Tips for Playing in Band for musical theatre proformance.

phsycobass · #1 11-06-2007, 08:37 PM

HEy everyone,

I'm have agreed to play bass in the stage band for our schools musical this year: GREASE. I am one of the only serious bass players here at my high school. I am involved in concert band( playing trumpet and baritone horn) and jazz band(bass

). So i'll admitt- a have a fairly good knowlege of basic music theory. I play trumpet and baritone in treble cleff quite well. I am still fairly new to bass cleff so my bass reading is at an intermediate level at best.

I am a rock and roll guy through and through but that doesn't mean that I don't love other styles just as much. I'm learn bass theory because I think its a vey important skill if I am to pursue a career in music.

So May big question is: Do any of you have experience with stage band and/or any advice that might be useful for me concerning tone that will work best for stage band, theory, working with other people or anthing else that you think might help?

So to wrap things up here a couple things:

1-I am confident that I will be able to learn all the music(the musical shows in april/may so i have time)
2-I have a geddy lee jazz bass and a self-defretted

dean edge 1 bass as well as a GK 400rg with a old gk 115t and yorkville 2x10 cabs (head is 200 watts at 4 ohms and both cabs are about 200 watts each is 8 ohms) Just thought i'd tell you what my rig was if it makes a big difference to tone.
3-The band is 2 alto saxes, 1 tenor sax, myself on bass, a piano and guitar
4-just do I don't get to much adive about school itself- I make sure I do all my work and have solid grades and realize that school is important and that I shouldn't close any doors for music(yet)

Thaks for you advice!
I love TB you are all great!

phsycobass · #2 11-06-2007, 08:39 PM

I also forgott to mention that I can play guitar too at an intermediate level so I have an uderstanding of what the guitar will be playing.

You are all awsome here at TB- I am humbld be fore thee

enim · #3 11-06-2007, 09:18 PM

Typical tone for a musical is similar to a P-bass with a totally rolled off treble. When i was playing for "Anything Goes", i used my Schecter's neck pickup on full, completly rolled treble, boosted slightly bass, then on my pre i did a little bump at 350ish hz.

More or less, some low mid bump for a deepish, slightly thumpy tone. You want to have a fairly indescript tone, I've found. Whether to use your jazz or your dean is up to you, if you use the fretless, just watch your intonation like a hawk.

One other thing: have fingers and hands of steel. 4 hour practice would trash me.

As for actually playing it, stay VERY tight to the drummers kick drum. Also, be a proficient reader, bring a pencil, and if your book is a regular binding (stapled or glued), spend an hour being it back and open so it stays that way.

theNoseBleedKid · #4 11-06-2007, 10:47 PM

Watch the conductor as dancers and singers are unpredictable in speed. You could be folloeing the music but completely out, musicals change more often than anything else, often without warning, be wary of this.

infamousxtopher · #5 11-06-2007, 11:59 PM

watch the conductor, konw your music, and bring a pencil to rehersals, i don't think i've played one musical where there were no changes. and have a blast, grease is a fun show to play!

**Pacman** · #6 11-07-2007, 04:43 AM

I've played that show, and it's the easiest musical out there - missing some of the more dangerous tricks in show music. The songs will be stuck in your head for months, though.

BassChuck · #7 11-07-2007, 04:50 AM

I've done this show several times. It's a blast, perhaps not one of the best musicals ever written, but definately one of the best to play bass for.

Don't sweat the tone too much. Your ideal is P-bass with flats... don't go out and buy one just for the show, but try to get as close to that as you can with your equipment... no brite pop and snap stuff. For the slow 'pretty' tunes just pluck over the fingerboard. If memory serves, there are a few sections in the book with just chord symbols, but if you know the notes to the chords, you'll have no problem.

The show, if your director is doing it as it was written originally, is very late 50's style. Lot's of Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley feels and grooves. The movie updates that a bit, and adds and subtracts a few songs (common practice for musicals going from stage to screen).

Have fun and welcome to the world of I-iv-IV-V.

mjolnir · #8 11-07-2007, 07:56 AM

Most musicals I've played for required upright on at least half the songs. That's the tone you should try for, IMO. Like another said, timing is crucial. Internal rhythm isn't going to help much when the actors are bouncing around it all over the place, and believe me, they will.

Oh, and smash yer hands in a car door a few times before each show, helps numb the pain of playing for two and a half hours straight.

MonetBass · #9 11-07-2007, 08:07 AM

If you're not running through a PA, make sure you sit well in the mix. Definitely don't want to overpower the band and singers.

And as stated, you need to work up your finger stamina. 3 hour rehearsals were average for most shows that I did.

**Pacman** · #10 11-07-2007, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjolnir

Most musicals I've played for required upright on at least half the songs. That's the tone you should try for, IMO. Like another said, timing is crucial. Internal rhythm isn't going to help much when the actors are bouncing around it all over the place, and believe me, they will.

Not on Grease - it's an all electric bass show. Very easy parts, too.

mjolnir · #11 11-07-2007, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

Not on Grease - it's an all electric bass show. Very easy parts, too.

Ah, my mistake.

