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Double Bass First solo reccomendation.

B

Bronch

Oct 27, 2008
2
0
Ontario, Canada
#1
I've played electric bass for 6 years and Double bass for about 5.
For double bass most my experience is with Classical and Orchestral arrangements through school and teachings. And some jazz on my own accord.

I've never actually put forth the effort to learn a solo piece for bass yet, and I think iam actually at the point where I'd like to.

My problem is I have no clue where to begin with deciding what to play. I'm fine with whatever techniques and or styles are required.

This will be strictly for me personally and not for a performance or test or anything of that matter.
 
#2
Two thoughts:

- If you have a teacher, ask him/her what they think. If you don't have a teacher, now might be a good time to reconsider that choice. I speak from experience, as someone who started with a teacher on 'cello as a tyke, switched to being a self-taught bassist as a young teen (who spent much time reinventing the wheel), then was lucky enough to start studying with a great teacher in my later teens.

- If it is just for your own pleasure, and you like jazz, you might consider some movement(s) from the Bach 'Cello Suites, transposed so that they lay easily on the lower positions. For example, the Minuets I and II in the first Suite. Written in G major, if transposed to be read up a P4th (sounding down a P5th) so that you are playing them in C major/minor, lay well on the bass and are musically quite compelling. The Prelude of Suite II can be similarly transposed, reading it in G minor, and also lays well on the bass in that key.

Of course, the whole concept of transposing these Suites is somewhat controversial for some folks. One can also play some movements from the Suites in the original key, sounding an octave lower than the 'cello, and jumping up an octave when one goes below a low E. Memorize the music away from the bass, so that you can sing it from beginning to end, then work out the fingerings and bowings. At least, that's how my teachers had me do it.

In any key, Bach offers incredible bang for the buck, in terms of musical density. Tearing the structure of Bach apart will help your bebop playing, too, in my experience. Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie were very into Bach. Playing Bach daily definitely helped my jazz playing.
 
#3
Just my opinion, but Bach's cello suites might not be the best first solo. Darn difficult to do well in any key. Consider the Eccles Sonata, which is manageable and not a bad piece of music. My two cents.
 
#4
Marcello Sonata in Em, or look into some of the George Vance Progressive Repertoire books. As others have said, a good bass instructor can really help if you are not already working with someone.
 
#5
Start with the Marcello and Eccles Sonatas, then work up into works like the Dragonetti. Playing the Bach Suites properly takes years of solo experience quite honestly, at least in my opinion. I don't personally think they'd be the best place to start.
 
#6
My teacher does not really think Bach Cello Suites are appropriate for a long, long time and would suggest the Viol de Gamba Sonatas over them, but this is after many years of experience.

The other suggestions here: Marcello, George Vance Progressive Exercises, and Vivaldi Sonatas all seem like best bests. I think the Eccles is a little more advanced.

I really think studying with a teacher is the way to go. I have or am working on all of the above pieces, and am more of a jazz player, but my bowing right hand is still just not right and is the bulk of my work is in this area these months. Its for reasons like this that I think a teacher in person can really get you going in the right direction and help you avoid any bad technique so years later you are not struggling with some basic technical things.
 
#7
My two cent's worth!!

I advance my students in this order, give or take a bit.

Earliest solos are from books like Amazing Solos for Double Bass, too easy for you!

Elephant, from Saint Saens "Carnival of the Animals". It only goes to E on G (4th position) but moves around a lot harmonically. It was written for the bass and is full of character!

Galliard Sonata, 2nd Movement. A Baroque piece that uses octaves and scale passages a lot. Simple harmonies, good for intonation and bowings at speed. At this same level are the Corelli Sonata, Marcello Sonatas ( all published by IMC) and 6 Vivaldi Sonatas

Capuzzi Concerto, Ist Movement (the Boosey & Hawkes F Major edition). Great for a wide range of bowing styles and a real chance to "strut your stuff " like an Italian operatic Tenor!

To me the advantage of these pieces is that you can find a pianist to accompany you, which helps you to stabilise intonation and rythm as well as learn to play with others (to me the best part about music, the social thing).

I see the Bach thing coming later, when pitch and technique are well developed and you are looking for maturity of musicianship. The two Bourees from Suite 3 are often on Bass auditions for that reason and are hard to pull off really well.

My students are also working through Simandl and studies by Wohlfahrt, Hrabe, Lee, Slama and Sturm, etc, at the same time

Hope this helps.

