The book for RENT the musical

[dkziemann]

Hi everyone,

I'm usually on the DB bass side, but I have a question for all of you. I recently got asked to play a night for the show Rent (somewhere in Rochester). My primary instrument is double bass, but I DO play proficient bass guitar. I'm not very good at slap, but I can play different styles, read music, play with good time, etc. I've played musicals before and my strong focus is in jazz (I'm a jazz major at Eastman), but I was wondering if anyone knew if the book was a challenge or not. I've certainly heard the music quite a bit, but don't know how techincally demanding it is. Thanks so much!

Danny

 

[Chipsonfire]

I just watched the movie last night! Crazy. I was thinking about learning some of the tunes from the movie, myself, though I really can't say if it is technically challenging. Sorry

 

[Phil Smith]

Hi everyone,

I'm usually on the DB bass side, but I have a question for all of you. I recently got asked to play a night for the show Rent (somewhere in Rochester). My primary instrument is double bass, but I DO play proficient bass guitar. I'm not very good at slap, but I can play different styles, read music, play with good time, etc. I've played musicals before and my strong focus is in jazz (I'm a jazz major at Eastman), but I was wondering if anyone knew if the book was a challenge or not. I've certainly heard the music quite a bit, but don't know how techincally demanding it is. Thanks so much!

Danny

If you heard the music quite a bit, why wouldn't you know how technically demanding it is for you?

 

[dkziemann]

You don't always hear everything, and sometimes it's written differently from what it sounds like. I was only asking if there's anything physically demanding (such as slap) along those lines.

 

[joelc1319]

I know there's at least one Fretless tune, "Without You", but possibly more. I can't remember if there's any slap, but from what I understand it helps to have a 5-string across the board (fretless and fretted). Sorry I couldn't be of more help =\

 

[jaywa]

I have heard that at least some of the bass parts are rather challenging... but have not had any first-hand experience with the score, sorry.

 

[alcockell]

I'll cover you is slapped - kind of a loping feel..

 

[BassMaster4s]

I'm learning the score right now. "I'll Cover You" is a very simple slap type sound, nothing to worry about. Santa Fe has some oddball hand positions, but nothing terrible. Most of the songs are rock with the fills written in. I've found that the fills can come quite naturally if it's something you do on a regular basis.

 

[lionstring]

The book calls for pick, fretless, pop and slap, chorus and octave effects.

Has anybody done this show without the extra goodies?

 

[Michael Vee]

I am right now. If you have the right gear and the right technique, the "extra goodies" are not needed. I'm playing the entire show on my G&L L-2500 fretted, with some tone tweaks throughout. Mostly, I'm using the mid-cut control on my Genz Shuttle 9.0 for the majority of songs, and taking that out for the big rocker numbers to get a huge middy rock sound. I have been very impressed with the G&L for this show.

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[ric stave]

This is like the 4th production going on right now I've heard of - cool. My singer is doing it this week at Niagara Fine Arts in Niagara Falls, NY.

 

[McHaven]

"Santa Fe" can be hard to play, just due to positioning and some quirky rhythms.

 

[Bassist24601]

It was the hardest book I ever read - and my first theater gig at that too! Once I figured out Santa Fe it was the easiest song in the show for me. I did the show with chorus and my Geddy Lee, and for octaves, I did old fashioned octaves.

 

[HaVIC5]

Sante Fe is the only technically challenging piece for somebody who's primary instrument isn't electric, and the page turn is very poorly thought out. I pedal on D for a measure as I make the page turn, although some people copy the opposing two pages so they can lay it all out. The bells and whistles aren't necessary, although they add a lot if you're prepared. I'd recommend playing with a pick at the very least for the tunes that require it. My main qualm with the book is all of the specifically notated fills, some of which aren't a) idiomatic or b) necessary.

Playing musicals requires a whole different set of skills than playing jazz. Make sure your reading and electric technique is up to snuff.