A theory 'question' that I am batteling with big time.

[SteveCS]

If I'm looking at a piece of sheet music( in G Clef) and the first note(for augments sake say it's a quarter note) depicted on the first space is an A , this A is it the A on the E string ?(5th fret up on the fretboard) or is this the open A string which I am meant to "play/sound/pluck or bow?"

First up, the Bass clef, with A in the first space, is F Clef. Because it looks like an F and because it straddles the F line. The G Clef is treble clef.

As for the actual place you play, unless otherwise directed it is up to you. Context is everything. The more you play and the more exposure you get to the repertoire your musicianship will increase and with it your ability to make better informed choices. For now, I would take the advice of @mrcbass above and stick to half and 1st position, so open to 4th stop with pinky. Which puts A as open string only. For now!

 

[BassFalcon]

Play it where ever you want. It’s really that simple. The things that will influence your decision are;

Where are you coming from
Where are you going
Does it need vibrato

Regarding the open A vs fingered A, if it’s a walking bass line and the next note is D on the G-string hit it with an open A and use that time to shift smoothly into position for that D. Your open strings, unlike on electric, are great landmarks and are excellent for checking your intonation. As long as you aren’t sight reading sit down with the sheet music and a comforting beverage and write your fingering in. Look at where you are coming from and where you need to be next and make the call. Try it every way you can think of, grab that note everywhere it exists on the fingerboard and choose which one makes the most sense. It really is that simple. Hope that helps, best of luck!

 

[devnulljp]

There's a little ipad app called fretuoso that really helped me with learning bass clef. I would noodle on it any time I was waiting somewhere and after a few weeks I found I could read 100% better. Got a theatre gig and they handed me a score at the audition, and I played it fine. Well worth the $3 or so.
Fretuoso - Bass Edition by Catloaf Software LLC

 

[bherman]

I'll take a stab at this. Notation shows you what the note is (using your example, low A). Without additional information provided, this can either be played as the low A on the E string or as an open A string. When you get into other notes, such as for example the octave E on the D string, this note can be played in multiple places on the bass - on the D string, on the A string, or as the octave note on the E string. How you play it is up to you. It usually is determined on what else you are playing at the time, ie what other notes that you are playing along with it and where they are on the bass. Many bass players learn how to play using what is called the Simandl Method. If you Google it, you'll see that it is a method book that was first published in the 1880's. It teaches you how to learn the notes on the bass by defining "positions", starting with Half Position which uses the open strings (for example, Half Position on the G string consists of the notes G, Ab, A, and Bb); and continuing all the way up the neck. So going back to your initial question, low A can either be played in Half Position (open A string) or in what is called Second Position, playing the low A on the E string using your 4th finger (pinky). It sounds complicated butt it really isn't - its a very methodical way to learn the bass. I'd strongly encourage you to see if you can find a teacher to get you started in the right direction (maybe via Zoom if needed) and learn to read music (notation) right from the get-go. Feel free to post further or pm me if you have more questions.

So to go back to your original question, there is no "right" place to play a particular note, it depends on where you are on the neck at a particular point in a song or bass line. If I was playing A, B, C, D starting with the open A string, I'd likely play the following notes going u the A string, or maybe switching to the D string for D, depending on what comes after that.

 

[bassbrad]

My teaching informs me to choose the note position that best serves the rest of the phrase and composition. It makes more sense to base those fingering, bowing and other decisions that makes the phrase flow the best into the rest of the composition.
Even though we are bass players we are still functioning to serve not only the harmonic foundation but we also have to serve the rhythm, motion and melody. Depending on the style of music and instrumentation we must keep all of this in mind.

 

[N4860]

As many others have mentioned and I'm sure you're starting to understand, it's up to you to decide where to play the written note from the notation. When I was learning and playing more standard notation, I focused on learning specific positions. For example, I first learned reading and playing in the first position (open notes, plus frets 1-4). As things got more advanced and starting using some higher notes (like D and E on the G string), I would move to the 5th position playing the area of the neck around frets 5-9. You might find it easier to break it down and just focus on learning the notes in specific positions like this until you are comfortable reading the notes but playing them on different strings rather than just in 1 position. It definitely helps with learning the fingerboard.

