Classical Bass to build jazz chops

[vyse933]

I am mainly an electric bass player but want to do jazz on stand-up in college. Should I study classical to develop my general stand-up chops/intonation while I study jazz as well?

[jallenbass]

Yes. Except if you happen to be Chris Fitzgerald.

[mattfong]

Yes - and to take it a step further, I'm a jazz bass major and my lessons are about half and half classical technique and jazz.

In fact, my teacher, Dave Young, doesn't really believe in learning 'classical technique' or whatever. He calls it 'playing the bass.'

I think that's a good way to put it.

[Marcus Johnson]

Whatever you decide... don't continue to use the term "stand-up". If you do, Paul Warburton's head will explode.

[Marc Piane]

Originally Posted by mattfong

In fact, my teacher, Dave Young, doesn't really believe in learning 'classical technique' or whatever. He calls it 'playing the bass.'

A wise man.

[Marc Piane]

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Whatever you decide... don't continue to use the term "stand-up". If you do, Paul Warburton's head will explode.

Use Bullfiddle.

[davidAaronCarte]

Originally Posted by fingers

Use Bullfiddle.

Or cello
That always messes with people

[Dogbertday]

I like to use "Doghouse" or "Bass Viol"... always throws a few people off

[Ed Fuqua]

Studying with a legit teacher will be a great way to develop a good physical approach to the instrument. The areas that they won't be able to talk to you about are:
1. pizz technique
2. improvisational concept

Additionally, you'll want to have some kind of focused, progressive ear training program.

[jumpinin]

Originally Posted by Dogbertday

I like to use "Doghouse" or "Bass Viol"... always throws a few people off

Lately I've taken to using Contrabass since its the unique name of our instrument in French, German and Russian. Anglophones don't usually know what I mean but they usually don't know what I mean by upright bass or double bass either ...

[chris dammann]

i had a soundguy call my bass a cello last night. where do bars find these people?

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by chris dammann

i had a soundguy call my bass a cello last night. where do bars find these people?

In bars.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Studying with a legit teacher will be a great way to develop a good physical approach to the instrument. The areas that they won't be able to talk to you about are:
1. pizz technique
2. improvisational concept

Additionally, you'll want to have some kind of focused, progressive ear training program.

What the loquacious rooster said.

Originally Posted by jallenbass

Yes. Except if you happen to be Chris Fitzgerald.

Argh! To be fair, I've worked quite a bit from classical method books (Simandl, Rabbath, Petracchi, etc.), but since I'm a jazz player, I decided to do it all playing pizzicato rather than arco. I don't want to give anybody any bad advice or advocate something that will start a forum dispute; that said, I'm not ashamed of having chosen the path I've chosen, either. These days, I play the occasional set of slow scales arco while warming up, but all of my serious practicing is done pizz.

For those players just starting out, I would recommend getting a good teacher and following that teacher's advice at least until you have some physical technique together. I learned this lesson the hard way when I first started out with various self/bass-inflicted injuries, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

[James Gibson]

Originally Posted by jumpinin

Lately I've taken to using Contrabass since its the unique name of our instrument in French, German and Russian. Anglophones don't usually know what I mean but they usually don't know what I mean by upright bass or double bass either ...

I like "quadruple bass" it tends to catch everyone off guard. if anyone asks, i tell them it's like a double-neck guitar, except bass.






for real though, that's all a lie.

[Eric Swanson]

To the O.P., "yes." Playing the bass is playing the bass. Concept and right hand technique varies a bit.

Helps is your teacher digs jazz, too. I was lucky enough at music school to have a teacher in the NYPhil who also had played quite a bit of jazz and was happy to work with me on jazz tunes, since I didn't care about an orchestral career. So instead of orchestral excerpts, we worked on playing the heads on standards, arco, as well as the usual technical stuff.

As Ed Fuqua says, you will have to augment this with some daily pizz practice, improvisation, and building jazz repertoire.

On a side note, if your bass teacher is into the Bach 'Cello Suites, these can help your bop playing, too...they'll get your left hand used to playing running eighth notes...

[MrSidecar]

I´d say everything is good for everything else. Especially bowing, while not always a NICE experience (neither for neighbors nor one self) is very valuable for synching left and right hand timing. With the bow, lots more things make an actual, if sometimes unpleasant sound. Thus, if you bow and you´re not synched enough with both hands (meaning the bow stroke comes before the pressure is properly applied to the string with the left hand), it squeaks, or makes other highly unsexy noises. Very effective for technical progress.

And few things are as tear-jerking as a really good "classical" bass player playing the great material (cello suites, brahms´ sonata for cello & piano, ...) But i digress.

+1 for the cello suites. The most valuable and endless material ever, be it pizz or arco. Be it thumb position or not.

And I agree. Stand-Up reminds me of comedy. Which it sometimes is. I don´t want to dig too deep into that whole nomenclature thing, so a big YES, LEARN CLASSICAL AND JAZZ.

Good luck, have fun on the way,

Mr Sidecar

[fdeck]

I lucked out on the classical front. Where I went to college (intending to be a math major while playing jazz electric bass for fun), there was a bass instructor, but it was strictly upright and strictly classical. So I said to myself: Well, it looks like I will learn to play classical music on the upright. It was not a huge quantum leap, as I had taken classical 'cello lessons from the fourth grade.

What I like is the complementarity of jazz and classical playing. When I am playing jazz, it is easy to get into the habit of playing what is possible within the limits of my technique. In contrast, a classical piece makes unexpected demands which then have to be dealt with, often with some creativity if the music wasn't originally written for bass. Hopefully this sort of trial by fire makes me a better jazz player.