Ledger note D

[MalcolmAmos]

Four string - standard tuning. Where on your fretboard do you sound this ledger note D?
I normally just move on to something else. But, there must be a way. Help.

[singlemalt]

You don't. You could get it by tuning the E string down a whole step.

Otherwise the best you can do is play the D an octave up, fifth fret A string, or open D.

[elgecko]

Open D usually...but I'm lazy! That's one of those progressions you can play while drinking a beer!

[tstone]

It depends on whether that score is written specifically for bass.

Remember, the electric bass guitar is a transposing instrument. Like the guitar, string bass, bass flute, and contrabassoon, it sounds one octave lower than written.

So if that is, say, a piano score, the pitch in question is D2, the D an octave plus a minor seventh below middle C, and would be played on your open second string. But if that score is written specifically for bass, the pitch is a D1, two octaves plus a minor seventh below middle C, and you'd have to use a five-string instrument or a lowered tuning on the fourth string.

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by tstone

It depends on whether that score is written specifically for bass.

Remember, the electric bass guitar is a transposing instrument. Like the guitar, string bass, bass flute, and contrabassoon, it sounds one octave lower than written.

So if that is, say, a piano score, the pitch of the D in question is an octave plus a minor seventh below middle C, and would be played on your open second string. But if that score is written specifically for bass, the pitch is two octaves plus a minor seventh below middle C, and you'd have to use a five-string instrument or a lowered tuning on the fourth string.

1) There is no notation telling me it has been written for bass or not. I seem to remember there is a sign for this. What should I look for.

2) Most of the stuff I use is piano music (standard notation bass clef) So position 1 is:

G - G# - A - A# - B - C - C# - D - D# - E.
D - D# - E - F
A - A# - B - C
E - F - - F# - G
OK got that.......

3) Using root location up the neck instead of position 1 I'm not sure how to pull this off. When I go up the neck I drag out the major scale box and place it's root over the note on the 4th string - perhaps the 3rd string....... Lower notes than the root then give me fits.

Thanks for the help.

[FretlessMainly]

If you're going to be relying on piano scores, you're going to see notes like this that are out of the standard 4-string bass tuning. I don't know of any indication that a part is written specifically for bass other than a notation at the top left of the page, above the first staff/set of staves, that says "Bass." Even then, you might see notes below the low e string.

I actually have one bass that's almost always tuned D A D G, but that's a luxury. You could get a drop D tuner for your E string, but you'll have to adapt other notes on the E string.

You should probably spend some time getting used to playing everything up an octave from where it is written. That whole progression could be played all on the A string using fret 7, fret 10, fret 5, then open A. On a progression like that, the relative placement of the notes isn't terribly critical - the most simple way would simply be to play it as written except play the D as either open D or 5th fret A string.

Consider yourself to be in a group of frustrated bassists with this. I've played Beethoven parts that involved 16th notes written both above and below low E - they were written for double bassists with low C extensions on their basses - something I don't have.

[longfinger]

That looks like a piano chart, as the treble and bass clefs are joined in a grand staff. (Very chunky voice leading, but whatever...) and there is no indication that it is a genuine bass guitar or upright bass part in the bass clef.

So those notes are an octave higher than what you think they are based on your post. The lowest note on that picture is the pitch you'd find on your open D string. So you can either play everything 'at pitch' with the same contour ( up a 3rd, down a 4th, up a 5th) or do octave displacements whenever you want/need to.

On the above, perhaps a nice way to voice the bass line would be in opposing motion to the upper voices, so starting with the E on the D string 2nd fret, and go down a 6th, up a 5th, down a 4th. If you don't like that, then start with your low E, then go up a 3rd, up a 5th, down a 4th.

Play around with octaves and come up with something you like. If there is no 'have to keep contour of bass line melody', octave displacements here and there are fine.

[bigboy_78]

Time to invest in a fiver.

[MalcolmAmos]

I agree. When I went to the bass I asked my bass friend about the 5 string and he said; "It just gives you some lower notes". So I discounted that as not being really necessary.

Wish I knew then what I know now.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by bigboy_78

Time to invest in a fiver.

Maybe - but not needed to play that if it's a piano score, which it looks like to me. In that case, the D below the staff with the bass clef is your open D or fifth fret on the A string.

[Bredian]

Yes with BassyBill - I work with a few hundred old written parts with my jazz/swing band. The piano/score parts typically look like this. (sometimes tuba) Play an octave higher. These were all written before 5 string basses or drop D tunings.

When in doubt, sometimes you can find old recordings/interpretations on line or you tube and see how it sounds.

[JimmyM]

Agreed with those who say it's a piano score, and if you played it on a bass, it would be up an octave.

[tstone]

It looks more like some kind of theory example or exercise than an actual musical score for a specific instrument. A true piano score would have a curly bracket at the left side.

[mambo4]

yup, looks like a piano staff to me. +1 octave.