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  #1  
Old 01-05-2007, 10:42 AM
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Memorizing Bass Clef Notes

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I am fairly new to bass and very new to reading the notes on the bass clef. I know the treble clef but not the bass clef.

I have the notes in the spaces: A C E G

I use acronyms to remember things when I am beginning. For these I thought All Cows Eat Grass.

I believe the notes on the lines are G B D F A

Anyone got a good acronym to use for these?
  #2  
Old 01-05-2007, 10:47 AM
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Originally Posted by vcs700s View Post
I am fairly new to bass and very new to reading the notes on the bass clef. I know the treble clef but not the bass clef.

I have the notes in the spaces: A C E G

I use acronyms to remember things when I am beginning. For these I thought All Cows Eat Grass.

I believe the notes on the lines are G B D F A

Anyone got a good acronym to use for these?
The mnemonic I used for EGBDF as a kid was Every Good Boy Deserves Fun, so I just dropped the every and added "Always" at the end.

It's easier in the long run if you memorise them properly.
  #3  
Old 01-05-2007, 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by vcs700s View Post
For these I thought All Cows Eat Grass.
^^^^^That's what me 5th grade teacher told us to use to remember the spaces. For the lines:

Good Boys Do Fine Always
  #4  
Old 01-05-2007, 11:02 AM
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Originally Posted by dlloyd View Post
The mnemonic I used for EGBDF as a kid was Every Good Boy Deserves Fun, so I just dropped the every and added "Always" at the end.

It's easier in the long run if you memorise them properly.
My daughter's music teacher taght her "Elvis' Guitar Broke Down Friday"

How about "George Bush - Darn Fine Articulator" ?
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Last edited by arbarnhart : 01-05-2007 at 11:05 AM.
  #5  
Old 01-05-2007, 11:04 AM
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http://www.emusictheory.com/drillNoteReading.html

helps tons with practicing your note memory
  #6  
Old 01-05-2007, 01:28 PM
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  #7  
Old 01-05-2007, 01:50 PM
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http://www.emusictheory.com/drillNoteReading.html

helps tons with practicing your note memory
dang .. hadn't read bass clef since i left band when i was 18 .. remembered scales and everything but almost forgot the bass cleff. was counting for the first 50 or so of that drill then all of a sudden it all was coming back to me ..

did another 150 - 200 of them and only missed 2.

Funny thing was i was playing the tuba along with the notes.. remembering each key for it .. along with trombone .. lol.

now i just need to get that way with the bass and i'll be all set
  #8  
Old 01-08-2007, 02:44 PM
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Another way is to use your mind as well, picturing the note on the staff and at the same time picturing it in your mind the note on the fretboard this is good for practicing without your instrument then before you know it you'll be reading the staff as a fretboard in a kinda way
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  #9  
Old 01-08-2007, 03:16 PM
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From "Bass for Dummies": Good Bassists Deserve Funk Always

Chas :-)
  #10  
Old 01-09-2007, 09:58 AM
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Is the bass clef always used by bass players ? I spent a good while memorising the bass clef, then when I went to a teacher I was told that the treble clef is as important to a bass player
  #11  
Old 01-09-2007, 10:04 AM
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Is the bass clef always used by bass players ? I spent a good while memorising the bass clef, then when I went to a teacher I was told that the treble clef is as important to a bass player
I think a good musician should know both treble and bass, but in 35 years of playing bass I've never seen music written for bass in anything but bass clef. Now there are times that you many need to read from lead sheets and those are in treble clef, but in that case you just deal with the chord symbols, so the actual notes are not that important. All jazz band charts published and manuscript and all musical theater and orchestral music is in bass clef.
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  #12  
Old 01-09-2007, 10:25 AM
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Lightbulb

Ooh...OK

Treble Cleff (not that theres much use for this round here )

LINES - Every Good Boy Deserves Football
Spaces - ...just spells out FACE

Bass Cleff

Lines - Green Busses Drive Fast Always

OR

Good Boys Deserve Fish And Chips

Spaces - All Cows Eat Grass

There ya go...good luck
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  #13  
Old 01-09-2007, 10:37 AM
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Thanks for the info. guys
  #14  
Old 01-10-2007, 11:57 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BassChuck View Post
I think a good musician should know both treble and bass, but in 35 years of playing bass I've never seen music written for bass in anything but bass clef. Now there are times that you many need to read from lead sheets and those are in treble clef, but in that case you just deal with the chord symbols, so the actual notes are not that important. All jazz band charts published and manuscript and all musical theater and orchestral music is in bass clef.
I agree.

Being at school for jazz, a lot of the music they give us is written in treble clef. The teachers are gigging musicians, and don't have time to give us music in bass clef. They're giving us experience.

Also, I'm quite experienced in both clefs. I started flute when I was 7, I'm now 19.
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  #15  
Old 01-10-2007, 11:58 AM
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Also, I didn't read a lot of the posts, but another way to do it.

If you know treble clef, move EVERYTHING down ONE line or space.
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