Opus Pocus

fcleff · #1 08-17-2006, 09:12 AM

I've been working on Jaco's 'Opus Pocus'. I'm finding the transcription on Lucas Pickford's site a little hard to read (sloppy manuscript). I think that I can decipher most of it.

The part that is troubling me, though, is the unison steel drum/bass line. I am having some trouble with the fingering. Can anyone help with that?

Also, the transcription of that line doesn't sound quite right (it is written in treble clef) but I can't quite pick out what is wrong (if anything; it may be due to the fact that I am stumbling through it right now).

P.s. My son likes the smileys and just saw me writing so here are some for him.

bassist15 · #2 08-17-2006, 06:32 PM

It really doesnt matter if its in treble or bass clef , it would be the same notes jsut different places on the staff. I cant really help you out on the song though , Ive been playing it for awhile though. Ive can really only play the beginning part very well. I think iI got mine off tab. Im not sure.

Audiophage · #3 08-17-2006, 06:33 PM

Don't stmuble through the transcription, slow it down until you're comfortable with the fingerings.

EADG mx · #4 08-18-2006, 01:30 PM

Link to the transcription?

fcleff · #5 08-18-2006, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audiophage

Don't stmuble through the transcription, slow it down until you're comfortable with the fingerings.

I read treble, bass, and tenor clef well so that really isn't the issue here. I was just wondering if anyone had some fingering suggestions.

When I posted this thread was the first time that I had looked at the transcription. It gave me more trouble than I expected. I have since read through it a few more times and it is making more sense. I am working out some good fingering options.

To find the transcription go to www.lucaspickford.com and click on transcriptions; then click on bass. You will find a lot of stuff there.

Speedsolve · #6 08-21-2006, 05:52 AM

One quick thing about this tune, the steel drum in bar 1 starts on beat 2. I think Jaco's original title was "Where's the one?" or something like that. This makes the whole intro in 4, no need for that bar of 3.

fcleff · #7 08-23-2006, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedsolve

One quick thing about this tune, the steel drum in bar 1 starts on beat 2. I think Jaco's original title was "Where's the one?" or something like that. This makes the whole intro in 4, no need for that bar of 3.

Thanks. I said in an earlier post that something didn't sound quite right and this was it, I think.

I got my fingerings worked out and am having a lot of fun playing this tune. It's really fun to improv on.

MikeyFingers · #8 08-24-2006, 05:32 PM

I learned to play it from the "Essential Jaco" book. That part is kinda tough, but with the right fingering it's not that hard. If I have time, I can copy the tab into another post for ya.

tenorbass · #9 08-24-2006, 08:21 PM

http://bassboombang.ru/files/practic...astorius05.gif

fcleff · #10 08-28-2006, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tenorbass

http://bassboombang.ru/files/practic...astorius05.gif

Why, thank you kind sir. This is easy to read and is much more accurate. Many thanks to you.

jamescalvin · #11 09-01-2006, 05:16 PM

I'm still working on playing this one myself. I get stuck on the same part. I can play the fingering, but my timing is always off. I'm still working on it though; that and "Portrait Of Tracy".

fcleff · #12 09-03-2006, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamescalvin

I'm still working on playing this one myself. I get stuck on the same part. I can play the fingering, but my timing is always off. I'm still working on it though; that and "Portrait Of Tracy".

See post #6 (I think). That should clear up the timing issue. Also, just listen to the song and COUNT while you listen (follow the transcription, too). This helps with the timing.

This may sound crazy, but 'Portrait of Tracy' really isn't that hard once you understand how harmonics work. True, there are two stretches in there that take some time to accomplish (the D# false, and the very last false). But the rest is really just a matter of coordination. You have to use your thumb; almost like a classical guitarist.

