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Double Bass a good, simple piece to learn

PB+J

PB+J

Mar 9, 2000
1,647
153
arlington va
#1
Here's the deal--I'm a middle aged mostly jazz player, mostly self-taught, reasonably good left hand technique, gigging pretty regularly, but I know very little about "classical" music and I'm weak with the bow. I've been sawing through Simandl one and it's just really irritating and unmusical. Yeah, I'm sure it's good for me but I've got no real ambitions for mastering arco--i'd just like to get better at it without having to endure mister simandl's nasty random-seeming variations.

I've been working on the heads to various jazz standards, but I'd like to try something that was written with the bow and the bass in mind. So I'm wondering--is there a standard piece written for the bass, or adapted for the bass, that's musical and interesting without being really technically demanding?
 
#3
PB+J said:
Here's the deal--I'm a middle aged mostly jazz player, mostly self-taught, reasonably good left hand technique, gigging pretty regularly, but I know very little about "classical" music and I'm weak with the bow. I've been sawing through Simandl one and it's just really irritating and unmusical. Yeah, I'm sure it's good for me but I've got no real ambitions for mastering arco--i'd just like to get better at it without having to endure mister simandl's nasty random-seeming variations.

I've been working on the heads to various jazz standards, but I'd like to try something that was written with the bow and the bass in mind. So I'm wondering--is there a standard piece written for the bass, or adapted for the bass, that's musical and interesting without being really technically demanding?
Click to expand...

Try learning the Eccles sonata. It will change you forever and put you on a new path. Just one piece, 3 movements.
 
#7
Well I managed to get a good two - three hours on the first 12 measures (!) of the Eccles sonata, playing it first in half and 1st positions and then trying it in thumb. great choice Ken--thanks. Challenging but not overwhelming, musical and sophisticated without being too intimidating
 
#8
I remember I posted an easy (sort of) bass solo - "Reflections" - w/piano on Bill's nice web site. Download it and give it a try.
/www.siasmusic.com/2xlbass.html

Tom Gale
 
#10
The four miniatures by koussevitzky are my favorites. I pull them out for friends and family all the time. Humouresque, Chanson Triste, Valse Miniature and Andante. After that I play my Saint-Saens Elephant and Swan set. If they want more, I pull out Rachmaninoff's Vocalise and maybe some of the easier Scriabin stuff that Paul Ramsier transcribed. Then if they're still begging for more, I'll bore them with the prelude movement from Bach Cello Suite #1 in G.

I've had the 1st movement of the Eccle's in my repertoire at one time, but it's stale. Another bassist friend of mine plays that one for his dates if he wants a "sure thing" -- if you know what I mean.

- Mark
 
#11
TomGale said:
I remember I posted an easy (sort of) bass solo - "Reflections" - w/piano on Bill's nice web site. Download it and give it a try.
/www.siasmusic.com/2xlbass.html

Tom Gale
Click to expand...
I just ran through your reflections. Don't think I played them as you would want them to be played. But, I played them up an octave and kinda sad like. Verry great work.
 
#13
A book I recommend to my students is "Exercises in 1/2 and 1st Position" published by Yorke Editions.

It contains many short pieces fom sea chanties to transcriptions of Mozart's piano works to orchestral excerpts.

Like the title says, it's all in 1/2 and 1st position but don't let that put you off. That where 60-70% of bass playing is done anyway so it might as well be secure. There are lots of bowing challenges as well.

Also, you can take any tune you like and figure it out yourself. Try arranging it in various keys so you learn the placement of the notes, the different challenges each playing position presents. It'll improve your ear as well. Learning "Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In" (it has a range of a perfect fifth) starting on the lowest E up every semitone till the octave G will do more for your playing than trying to play all the way through Bottesini's Elegy.
 
#14
Just today after getting home from lessons up in hartford I picked up the Giuseppe Capuzzi's Concerto in D. I sight read the piece off the back, I still have alot to cover but it its a fun piece, very lyrical especially the first allegro movement. Or the Marcello Sonatas are on the easier side of classical solo work.
 

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