Double Bass Bassist's guide to the keyboards

[HeavyRockBasser]

I had a keyboardist give me a quick primer, once. Went something like this...

See this side? This is the side with the keys. See this side? This is the side without keys... you stand on this side.

 

[Steve Freides]

Are people still using those? A MIDI keyboard and a laptop, and you should be good to go

Some people are still playing a Hammond organ - talk about a pain to cart around - in the interest of authenticity.

-S-

 

[Sam Evans]

Some people are still playing a Hammond organ - talk about a pain to cart around - in the interest of authenticity.

How about an authentic Mellotron?

 

[belzebass]

Coming back to piano playing.

After 3-4 sessions of playing a 2-octave keyboard

I started with simple jazz standards (I'm not a jazz cat, but I love me some ol' swing, and songs are very educative )

First, "Fly me to the moon" in Am: all white keys for chords, except for two . Knew the chords and the head on bass already, so I played chords with my left hand then right hand, walked the bass left hand then right hand.
Next, "All of me" in C: more sharps coming my way Played chords, walked the bass.
Next, didn't take my cheatsheet, so I tried "Fly me to the moon" in Em (transposing to the next in circle of fifth): Same regimen.

Playing piano makes the songs more "mental" and less "physical". I have harder time remembering the changes, but my bass playing of the same songs is more "conscious", if you know what I mean.

Definitely a great thing to do even if don't become competent with keys, and I'm not able to play with both hands. Singing the melody when playing chords is a great way to memorize.

 

[Steve Freides]

You're doing some good things there. Any sort of multi-tasking, e.g., you singing the melody while playing the chords, is great. If you want to try something interesting, try playing anything with busy rhythms while counting 1-2-3-4 out loud - another good multi-tasking thing (albeit mindlessly easy with a walking bass). Another good one is the play the chords and say the names of the notes, either like they were the words to the song or just to speak them in rhythm but without pitch - both excellent, and the latter more difficult even though you're actually doing less.

What was your "cheatsheet?"

-S-

 

[Steve Freides]

Good exercise. I'd name the interval, either literal or tonal, instead of the note name.

This would, should we choose, start the whole fixed-versus-moveable Do debate. I choose not to do that.

Name the notes, both while singing the pitches and while only speaking them. Naming the intervals is something different that, in the context of trying to improve one's musicianship in general and on bass in particular, one should be able to do, I agree - but I don't think it warrants regular practice, while naming the notes, pitched and pitchless, does.

Just please don't ask me why because I can't answer without opening Pandora's box for the umpteenth time.

-S-

 

[WalWarrior]

Shopen?



Anyway... I use an Oxygen8 plugged into (via MIDI cable) a Link Removed.

My advice? Just start playing.

That Taurus Pedal-board is bad ass!

 

[belzebass]

This would, should we choose, start the whole fixed-versus-moveable Do debate. I choose not to do that.

Name the notes, both while singing the pitches and while only speaking them. Naming the intervals is something different that, in the context of trying to improve one's musicianship in general and on bass in particular, one should be able to do, I agree - but I don't think it warrants regular practice, while naming the notes, pitched and pitchless, does.

Just please don't ask me why because I can't answer without opening Pandora's box for the umpteenth time.

-S-

Yes, I try to name the notes while playing. As to movable DO, that's how I mostly think while playing bass guitar (it lends to it perfectly with finger positions), so I try the other approach when playing piano (since it lends well to fixed Do system, and I'm not fluent in identifying notes on piano ) In the future I'd like to exchange the thinking: think fixed Do on bass guitar and movable Do on keys. Well, that day is very far yet :-\

 

[belzebass]

I don't want to play a keyboard instead of a bass guitar,
but I do admire the crisp cleanness of piano bass lines
and often try to make my bass sound like a piano.

Funny you say that, because started thinking of keys because I wanted the opposite sound of what you describe: very bassy (even sub-bassy) fondamental only, no higher harmonics. Wobbles optional, but welcome You know, like in that DnB song that goes: WOOOOm-ka-ki-chak-woo-WOOOOm-pss-ki-chak-chak

 

[wrench45us]

I would say a 4 octave midi keyboard -- and one with reasaonable feel, not a cheap springy keyboard. It may not seem important at first, but feel is very important. My playing improved dramatically when I got a real piano and a n old Novation Remote midi controler. And playing better and sounding better means practicing longer.

There's really no substitute for a real piano to hear how voice leading works or doesn't.

Here's what I took from a few years of piano theory training
Keyboard playing voice leading -- at least in the right hand is all about common notes and minimizing finger positioning by judicious use of inversions. The non common notes tend to get played as the upper notes and tend to support the melody -- otherwise why change chords at all? The left hand can and should jump all over the place to establish the root or root and fifth in early studies, while the right hand may barely move -- holding common chord notes in the middle.

The right hand voice leading is about establishing a smooth stable bed.
The left hand is doing the bass work of establishing the harmonic changes emphasizing the root. The main function there is to drive forward to the next change against the stability of the common notes of many standard chord sequences.
It's kind of fascinating to me how it all comes together. There's a great deal to be learned in taking up piano.
Have a good time.

 

[gerry grable]

Some people are still playing a Hammond organ - talk about a pain to cart around - in the interest of authenticity.

-S-

I have a friend, Mark Hamza, who plays a Hammond with pedals and a huge speaker. He is a terrific player and knows to go light on the pedals when playing with a bass player. He has a van and has his instrument transportation down to a science.

 

[hhalt]

I teach jazz piano techniques for non-pianists. This is the book I use. It is exhaustive but it starts with simple 2 note voicings and builds from there.

https://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Keyboard-Harmony-Practical-Spiral-Bound/dp/1562240692

 

[Stefn]

I teach jazz piano techniques for non-pianists. This is the book I use. It is exhaustive but it starts with simple 2 note voicings and builds from there.

https://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Keyboard-Harmony-Practical-Spiral-Bound/dp/1562240692

Somehow I came across this book, I think it will be useful for all musicians