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Double Bass Are the C's in the treble cleft to be played

Andy Mopley

Andy Mopley

Sep 24, 2011
1,335
318
#1
up the octave, G and A string?? Seems quite a jump from the previous bar, even allowing for the slowness of the piece (Yoda's theme). Suggestions on how to best play it?

Thanks everyone
 

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#2
If you're talking about the middle C's, then yes. That is in bass clef so I'm not sure if that's what you meant or not. When playing in treble clef, I play down an octave so I don't run out of room on the fingerboard....unless it sounds better up an octave.
 
#4
No harmonic for middle C.

You got the octaves right. I'd play it as you write - higher C on G string above the octave with 3rd, lower (middle) C on A string above octave with 1st finger. Might be easier to play the middle C with your thumb on D string (aka 10th fret), check it out. The next C (in bass clef again) is the same middle C.

Myself, I was confusing middle C for many years, so to clarify: middle C on bass is the first C on G string (aka 5th fret), 130.81 Hz here. However, if anybody else than bass player refers to middle C, he talks about a tone in the mid of piano, which is octave higher, 261.63 Hz. This is because bass notation is written octave higher than souding.
 
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#6
Well, there's a nice shifting exercise. I always assume that the"sounds an octave lower" rule applies regardless of clef changes. Imo, this part is an example of poor writing. No one is gonna play that without a certain amount of tension. Back in the day composers were expected to have at least a rudimentary knowledge of the instruments they were writing for. Too many people today just give you a part that works on their computer fine, but is very awkward to execute. Good luck. I'd love to hear a section nail those C's gracefully!
 
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#10
jasonrp said:
When playing in treble clef, I play down an octave so I don't run out of room on the fingerboard....unless it sounds better up an octave.
Click to expand...
This is not typically an acceptable answer in an orchestra. Particularly not with a standard piece of repertoire like Star Wars.

lurk said:
Well, there's a nice shifting exercise...Imo, this part is an example of poor writing. No one is gonna play that without a certain amount of tension. Back in the day composers were expected to have at least a rudimentary knowledge of the instruments they were writing for. Too many people today just give you a part that works on their computer fine, but is very awkward to execute. Good luck. I'd love to hear a section nail those C's gracefully!
Click to expand...
It's by John Williams. I doubt he used a computer back then.

This is a pretty simple excerpt from a pretty difficult collection of music. I would be disappointed in any professional section not being able to nail it.
 
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#11
Andy Mopley said:
up the octave, G and A string?? Seems quite a jump from the previous bar, even allowing for the slowness of the piece (Yoda's theme). Suggestions on how to best play it?

Thanks everyone
Click to expand...
It's pizzicato, right? You have plenty of time for the shift up to the high C. The low C is either in the same position on the A string, or a small shift to the D string.

Regarding octaves: Bass generally reads everything sounding one octave lower unless otherwise notated (8va, loco, suono reale, etc.). The second, lower C in treble clef is a fourth above the open G string.
 
#12
I didn't see the treble clef in the line when I looked this morning. Once I saw it, I figured I'd just back away from the thread slowly and hope nobody noticed.

As for it being unacceptable in an orchestra...My bad. I always liked the Raiders theme better anyways...or the Imperial March....Superman theme and the Krypton music are right up there though.
 

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