Double Bass Prokofiev quintet fingering question

[thedbassist]

What fingering do you use for measure fifty eight and the e on fifty nine(it's the fifth mvt.)? Btw, I already have a teacher but I just wanted to get a well rounded opinion. Here's a link: http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~rscerbo/excerpts/bass/prokofiev.pdf

 

[kurt muroki]

I'm guessing that you mean Big # 58 and one measure later? Love this cool Jazzy Rhythm... depends on the bass and the bassist. If the bass is bright on the A string, then 2nd finger on the F (2nd 8th note) on the A str, otherwise play it on the D str. Make sure the 3rd note is B natural. Thumb on D#. Then depending... either A - D (1 - thumb or 1 - 2) across the D & G strings then 2nd or 3rd finger on high E, or up the G string for the A- D then 2nd or 3rd finger of the E. It should be bright rhythmic and clear. The music dictates the technique.

I highly recommend this piece as my favorite standard chamber music piece.

 

[MDEbass]

hmmm....i would do open D, 1st finger on the F (A string), 2 on the B (D string), 2 on E (G string), 4 on C (D string), D# with 1 on G (the rest on G), E with 2, G with thumb, A with 1, and the D natural with 3 (closed if you can cause it sounds better closed, but harmonic makes it easier)

 

[thedbassist]

I've just been experimenting with some nifty fingerings and found that playing f with one on the a string, b with 2 on the d then shift to the e on the d string with 1 and c on the a string with 2 and use thumb for the d sharp, then go with 2 for g on the d string then shift thumb a half-step up to a and you play d and e with 2 then 3. Imo it lies pretty well on the bass and the d sharp becomes easier since the thumb is already in position. The only tricky thing is making sure the thumb shifts to an in tune a on the g string.

Thanks for your advice Kurt, that was helpful to me figuring out my own fingering. I have a relatively bright a string so the f and c sound fine. One other question, is it common to start 58 on an upbow or should the accent fall on an upbow? Or is there something I'm missing?

MDEbass, I think you might've forgot about the e at 59(unless you're from the dutch school where you might use 4 for the e) because you use three for d, and shifting from a sixteenth note during this piece is kind of cumbersome.

 

[kurt muroki]

hey cool. its so great talking about this and to think about it. great ideas guys... I will try your ideas out later as well. anyway I do 2 things myself. 1) I should be able to play the E upbow even with an accent. If not then its great practice. 2) I also sometimes take off the d# - e slur if i feel like adding clarity... like the begining of the measure. It also depends on the group... is the group sensitive to the bass part or do I have to pummel? music for me is personal and should be adaptable to the performance which includes the hall, audience, and musicians... the environment.

happy new year!

 

[davidzgeorge]

i'm also working on this excerpt for NOI. i start the entire excerpt up-bow so i finish down on the top E. i play open D, 1 on the a string for the F, 2 on B on the d string, 2 on e across on the g string, 4 on the c, 1 on d#, 2 on e, then i play thumb on the g and 2 on the a, then shift up to 1 for the D and end with 3 on the high E. i like getting to 1 on the high D as opposed to 2 because it's easier to nail that wholestep to the E with 1-3 than 2-3. i also use 2-1 for the A-D because at that tempo, i didn't think it was wise to shift from 1 to 1.

 

[thedbassist]

Some changes I've made recently, instead of using four for the b natural I use 2 and 1 for the f, which I find to be more comfortable to shift up the E from since it feels stronger than my fourth finger. I also play the g with 3 instead of 2.

 

[Andrew Grandahl]

i'm also working on this excerpt for NOI. i start the entire excerpt up-bow so i finish down on the top E. i play open D, 1 on the a string for the F, 2 on B on the d string, 2 on e across on the g string, 4 on the c, 1 on d#, 2 on e, then i play thumb on the g and 2 on the a, then shift up to 1 for the D and end with 3 on the high E. i like getting to 1 on the high D as opposed to 2 because it's easier to nail that wholestep to the E with 1-3 than 2-3. i also use 2-1 for the A-D because at that tempo, i didn't think it was wise to shift from 1 to 1.

That's what I'm doing too. Good luck with your audition, hopefully we'll see each other this summer.

 

[davidzgeorge]

That's what I'm doing too. Good luck with your audition, hopefully we'll see each other this summer.

thanks man, i actually had my audition last weekend and it went really well, except i sort of squawked on the high E! i ended up changing my fingering and bowing. mr. bradetich suggested starting down bow, then doing a hooked down bow on the B and E. it worked well. good luck to you as well, i think you're auditions are this weekend?