Is this possible? (question about sheet music)

[Fassa Albrecht]

I'm just wondering, is it possible to convert pieces written for double bass and other instruments into bass pieces? I'm thinking of a piece I heard a while back where the bassist was playing Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven, a piano piece.

[Audiophage]

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

I'm just wondering, is it possible to convert pieces written for double bass and other instruments into bass pieces? I'm thinking of a piece I heard a while back where the bassist was playing Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven, a piano piece.

You could transcribe it from one instrument to another, but you might open up the gates of hell.

Also, Double Bass and Bass Guitar have the same notes.

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by Audiophage

You could transcribe it from one instrument to another, but you might open up the gates of hell.

Also, Double Bass and Bass Guitar have the same notes.

I was thinking more of double bass technique- if a piece was to be played with a bow it might make electric playing difficult.

[Baryonyx]

You can't use a bow on an electric because the strings are basically flat across the front of the bass, without the extreme radius of an upright. Also, the coils on the strings will shred up a bow quite quickly.

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by Chris2112

You can't use a bow on an electric because the strings are basically flat across the front of the bass, without the extreme radius of an upright. Also, the coils on the strings will shred up a bow quite quickly.

I'm not saying I'd bow an electric.


What I am asking is that is it possible to play a piece written for a completely different instrument on the bass? Again see my example in my OP

[Baryonyx]

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

I'm not saying I'd bow an electric.


What I am asking is that is it possible to play a piece written for a completely different instrument on the bass? Again see my example in my OP

Well yes. Stuart Hamm managed to transcribe a lot of piano pieces for bass. A lot of 80's shredders borrowed Paganini violin pieces for their guitars.

But you'll never be able to properly recreate the sound or "feel" of playing a double bass with a bow on the electric.

[Alun]

Yes, you can take any piece of music and adpat it for bass. You may find you need to move some notes around octave wise ( or maybe change the key) and may need to reduce some chords ( eg pianists can play 10 note chords, we're restricted to the number of strings available) but yes, it's definitely doable.

Cheers,
Alun

[seanm]

A bow won't work on an electric. You have to use a violin!

Nigel Tufnel Solo

I love where he has to tune one of the strings on the violin.

[meev992]

the only alternative I can think of, is to play with a volume pedal, to simulate the swelling of a bow.

[rockwarnick]

Originally Posted by seanm

A bow won't work on an electric. You have to use a violin!

Nigel Tufnel Solo

I love where he has to tune one of the strings on the violin.

haha thats one of my most favorite scenes from that movie. i crack up every time i watch it or even think about it.

[DocBop]

Duplicating bow will not be easy the attack and sustain is very different, but you should be able to adjust the arrangement to compensate or use a looper pedal in a creative way.

Check out of the double bass stores online some have music for other instruments arranged for double bass, then you can move it to BG. Might want to consider doing some as duets to compensate for bow.

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

I'm just wondering, is it possible to convert pieces written for double bass and other instruments into bass pieces? I'm thinking of a piece I heard a while back where the bassist was playing Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven, a piano piece.

Any single line music can be written for bass. Some chords will work too. Counterpoint is probably not going to work.

As long as you are willing to change octaves, change registers, change keys and perhaps make a few alterations in the melody here and there (when it gets too high or too low) then anything will work for bass. The only real questions at this point are, "Do you think you can play it, and do you really want to hear it played?" I mean the piccolo solo from Stars and Stripes can be written for bass.... and played too with a little bit of practice, but I'm thinking that it wouldn't be a real high moment of music. Garth Brooks vocal lines could be written for bass... but I doubt you'd find that opus on too many iPods.

It's all music, just have fun with your instrument.

[Pacman]

Originally Posted by BassChuck

I mean the piccolo solo from Stars and Stripes can be written for bass.... and played too with a little bit of practice, but I'm thinking that it wouldn't be a real high moment of music.

Actually, I've done that with a big band more than once - it was a hit every time!