Double Bass Tenor Clef?

[aikakone]

I am attempting to compose for bass, and I had a notation question. I am wondering what is considered typical for DB. In written literature for DB, does it often use tenor clef? In the higher register, should I just notate with an 8va instead of switching to tenor?

Thanks!

 

[Brad Maestas]

It just depends on how far up you want to go. Tenor is useful for that middle point between regular F clef and 8va. I find I use this more often than 8va because tenor clef is usually high enough - up into the cello register. It's only for the truly stratospheric stuff that I go with 8va. So to answer your question, yes, tenor clef is completely normal. There are a few pieces I have played that are almost entirely notated in tenor clef (often with some 8va too).

 

[aikakone]

Thanks, Brad! The piece I was working on really is in that 2nd octave hugging the middle C, so tenor clef made the best sense to me. But I also admit my orchestral/classical background is more as a percussionist/vocalist than as a bassist.

 

[Brad Maestas]

Thanks, Brad! The piece I was working on really is in that 2nd octave hugging the middle C, so tenor clef made the best sense to me. But I also admit my orchestral/classical background is more as a percussionist/vocalist than as a bassist.

What do ya know? So is mine! I didn't start getting into DB solo repertoire until I was well into college. Classically, I had been mainly a percussionist/classical guitarist/vocalist. I also did a lot of jazz DB and drumset. My major was theory/comp.

 

[aikakone]

That's a cool coincidence! I play electric bass, but the journey started because as a music education major "back in the day" I had played DB in string methods and was good at it. Good enough that some 10 years later, when the call for a new bassist was issued, I said, "Me! Me!"

As for the theory, I wanted to notate in the more classical standard because that's the mindset I come from. I believe in notation. What can I say?

 

[nickbass]

Many people are more familiar with treble clef than with tenor clef, so you may get more reliable results that way!

 

[damonsmith]

Bassists need to be able to read tenor. I don't care for it going too low, there is no real reason to use it until E on the G string or so.
It seems to be more modern to use treble. 8va always seems like a cop out.

 

[Menacewarf]

In the excerpts I practice tenor seems to be used on passeges which hit the big harmonic D on the G string ( or nearby) and stay up in thumb position for at least a phrase or two.

 

[Brad Maestas]

Bassists need to be able to read tenor. I don't care for it going too low, there is no real reason to use it until E on the G string or so.
It seems to be more modern to use treble. 8va always seems like a cop out.

Quite correct and actually my previous post really should've read: bass clef, tenor clef and treble clef as my preferred order.

 

[Bill Bentgen]

I agree with bass, tenor, and treble in order of preference. 8va isn't used very much on bass parts.

 

[aikakone]

Thanks, everyone. Your help makes it clearer.

 

[Jack Clark]

Thanks, everyone. Your help makes it clearer.

I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet, but you do realize that the F clef for doublebass is really an 8vb F clef, right? I.e., sounding an octave lower than written?

So, you would think that a normal F clef, without the 8vb, should be able to be used for an octave higher already--were it not for the fact that almost nobody bothers to actually put an 8vb on the F clef for doublebass--it's just assumed to be there. So, if you tried to intentionally leave it off to indicate sounding an octave higher than usual, nobody would realize it. They would just assume you meant 8vb F clef anyway.

I only bring this up for completeness in case it makes a difference in what you're doing. (It also explains why--when cello and doublebass are both written on an F clef staff--they sound an octave apart even though they have the same notes on an identical-looking F clef staff.)

 

[damonsmith]

You can write "at pitch". I have some Bottesinni that never says 8va and it is clearly at pitch. Might be an Italian thing, too.

 

[Square Bear]

right now i'm playing some pieces by gliere that use an 8va indication on the bass clef. i think it's a pain in the ass personally, i keep wanting to read it in tenor clef because i'm so used to reading tenor clef in that register. Most players would prefer bass clef up to the B just above the G harmonic, for a passage that stays primarily in the D - D range on the G string tenor clef is preferred, and for passages that stay above the G harmonic and go into the very highest range you should use treble clef. all clefs sound an octave below written as has been noted. so long as you avoid copious ledger lines and unnecessary clef changes no one will complain.