I am going to begin working on 'Okonole y Trompa'. I haven't found a transcription but am starting to work out the harmonics. They just go SOOOOO fast.

fcleff · #13 09-03-2006, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamescalvin

I'm still working on playing this one myself. I get stuck on the same part. I can play the fingering, but my timing is always off. I'm still working on it though; that and "Portrait Of Tracy".

Also, remember that when the A section starts, what feels like beat 1 is actually beat 2.

Speedsolve · #14 09-04-2006, 05:27 AM

"I am going to begin working on 'Okonole y Trompa'. I haven't found a transcription but am starting to work out the harmonics. They just go SOOOOO fast."

The harmonics for 'Okonole y Trompa' are as follows:

G||-7-5------5----------||
D||:----7-5----7-5-----:||
A||:--------7------7-5-:||

The whole tune's in 5. Also, the harmonics are a little muted all the way through except for the last 15 seconds or so when Jaco lets them all ring out.

Blunt · #15 09-04-2006, 06:48 AM

Go Jaco

fcleff · #16 09-04-2006, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedsolve

"I am going to begin working on 'Okonole y Trompa'. I haven't found a transcription but am starting to work out the harmonics. They just go SOOOOO fast."

The harmonics for 'Okonole y Trompa' are as follows:

G||-7-5------5----------||
D||:----7-5----7-5-----:||
A||:--------7------7-5-:||

The whole tune's in 5. Also, the harmonics are a little muted all the way through except for the last 15 seconds or so when Jaco lets them all ring out.

Got it. Thanks! I knew the tune was in 5 and I had the right harmonics, I just hadn't put them in the right order. Now, if I can just keep it up for 8 minutes or so...whew!

Thanks, again. You can always count on TB!

fcleff · #17 09-04-2006, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fcleff

Also, remember that when the A section starts, what feels like beat 1 is actually beat 2.

O.k. I just had a good listen to 'Opus Pocus'. What I stated above is not correct. The bass/steel drum line comes in on the second sixteenth note of beat 4 (1 e + a; it come on the e). This means that the main groove starts on beat 1.

There are some errors in both the Pickford transcription and the Russian one that was posted here. Between the two I will try and get a chart/transcription that is accurate. If I can figure out a way to post it, I will.

Speedsolve · #18 09-11-2006, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fcleff

O.k. I just had a good listen to 'Opus Pocus'. What I stated above is not correct. The bass/steel drum line comes in on the second sixteenth note of beat 4 (1 e + a; it come on the e). This means that the main groove starts on beat 1.

There are some errors in both the Pickford transcription and the Russian one that was posted here. Between the two I will try and get a chart/transcription that is accurate. If I can figure out a way to post it, I will.

Nah, it definately starts on beat two(the first steel drum playing crotchets that is). It's pretty much the same as Jaco's groove but leaving a crotchet rest where the first note should be.

The steel drum playing the semi-quaver riff does start on the second semi-quaver of beat four though.

fcleff · #19 09-11-2006, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedsolve

The steel drum playing the semi-quaver riff does start on the second semi-quaver of beat four though.

I'm just not getting it there. The bass and steel drum are in unison. I count and count (with subdivisions) and get the bass coming in on the second semi-quaver of beat four with the steel drum. I'm playing along with it and getting it the same way.

I'll listen and play again to see if I am missing a time change. But I don't feel like I am. (We are talking about the very beginning of the tune, right?)

Speedsolve · #20 09-19-2006, 04:49 AM

Okay, ignore my last post. Here's my transcription of the intro with a qoute from Larry Warrilow, he arranged this tune for the word of mouth revisited cd.

http://www.yourfilehost.com/media.ph...opus_pocus.pdf

"I had a lot of trouble finding the downbeat at first when I was arranging this piece for this project...It turns out that this was one of the first things that Jaco and Othello Molineaux, the great jazz pan player, worked up for Jaco's original solo record. According to one of Jaco's early years friends Bob Bobbing, the original title if this piece was 'Where's One?' That explained a lot" - Larry Warrilow.