 

[Discount Bassy]

When I was sight-reading classical guitar in college, I would struggle through the piece, noting the places where the fingering was about impossible as I played it. After a while, I started see the sheet music differently and paid attention to where the notes of the parts were falling in relation to each other, effectively skimming mentally before performing. If you are just interested in reading music, much of the advice above is really good. If you run into trouble, make notes in pencil on your music until you start to see things with more clarity when you see a piece of music. As above, notation is only about pitch, not position. Same goes for about any instrument other than piano. There are more than one way to play a number of notes on brass and woodwinds. The correct one is the one that makes sense. The only way to figure it out is to try it and see what works.

 

[Wasnex]

On 4-string bass guitar and upright bass, this could be played as the open A string or 5th fret on the E string. The pitch you play is A1 which is 55hz. On a 5-string bass with a low B string, you can also play the note at the 10th fret.

If you are interested in writing music, you need to know that the pitch you play is an octave lower than written. This is because bass guitar and upright bass are transposing instruments. Because of the transposition, you read A2, but actually play A1

If you wanted to write A1 for tuba or piano, it would look like this:

 

[JonathanPDX]

Try thinking of it this way: the music on the page doesn't know what instrument you are playing or how it works. It doesn't know if you're playing that pitch on a bass guitar, an upright bass, a piano, a tuba, or whistling with your lips.

The only thing the paper knows is the pitch and the placement of the note. Any instrument-specific context has to come from the player unless the written music specifically says otherwise. The paper doesn't care where you play the note or what finger(s) you use. You'll have to interpret all the music as a whole to find the best way to produce it physically on your instrument but it won't tell you where or how.

 

[Reedt2000]

I pick what position I play a particular note in based on a couple factors. 1 - Ease of fingering relative to the other notes I have to play on either side of it. 2 - as an opportunity to shift position up or down depending on what's coming up next. 3 - for tonal reasons cause playing higher up on the E (or B if you're an electric 5-string guy like myself) compared to playing the same pitch on a higher string has a rounder, warmer sound.

 

[bass12]

OP, are you studying Simandl? If not then that would be a good next step.

 

[LBS-bass]

Try thinking of it this way: the music on the page doesn't know what instrument you are playing or how it works. It doesn't know if you're playing that pitch on a bass guitar, an upright bass, a piano, a tuba, or whistling with your lips.

The only thing the paper knows is the pitch and the placement of the note. Any instrument-specific context has to come from the player unless the written music specifically says otherwise. The paper doesn't care where you play the note or what finger(s) you use. You'll have to interpret all the music as a whole to find the best way to produce it physically on your instrument but it won't tell you where or how.

True, except many classical scores are notated for specific instruments. So if he's coming at this from a bass viol standpoint, he might expect it to be notated for that instrument specifically.

 

[HolmeBass]

Hi Groove Doctor , thank you for your input but I am still battling with this . If I'm looking at a piece of sheet music( in G Clef) and the first note(for augments sake say it's a quarter note) depicted on the first space is an A , this A is it the A on the E string ?(5th fret up on the fretboard) or is this the open A string which I am meant to "play/sound/pluck or bow?" I am really battling with this , sorry for all the confusion but I really do appreciate the advice and input.

The answer is, as many have already said: the musical score will not, in general, tell you where on the bass to play the note. You get to choose: you HAVE to choose. It’s your choice - play that A on the open string, or play it on the 5th fret of the E string. The choice is yours; the music does not, except if rare instances, tell you where to play the note, only what note needs to be played.

