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Bass on the treble clef
- Thread starter La Faro
- Start date
Absolutely. When I play something out of the Coltrane omnibook, I usually have to go an octave lower because of all the altissimo going on that would get me beyond the range of my fingerboard or make me stay at the very end of it (which to me doesn't really sound good...). So I'll take that an octave lower, like I'm reading a voice for tenors. (Treble clef 8vb)
One of the purposes of writing music in all the different clefs is to place as many notes within the staff as possible. This makes it easier on the eyes and WAY easier on the copyist. Especially back in the days of quill and scroll.....
My flutes are in C and a G, my sax in Bb and I used to have a Bari in Eb, so I've some transposing exposure. A bass just being an octave is a doddle by comparison (except the C flute).
The staff system with different clefs makes a lot of sense when dealing with keys, especially with notes bridging the two clefs.
From a composition point of view I read arguments that the ways staff is laid out makes it really clear to spot clashes between different instruments, or gaping holes. With some midi musicians writing in Piano roll and then checking in staff on their DAWs
The staff system with different clefs makes a lot of sense when dealing with keys, especially with notes bridging the two clefs.
From a composition point of view I read arguments that the ways staff is laid out makes it really clear to spot clashes between different instruments, or gaping holes. With some midi musicians writing in Piano roll and then checking in staff on their DAWs
I'm not so sure tenor clef is a good idea for BG. The main reason the classical upright players use it is because they have to (because of the repertoire that is notated and published in tenor clef) and because of the logical division of the bass between the entrance into thumb position and the lower register is signaled by the first ledger line above the tenor clef staff. A significant portion of the double bass solo repertoire that is in the upper register is notated in tenor clef. On the other hand, BG music, when notated, has almost no tradition of being notated in tenor clef. Anyone that notates a bass guitar part in tenor clef is just showing off something they learned in music school. And furthermore, there is no thumb position at the 12th fret, so that logical 1st ledger line in tenor clef means absolutely nothing to the bass guitarist. 8va would make more sense for BG. Most bass guitarists can barely read bass clef on a functional level, much less treble clef, so let's not make their heads explode with the addition of tenor clef.
Since posting this thread I've ordered and started on the Janek Gwizdala book. Is this a bit crazy, shouldn't this be across bass and treble clef as a pianist would have it.
