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Bach's Suite 1 - Prelude

G

Geddyleefan30

Jan 21, 2009
22
0
33
#1
I believe that title is correct for what I'm looking for. Anyways, I recently found this video on youtube.:hyper:

I'm wondering if any can dig up any tabs ( it does not have to be the same way he's playing it ), or sheet music. At this moment I can't read sheet music, but this alone makes me want to. :p
 
#2
The music is available anywhere sheet music is sold. I'd recommend buying the book with all the suites in it - it's great music to improve your bass playing.

That version however.....awful.
 
#5
That one is awful too!

Why do people insist on playing Bach like a sequencer?? Those pieces are not meant to be played metronomically!

Listen to a master:

 
#8
This one's a bit closer to home:



I've tried playing it on electric bass myself, after learning it on cello as a teenager. Upright bass, forget it. My thumb position isn't good enough. In my view, nobody has figured out how to make it sound musical on electric bass, while the closest attempts have been those who play it like one of the classical guitar arrangements.

I think other parts of the Suites might be more accessible to electric bass. The 2nd Prelude is playable, and not as much of a blood sport to play.
 
#13
boonefiddler said:
Hi - I transcribed this to the key of C for four string bass, and added tab after I figured out where on the neck I was going to play it. Here's the tab link:

http://www.swensongs.com/bachpreludeinc.pdf

Here's a video of me playing this version:

Click to expand...


I'm actually surprised by how many people play this in G on bass. I have the "Edition Peters" book of the Bach cello suites transcribed for bass and the Suite 1 Prelude is in C major.
 
#14
I learned this piece as it is, just by watching the video, so you don't really need tabs or sheet music to learn it. Its kind of a raw version, and more musically "pleasing" interpretations are around, but as a warm up exercise its great. Jumps, slides, barring notes, a great way to practice your muting skills etc. Avoids the more traditional open string fingerings. Can't do the final few measures on my p-bass though......its too high at the end!
 

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