Need some quick help

Funkbass796 · #1 10-22-2007, 08:18 PM

Hey guys,

I need some help with this one piece i'm learning right now. I'm not all that accustomed to sheet music so there are some things that are confusing me on this sheet. First it's the 1. and 2. on the last staff. What do those mean? Secondly, what do the ^ and > mean above certain notes?

Thanks

LowDog · #2 10-22-2007, 08:33 PM

The 1 and 2 pertain to 1st and 2nd ending. This means in this piece you play the intro, the music before letter A, and then once you get to A you continue to play thuough the piece and when you get to the 1st ending (1), you play until you get to the end of the 1st ending and then you go back to letter A and play through from A until you get to where the 1 is and instead of the 1st ending, you play the 2nd ending. Usually in charts like these you will play the 2nd ending at the end of the tune so you play though the tune as many times as you like, usually it is play the head, (the melody of the song) then solo over the chord changes, in this case play A as many times as they solo, then play the head again only this time take the 2nd ending, (2). and that takes the tune out.

The markings like ^ are accents which you punch these notes a little harder for effect. the > to me is a decrecendo which tells the player to get softer, but the decrecendo usually goes on for a longer period of time. Perhaps someone else could chime in if they have other ideas.

Good luck to you and my appologies for any spelling errors.

Funkbass796 · #3 10-22-2007, 08:39 PM

Ahh, thank you sir. You have been very helpful. Any other input is welcome aswell.

LowDog · #4 10-22-2007, 08:43 PM

You are welcome, the > sign could be bow markings (if you are bowing the bass), as well, but I do not think this is the case. But again if someone has an idea, chime in.

DocBop · #5 10-22-2007, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowDog

You are welcome, the > sign could be bow markings (if you are bowing the bass), as well, but I do not think this is the case. But again if someone has an idea, chime in.

Those are forzando and fortepiano-type accents. The ^ is a short accent, and the > is a long accent. So you lay into the note more.

tomato_katsup · #6 10-22-2007, 09:18 PM

It's not really a matter of length, its a matter of loudness and accent, and the length might stem from that, but doesn't have to. The > is more of a regular accent, just standing out from the other notes, while the ^ is a LOT stronger, like its being hammered. Think of them as different levels of accents, regular notes being the softest, then >s, then ^ being the loudest and hardest

robwren · #7 10-22-2007, 10:09 PM

^ = marcato sign. Technically, katsup may be correct, but it's usually interpreted in a jazz/swing chart like this one as a detached (short-ish, but not really short like staccato) accented note, like the "bop" syllable if you were to sing "ba-do-bop".

> = accent sign . Emphasized, normal length.

tomato_katsup · #8 10-22-2007, 10:29 PM

yep, like a hammer

i was going to call it a marcato, but I thought that was more of a direction, as in, 'this piece should be played marcato'

PocketGroove82 · #9 10-22-2007, 10:37 PM

OMG OMG OMG! IN THE MOOD BEING PLAYED AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL JAZZ BAND CONCERT!

That reminds me of my middle school jazz band!
...and my high school jazz band...
...now that I think about it....
...I played that same bassline in college.
.........................
...and...
I'll be playing it next week at a gig... (kill me now)

I wonder what "mood" old Glen Miller was in when he wrote that ditty?
Does anyone have a clue?

FunkBass, let me give you a tip about last 4 or 5 choruses. you get really really really soft, then you get really really really loud. I'm pretty sure it blew peoples minds in 1939.

Funkbass796 · #10 10-24-2007, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PocketGroove82

OMG OMG OMG! IN THE MOOD BEING PLAYED AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL JAZZ BAND CONCERT!

That reminds me of my middle school jazz band!
...and my high school jazz band...
...now that I think about it....
...I played that same bassline in college.
.........................
...and...
I'll be playing it next week at a gig... (kill me now)

I wonder what "mood" old Glen Miller was in when he wrote that ditty?
Does anyone have a clue?

FunkBass, let me give you a tip about last 4 or 5 choruses. you get really really really soft, then you get really really really loud. I'm pretty sure it blew peoples minds in 1939.

Haha, well this is actually the audition piece for my high school jazz band. I'm trying to learn it in time for auditions on monday, hopefully everything goes well, however I won't be too heartbroken if I don't make it. Afterall, I'm still learning how to fluently read music.

Thanks for all the great help though guys.

JimmyM · #11 10-24-2007, 09:31 PM

In jazz, the ^ is more of a staccato note hit hard, where the > accent is less staccato but hit harder than usual at the beginning of the note.

grovest · #12 10-25-2007, 12:04 AM

Good luck at your audition. I think lots of members here were in high school jazz bands at one point. I note you say you are new to sheet music. A couple thoughts: 1) practice the tune at the indicated tempo (144 bpm) with a metronome. 2) don't overlook the key signature, and note the Gb in the first ending. 3) notice the slur in to A from the top and the 1st repeat. 4) smile and look like you're having fun during the audition.