• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Playing musical notation

A

AzzaKnoldy

May 29, 2011
53
0
#1
Hey, I'm a bass player, and I've used tabs for a while. I also play the flute, which I know is on the treble clef, and I understand all the notes and dynamic indications. I am puzzled at how you would play the notes on the bass, for example, if the stave were to show a 'C' note, how would I know which C to play, and if the notation showed a 'C' to a 'A' note, how would I know which A to play? Can someone clear this up for me?:confused: Thanks in advance.
 
#2
the same rules apply...the position in the stave will determine the octave in which the note will be played. As such, you will adjust your position on the fingerboard to play the correct pitch. The same note, (A, for example) can be played in many different positions on the fingerboard, just as the same pitch can be played in different positions (i.e. open a string and 5th fret E string are the same pitch)
 
#4
Just a note (no pun intended) that bass guitar and double bass are actually an octave below the notated note.

Notation can include suggested fingerings. It still doesn't which string to pick for which note, but it might strongly suggest something.
 
#6
As mentioned, a bass has several possible places to fret each note.
It is generally up to the player to determine what position best suits the note in context.
A useful approach is to let the left hand position be determined by the key of the piece :
find the box pattern for the major scale of that key and you should be able to execute the piece with fewer position shifts.

Certainly not an exclusive approach, but practical for reading.
 
#7
AzzaKnoldy said:
how would I know which C to play, and if the notation showed a 'C' to a 'A' note, how would I know which A to play? QUOTE]

Your confusion is understandable because the bass has multiple positions and strings at which one can produce the same pitch. If you are in standard tuning, when reading a transposed bass part you see "Middle C". Well, you can play that these ways:

5th Fret=G String
10th Fret=D string
15th Fret=A string
20th Fret=E string

(*notice a very important pattern here? ...down (or up, depending on how you look at it) one string, over 5 frets*) This is how our fretboard repeats...

Average bass players in general have a comfort zone on the neck and they like to stick around that area. Most players would just play it on the 5th Fret G string, since this is the home base, meat and potatos area of the neck. But, often in styles like funk, jazz, and latin there are octave leaps that would require a huge shift if you played it down there, so it would be best to play it on a different string higher up the neck. If you observe funk and latin bassists you will see that they often occupy the middle of the neck (ie 5th thru 11th Fret more or less)more often than their rock counterparts, because those grooves use root to octave leaps all the time.

Bass players with real reading chops read ahead and scan the piece to see where the highest and lowest notes are. This allows them to best choose which position to start from so that they don't get caught off guard and lose the groove because a large, unnecessary shift trips them up.

Also, there is another lesser consideration to think about when choosing where to play a certain pitch: TONE. The E string is a much larger, more massive piece of metal than the G string, so a "Middle C" on the E string has different tonal properties than a "Middle C" on the G string. This is something you should explore for yourself.

To truly be comfortable, competent, and confident reading for the bass you gotta get out of your comfort zone and really learn to read in those areas of the neck that trip you up. Good luck and welcome to the best clef.
Click to expand...
 
#8
kraigo said:
Just a note (no pun intended) that bass guitar and double bass are actually an octave below the notated note.

Notation can include suggested fingerings. It still doesn't which string to pick for which note, but it might strongly suggest something.
Click to expand...

^^^ This, and of course you'll have the ability to play a chord now, and then! ;)
 
#9
Im not trying to come accross as a jerk, but get your fretboard down. then associate the main strings with the appropriate note, you will be fine. since you know use tabs, be sure to translate them to notes, eg. 7 fret E-string = B note..this will be the 2nd line on the Bass Clef staff..it can also be played from the 2nd fret on the A-string. (same notes)

as said earlier your "low E" aka "open E" will be one ledger line below the G line in the bass clef. if you have a 5 string the Low/Open B will be under the 2nd ledger line below the G line of the 'bass clef'.

I spent a lot of time transposing my practice routine/scales in order to get re-acquainted with the notes on the bass staff. It has helped from repetition and re-enforcement.

then I would take "Mental Reps" and see the note on the staff play it (then close your eyes and see it "in your minds eye" on the staff) as you play the note on your bass.. you get the audible and "visual" all at once this way. it really locks in the notes on the staff. make sure you play acending and descending too.

for your example; from 'C' to 'A' count the steps in between to find out which note will work best. Lets say you have the 'C' on 2nd the space (bass Clef) and your 'A' is below it, (two steps) then your 'A' will be on the space below that 'C'.
if you start at the same 'C' and your 'A' is 6 steps ABOVE it you will be playing the 'A' at the top line of the clef.. ya dig?

you may be able to find a book that has a diagram of the fretboard and the notes that represent the notes on the staff.. (my Mel Bay 'Electric Bass method' has such a diagram)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back