thin.

Simply put, going up a bass fingerboard is a totally different SOUND than going across an “extended” fingerboard. Can you imagine “Rain” on a six string bass? YUK! Playing ANY Bach on an extended range instrument is a valuable exercise, but it is not bass playing. Practice the Prelude on a four string bass (without a capo), and then post it with the title “bass guitar”.

I’ll bet you can do it!