This is like the 5th post to say this, this is your answer, the search is over, the choice of where to play a note on the instrument is entirely yours.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hey Hi. (Hope I'm on the right forum .)
I am a self taught Double Bassist , started on the electric bass and transitioned up to the Upright.
I am desperately looking for a teacher in my area but sadly there are none.
I am also trying to teach myself how to understand music theory and read score/sheet music.
I understand this is a life's endeavor and as a mature student I'm 55 years old, I've got some catching up to do,I do practice everyday for 4 hours sometimes longer, six days a week so I am really serious about getting this right.)
As a bassist I'm focusing on the Bass Clef side of things ?
OK MY QUESTION : I confuse myself just trying to explain myself .
For example when reading the measure/staff (in Bass Clef) if you placed a whole note(or half note or quarter note) on the FIRST SPACE on staff/measure, am I correct in saying that note would be A ?
Now my confusion is , is this A the open A string I am meant to play/pluck/bow or the A on the E string ?( The fifth note on the E string or the fifth fret on a fretboard of a Bass guitar.)
Which A am I meant to play when I see this note on the first space on the measure/staff ? Am I meant to sound/pluck/play/bow the open A string or the A on the E string? (Fifth note up the fingerboard , fifth fret on the fretboard of the bass guitar.)
OK next example take the tone/letter B , on the staff/measure this is depicted/shown/marked on the SECOND LINE, is this B the B on the A string ?(the second note/fret)
Or is it the B on the E string ?( the seventh note/fret up the fretboard/fingerboard ) Say I'm trying to play the bass line to Canon in D(in the Bass clef , there are so many versions I'm aware.)
When I come to the fourth note ( in this version it's shown as a B ) it appears on the SECOND LINE telling me this note/tone is B, but which B do I use ? The B on the A string or the B on the E string?
I'm aware they're the same note but the B on the E string has slightly different sound to the B on the A string . (Obviously )
So my question is which B do I play ?
I'm sure this is the one of the dumbest questions asked ever, but it's destroying me I just cant seem to find the answer , please help, I feel I'm that I am so close to understanding music theory but I just cant move past this problem.
Thank you , sorry for waffling on but just trying to explain myself has confused the living heck out of me.
Cheers.........
Gavin Alexander
p/s I have used the following words "staff/measure" because I'm not sure which is the correct version and I've said "play/sound/pluck or bow" because I'm not sure which word in this context is correct and used the letters A and B from the musical alphabet calling then "notes/tones" , again because I'm not sure which word is the correct word ??

These are not a theoretical questions. The music the location of the the note on the staff tells you what pitch you need to play, With the fretted bass you can play the same pitch on different strings as you pointed out. Which string you use is based on your choice of the most convenient one in relation to other notes you will be playing.

There may be a bit of timbre variance between choices, but for clarification purposes the pitch is the same.

 

[lfmn16]

With Skype you can take lessons from anyone anywhere in the world.

 

[retslock]

Hi Groove Doctor , thank you for your input but I am still battling with this . If I'm looking at a piece of sheet music( in G Clef) and the first note(for augments sake say it's a quarter note) depicted on the first space is an A , this A is it the A on the E string ?(5th fret up on the fretboard) or is this the open A string which I am meant to "play/sound/pluck or bow?" I am really battling with this , sorry for all the confusion but I really do appreciate the advice and input.

The written note confirms pitch only. It does not specify where on the fingerboard you choose to play it. That’s up to you. Don’t confuse the staff with the fingerboard. You can play bass clef parts written for trombone on the string bass. I’ve done it many times. As long as the pitch is correct you’ve got it right. One of the nice aspects of stringed instruments is that they give you that choice to play a given pitch in different locations. They are all correct as long as they are the same pitch. This gives you flexibility in how you position parts to facilitate moving up and down or across the strings as is appropriate for the part you’re playing.

 

[2F/2F]

Yes it's that A, or the A that's on the 4th string, 5th fret.

There are multiple locations for most of the notes on the bass. In fact, they exist for every note except the very highest notes and the very lowest notes on the bass.

It's up to you to decide where to play your parts. In general, you want to play them in the way that: 1) sounds best (different positions of the same note have different timbres), 2) best prepares you for what lies ahead in the music, and 3) takes the least left hand movement/thumb shifting. You must sometimes compromise, as you can't always achieve all of these goals at once.

