Writing only in the bass clef for seven strings

[spindizzy]

I am trying to expand my use of standard notation particularly as it relates to writing for the seven string. I have noticed that there seems to be little out there written specifically on this subject and I am wondering if those among you who are transcribing or writing for the seven have given much thought to adding the treble clef to accomidate going well above the top stave when writing for bass.

In my quest to rekindle my reading skills I am finding more and more of my transcriptions end up with parts well above middle c and therefore require extension stave lines well into the treble clef range. Is it Kosher to start using both bass and treble clef so that the entire range is covered without going into the stratosphere of the stave lines?

Hopefully someone can answer this puzzel for me. I am likely to do it anyway but I was curious if anyone else had encountered this issue?

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by spindizzy

I am trying to expand my use of standard notation particularly as it relates to writing for the seven string. I have noticed that there seems to be little out there written specifically on this subject and I am wondering if those among you who are transcribing or writing for the seven have given much thought to adding the treble clef to accomidate going well above the top stave when writing for bass.

In my quest to rekindle my reading skills I am finding more and more of my transcriptions end up with parts well above middle c and therefore require extension stave lines well into the treble clef range. Is it Kosher to start using both bass and treble clef so that the entire range is covered without going into the stratosphere of the stave lines?

Hopefully someone can answer this puzzel for me. I am likely to do it anyway but I was curious if anyone else had encountered this issue?

A reason to use the treble clef would be to eliminate the use of ledger lines in the bass clef. You can do this in other ways. You can write "8va" with a dotted line over the notes you want played an octave higher.

Also useing the bass & treble clef can be useful when you are sustaining low open strings while playing melodic or chordal material in the upper register. It keeps the voices separated and easy to read.

Check this link to see how Cliff Engel uses the bass and treble clef together for Manring's 4 string arrangement of Purple Haze.
http://www.instituteofbass.com/bass_...l/purple_haze/

There are many ways to do the same thing. The idea is to make the notation get your point across without being too confusing to the reader.

Joe

[spindizzy]

Great advice Joe. Thanks!

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by spindizzy

Great advice Joe. Thanks!

No problem. Glad to help. You might also find some good information at:
http://www.extendedrangebassist.com/

Joe

[spudmaster34]

I found a transcription of Portrait Of Tracey that had both clefs, in they use it for a 4-string, then a 7-string would need it alot more

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Just write Plus 1 Octive / Plus 2 octives etc....

done...

[spindizzy]

Thanks Slappy. I realize that it is probably just a matter of shorthand but it seemed less elegant somehow and the thought of seeing it in both clefs more like what would be written for both hands on a piano made some sort of sense to me on a seven string.

I appreciate your input though and will deffinately consider its merits as it is the simplest solution.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

You see it alot in classical music for other instruments... like Clarinet etc... not so much for a bass because classical bassist should read tenor clef etc...

It will also leave you options for if someone does not have a 7string or 6string to use it...

[Bassist4Life]

In more recent publications, the double bass is reading bass and treble clef. One example is the George Vance books. Using treble clef in the upper register feels natural to me.

Joe

[IanStephenson]

The purpose of writing it down is so that it can be READ.

The notation is there to HELP, not to be an additional burden. If it helps to use a double stave then do it. I can certainly think of some tapping parts where it totally makes sense to write the left and right hands seperatly, while for other parts an 8va is the way to go.

Simply try it and see - write out some parts both ways, and see which is the clearest. Thats the one you should be using.

Ian

[lemur821]

If you're just writing notes in the treble clef range (8vb, I suppose, since that's what a standard bass clef is) you should probably just switch to the treble clef for that section without adding a second line. If you need notes in the treble range and the bass range then a full grand staff would be appropriate.