My comment on rhythm still stands though.

jady · #12 11-07-2007, 12:54 PM

I have played Grease 4 times, pretty standard 50's rock fare. You should have no problem.

The thing to watch out for is your volume, it will be low, very low, mindnumbingly low. These are going to be school singers. They will not be loud and your micing will not be ideal. Be prepared to be told to turn down often. That is actually a pretty standard theater scenario, even on DB.

All that being said, it will be a blast. Milk the cutie theater chicks for all they are worth and have a great time!!!!!!

Freaky Fender · #13 11-07-2007, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

I've played that show, and it's the easiest musical out there - missing some of the more dangerous tricks in show music. The songs will be stuck in your head for months, though.

This, this, THIS, THIS, THIS!

Be prepared to hear the song more than you're comfortable with. Also be prepared to be able to sing 3 or 4 songs the whole way through, even 6 months AFTER the show has wrapped! Also be prepared for cues. Be in time, don't over play, and try and get the feels as best as you can.

Since it's Grease, 90% of the songs have a I-V-VI-IV progression. If you mess up, just play around that progression in time, watching the director for cues, or until you get to a part where you know where you are in the music (EG: The singers says a lyrics, and you know that's at bar 150 or something).

phsycobass · #14 11-07-2007, 06:38 PM

Thanks for your advice everyone! I got the rest of the music today and it seems prety standard. So those of you that have played the musical(btw we are using the original music) there are alot of part where there is no music written or rests but there are chords. Do I rest during these parts or do I play the chords and add some passing tones. I'll also talk to the conducter about what she thinks is best but She's the type of person that would leave(for certain songs anyways) up to me.

Thanks again, its going to be a blast

PS: yes i realized that I use this

symbol way too much!

**Pacman** · #15 11-07-2007, 07:38 PM

The music in that era was very pattern-based in the basslines. I suggest checking out some stuff, but think 1 3 5 6 patterns. Note duration is also an important consideration. I'd suggest a P bass, flatwounds and shorter note lengths.

Ripper · #16 11-07-2007, 07:45 PM

dont worry about not knowing how to read bass clef... after staring at it for a few hours you'll catch on... and for the parts without a written part, if you aren't supposed to play there then dont... but otherwise, the root of the chord intime with the kickdrum or rhythm of the part will always cut it.

I had to do a song for chorus last year... "I Sing the Body Electric"... nothing major... but the line that was written had a ton of random fills in it, and i didnt think they fit, so altering slightly worked... the director had nothing but compliments abt it since i had just gotten the music less than a week earlier and she couldn't tell the difference even though she knew the exact line (she played it with all-county the year prior).

and the tone, either listen to 50's and 60's rock and find a general tone, or blend in as much as possible, with a tad bit of edge for good taste... and DONT overpower anyone or anything else.

MichaelVee · #17 11-07-2007, 08:15 PM

Good to read the comments from players who've done Grease before. I'm signed up to play it at Oak Ridge Playhouse in spring 2008.

**bassybill** · #18 11-08-2007, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infamousxtopher

watch the conductor, konw your music, and bring a pencil to rehersals, i don't think i've played one musical where there were no changes. and have a blast, grease is a fun show to play!

Good advice, all of this.

It's also handy to listen to a recording of the music a lot before the show (although be aware of where your director may have made changes) and to know a rough outline of the script - enough to help you recognise the cues for a song coming up.

danbass007 · #19 11-08-2007, 07:25 PM

dude grease is a great show you'll enjoy it.

+1 for the p-bass and flats but add some mid o you cut through and so you avoid a muddy sound.

jeez man you got grease lighting stuck in my head... after 12 years......

CamMcIntyre · #20 11-09-2007, 12:40 PM

Gear wise-i'd say use your Geddy.

I played Grease in high school. Music was easy, but fun.

As far as the parts w/just changes written in, does it say right above "simile" or something like that? If so, take the written out line and apply it to those changes.

I'm preparing to play for a production of "Starting Here, Starting Now"-so i'll share with you the process that i'm using.

First thing i did was get a copy of the recording, in my case-it's the Original London Cast Recording. I put it on my iPod and listen to it when i go for a walk/between classes/etc. Listen to the riffs and hear how they interact. With Grease, if i remember correctly, it's a lot of the same thing....over and over and over again. Welcome to Theater Bass

While you're listening to it, take your metronome out and get tap tempos for the songs so you know an approximate goal tempo. Yeah, it'll never be the same tempo twice, but you will have the right area where it's at.

Next, this step is pretty irrelevant for you-i go through and check out which bass i'll be using on what song & for any fast changes. Which bass = i'm doubling for this show.

Next, do a read through of the part. Practice any parts that are giving you problems. For me, there's usually a few chunks of each show where i'm not comfortable with it-whether it's range or just doesn't feel right. Those are the parts that i shed like crazy.

If there's anything you have a question about in the part, make a note of it and talk to your music director/conductor to get clarification. The earlier you can do this, the better. If it's a technical thing [fingerings, rhythm, etc]-talk to your teacher.

Sit back and enjoy. Playing musical theater can be a very enjoyable experience.

If you have any theater bass questions-feel free to PM me as it is a passion of mine.