When you are in any of the "standard" tunings, the "same note in a different position" is always one string down and five frets up...or, conversely, one string up and five frets down. Be sure to consider the string to be nut a fret when applying this rule, and remember that this is for standard tunings only. It won't work with something like a drop D or drop C tuning (though it would work with D standard or C standard tuning).

Learning to READ music is NOT learning to PLAY your instrument. Make sure you have a good, classic, conservative/formal electric bass technique book to study as well!

 

[Groove Doctor]

sit down with the sheet music and a comforting beverage and write your fingering in. Look at where you are coming from and where you need to be next and make the call. Try it every way you can think of, grab that note everywhere it exists on the fingerboard and choose which one makes the most sense. It really is that simple. Hope that helps, best of luck!

Well said.

. If you run into trouble, make notes in pencil on your music until you start to see things with more clarity when you see a piece of music. As above, notation is only about pitch, not position. Same goes for about any instrument other than piano. There are more than one way to play a number of notes on brass and woodwinds. The correct one is the one that makes sense. The only way to figure it out is to try it and see what works.

Well said.

OP, are you studying Simandl? If not then that would be a good next step.

+1.

 

[Gavin Hobbs]

Having never taken bass lessons, so I can only guess, but if you were working with an instructor, at this stage in your education, he'd likely tell you to play these notes in the first position option (frets 1-5). It's typical to get students able to read in first position before exploring the fretboard. There's enough involved in learning to read music and learning to apply that to an instrument that the first 5 frets is plenty of territory to chew on.

So for these examples, while learning to read: your A would be A0 and the B would be A2.

After you get the first position figured out, you should begin exploring the rest of the fretboard, trypically by moving into second position.

In a real world situation, I tend to select which A (E5 or A0 in this case) to play based on the line I am playing. I try to find the most efficient method to get from one note to the next. In some cases the slight tonal difference will matter, but most of the time it doesn't (at least not in the style that I play).

Keep at it and take your time. This can be some pretty complex stuff and good on ya for having a go at this. Reading music is not always a necessary skill to have, but it sure is a good one to have in the bag.

Having never taken bass lessons, so I can only guess, but if you were working with an instructor, at this stage in your education, he'd likely tell you to play these notes in the first position option (frets 1-5). It's typical to get students able to read in first position before exploring the fretboard. There's enough involved in learning to read music and learning to apply that to an instrument that the first 5 frets is plenty of territory to chew on.

So for these examples, while learning to read: your A would be A0 and the B would be A2.

After you get the first position figured out, you should begin exploring the rest of the fretboard, trypically by moving into second position.

In a real world situation, I tend to select which A (E5 or A0 in this case) to play based on the line I am playing. I try to find the most efficient method to get from one note to the next. In some cases the slight tonal difference will matter, but most of the time it doesn't (at least not in the style that I play).

Keep at it and take your time. This can be some pretty complex stuff and good on ya for having a go at this. Reading music is not always a necessary skill to have, but it sure is a good one to have in the bag.

Hello To You mcrbass.
Thank you for responding and the information is most helpful , I can not tell you how grateful I am.
Living in South Africa and trying to become a classically trained bassist has been a rather long and lonely journey .
I have not been able to find another double bassist in my town/city to discuss my problems with.(This you might find hard to believe but it's sadly true.)
I am starting to make headway with the bow and seem to be moving from Pizzicato over to Arco full time.
I have reached out to sooooo many Double Bassists but with no response until I joined this forum group and the advise has not stopped coming my way so thank you again.
Cheers.
Gavin.

 

[Gavin Hobbs]

Well said.


Well said.


+1.

Hi Groove Doctor.
Thank you for your very helpful information , I have been pulling my hair out trying to understasnd this problem"reading score."
Joining this forum group was the mest move I'ver made in a long time , thank you again.
I am the ONLY Double Bassist in my city/town and just finding anybody to talk to about music theory or the double Bass has been non exsistant, so again thank you.
Cheers.
Gavin.