DP
 
#8
I'm with David I think that is a great order and very similar to the one I have taken. I tried to learn the Bourees a little too early and had to undo all the bad habits I learned while playing music that was leagues above me. Now I am working on the whole 3rd suite.

I think it is important to always play music that is challenging but not undoable. I think as a first solo, Bach would frustrate you and maybe cause you to drop trying to learn it altogether. And is pretty hard to pick something back up after you've abandoned it out of frustration.

Just my 2¢
 
#10
Joe Ergle said:
Bach would not be a good idea for a first solo piece. My instructor teaches his students solos in this order:
1) baroque solo
2) concerto
3) Bach

Bach is among the hardest music you can play on a bass. I'd say start off with a Marcello Sonata.
Click to expand...

Yes, you should have played multiple solo works and concertos before even touching the Bach Cello Suites. There's no reason to rush into them, as badly as you may want to.
 
#11
Help, they're piling up on me! :)

On piano, beginning students are often started with some Bach. On many other instruments, beginning players cut their teeth on Bach, whether its written for their instrument or not.

By saying that "Bach is too hard/advanced, etc. for early student bassists," might we, perhaps, be selling our instrument, and aspiring bassists, a bit short? Certainly, intonation needs to be solid. But might it be true that intonation doesn't have as much to do with the solo pieces a person learns as it does with good technical studies, careful teaching, practicing double stops, shifts, etc?

Some 'Cello Suite movements were my first solo pieces, when I was a teen. They were (and still are) rewarding, because:

- The richness of the musical ideas was a bonus, not a problem. Eccles, Marcello, and Vance are all reasonable suggestions, but they are, perhaps, not of the same musical density as Bach. Why postpone studying exquisitely-written music?

- Learning to play smooth running eighth-notes does a lot to overcome finger dexterity and the "fear of movement." Helped me improve my sense of the bass as being an instrument rather than an obstacle...

Breaking a Suite apart into the component moves, practicing them slowly backwards and forwards, then taking them up to speed does a lot to help a person's chops and harmonic understanding. The idea of the Suites as learning tools rather than as a destination...:)
 
#12
I can relate to both the Bronch and Eric on this issue. I'm not exactly self taught, as I had taken lessons with a professional orchestral bassist the summer that I started out. But because of high school, I stopped taking lessons and essentially self-taught myself after that. I had good instincts with the doublebass, and I knew how to get a nice sound with a bow. Who needed lessons, right?

Well, playing in my college's orchestra wasn't hard, but it was more difficult than it was in high school. I played well enough to become principle bassist as a sophomore, but there wasn't that much competition. It was at this time that I started taking lessons. And I found out how much I missed not taking lessons.

While I could get a decent sound with my bow, my bowhold lacked the flexibility to play solos correctly. I learned how to loosen up my grip and relax my arm, and my sound became even better. It wasn't night and day exactly, but it was a vast improvement.

My first solo was one of the 6 Vivaldi sonatas that were written for another instrument but transposed for the bass. I think any one of the sonatas would be a great start.
 
#14
Just a suggestion but you might want to start with some very melodic duets played with another bassist or cellist - and always try to get someone better than you are!
It lays down a firm foundation in intonation, phrasing and that 'give and take' necessary in solo playing. If you go to the ASODB.com, you can download a freebeeduet that can be used with bass/bass or cello/bass. There is also a free solo for bass and piano. Give those a try.
Tom Gale
 
#15
Great to see you back Tom, even if you are up to your old tricks! I agree with Bach being a great place to start but not the suites. Bach for the young bass player is fantastic. I even use it with BG students.
"After a Dream" by Faure is another good one - and great to get into reading tenor clef.
I also think the Vivaldi and Marcello sonatas are great to have around.
 
#18
CT DB said:
Damon, There are those of us who value Tom Gale's input and the information that he has compiled to help double bassists.

I respectfully ask you to stop your obsession with posting directly after he does with a negative comment.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Sure, as long as I can recommend my cds in every post I make! Seriously, I was sincere in what I said - I also value Tom's information and I personally would much rather have Tom here breaking/bending the rules then gone so I stand by what I said.
 
#19
maladjusted said:
what about Une Larme by Rossini. It's not difficult but still a great way to start I thought.

Damon, you mentioned Faure's After a Dream. I was thinking of making that my next solo. Do you know if it's available online somewhere for download.
Click to expand...

I have not seen it, if you can't find it PM me, I have a jpeg of the bass part. What is great about it is it only one page. It is a beautiful line and has some nice challenges.
 

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