Where do I play these notes?

[Low Poldy]

E flat? And the two other notes? C and B flat?

 

[ahbass2500]

Unless you have a 5+ string or a 4 string tuned BEAD (with the B tuned down a half step), you will need to play them an octave up from that. I routinely had to do this in high school when reading tuba parts for a few pep band songs that did not have bass parts. Occasionally had to do it for musicals as well. It usually works out fine.

 

[Low Poldy]

Unless you have a 5+ string or a 4 string tuned BEAD (with the B tuned down a half step), you will need to play them an octave up from that. I routinely had to do this in high school when reading tuba parts for a few pep band songs that did not have bass parts. Occasionally had to do it for musicals as well. It usually works out fine.

Thank you very much. I appreciate the information.

 

[JTE]

Is the part written for bass, or is it the bass clef from a piano score? Standard bass notation is written an octave higher than it sounds. A piano part will have it written where it sounds, hence an octave lower than standard bass notation.

 

[Mushroo]

Is the part written for bass, or is it the bass clef from a piano score? Standard bass notation is written an octave higher than it sounds. A piano part will have it written where it sounds, hence an octave lower than standard bass notation.

This exactly, great observation.

Unless you are in a "tribute band" and the audience is expecting you to play a 5-string like the original artist, just play the Eb at the 1st fret of your D string, and the C at the 3rd fret of your A string.

 

[Low Poldy]

This exactly, great observation.

Unless you are in a "tribute band" and the audience is expecting you to play a 5-string like the original artist, just play the Eb at the 1st fret of your D string, and the C at the 3rd fret of your A string.

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it.

 

[Low Poldy]

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it.

Thanks for the information. I appreciate it.

 

[Low Poldy]

Is the part written for bass, or is it the bass clef from a piano score? Standard bass notation is written an octave higher than it sounds. A piano part will have it written where it sounds, hence an octave lower than standard bass notation.

I have a John Coltraine collection transcribed for bass. I am supplying the note names and fret locations.

 

[Mushroo]

I have a John Coltraine collection transcribed for bass. I am supplying the note names and fret locations.

If you're talking about the "John Coltrane Omnibook for Bass Clef Instruments," it's not actually transcribed for bass! It's for non-transposing bass clef instruments like trombone, cello, tuba, male vocalist, piano left-hand, etc.

Bass is a transposing instrument that sounds 1 octave lower than written. So to play the John Coltrane Omnibook on your bass, you'll want to transpose everything 1 octave from written (like @JTE said). The lowest note on a tenor saxophone is Ab, so you shouldn't need to ever go below the 4th fret of your E string, to play tenor sax music. (And that's already an octave lower than Coltrane. Detuning the B string of a 5-string bass would be playing it two octaves lower than Coltrane!)

You've chosen a pretty extreme technical challenge, trying to play Coltrane on the bass! Good luck and let us know how it goes. Maybe post some video clips once you are feeling confident.

 

[Low Poldy]

If you're talking about the "John Coltrane Omnibook for Bass Clef Instruments," it's not actually transcribed for bass! It's for non-transposing bass clef instruments like trombone, cello, tuba, male vocalist, piano left-hand, etc.

Bass is a transposing instrument that sounds 1 octave lower than written. So to play the John Coltrane Omnibook on your bass, you'll want to transpose everything 1 octave from written (like @JTE said). The lowest note on a tenor saxophone is Ab, so you shouldn't need to ever go below the 4th fret of your E string, to play tenor sax music. (And that's already an octave lower than Coltrane. Detuning the B string of a 5-string bass would be playing it two octaves lower than Coltrane!)

You've chosen a pretty extreme technical challenge, trying to play Coltrane on the bass! Good luck and let us know how it goes. Maybe post some video clips once you are feeling confident.

This is remarkable. Thanks for the education. I realized I was out of my depth when I was reaching for the 14th fret. Thanks so much. I appreciate the insights.

 

[obimark]

Wow..that rhythm alone has me concerned...forget the actual notes... More power to you, but that isnot an actual bass part.

 

[Karl Kaminski]

lol, yeah my first thought was its written in 'concert' (not transposed) in 1st position. But it could be good a Gospel chart Bb tuning' (Bb-Eb-Ab-Db-Gb) and lay great down in open position.