Bob Lebowski Posted May 26, 2003 Share Posted May 26, 2003 Hey everyone. I'm currently studying bass at University here in Tasmania, Australia but I'm having trouble trying to find stuff to play in exams that is just solo bass that will stand as a complete peice on it's own without accompanyment. I've searched all the local distributors and I've found two books: One is Jaco transcriptions and the other is arrangement of Bach peices for bass. I'll be getting both books but i was wondering if anyone here knows of any books that i could purchase. I'm willing to purchase from overseas. Thanks guys. Have a delightful day! Bob. PRE.SHRUNk - Check \'em out! Have you ever wondered what would happen if there were no such things as hypothetical questions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted May 26, 2003 Share Posted May 26, 2003 G'day mate! Welcome to the forum! Have you thought about doing a classical piece on your electric bass? Look here Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shex Posted May 26, 2003 Share Posted May 26, 2003 hehe... try and learn that song called classical thump... it's a ridiculous slap piece, if you can pull that off, it's an amazing solo piece. i heard about it from these guys, i still love it. - roses on your breath but graveyards on your soul - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aspiration Posted May 26, 2003 Share Posted May 26, 2003 I'm with Shex. Classical Thump is a really inovative piece if you can make it sound clean. That's been my problem half-way through the song and on. It's a wicked hard piece but you reap the rewards for getting it done. "It takes a big man to cry, it takes an even bigger man to laugh at him." -Jack Handey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted May 26, 2003 Share Posted May 26, 2003 I recently borrowed the CD "The Silent Life" by Jonas Hellborg from a friend. It is Jonas, a real bass bad-ass, playing solo the entire CD using an acoustic bass guitar. There are selections of different lengths, and depending on your skillz, you could probably pluck a tasty exam morsel from there. However, I have not done any searches to see if there are transcriptions readily available anywhere. Good luck w/ the search and the subsequent exams! spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Lebowski Posted May 27, 2003 Author Share Posted May 27, 2003 yeah, i've been working on classical thump but have never been able to get the triplet thing going due to the small string spacing on my Washburn 5. Now I've got myself a new 4 I should get back into it. I'm waiting for Victor to finish his transcription book which is taking forever! Thanks for the help guys. Have you ever wondered what would happen if there were no such things as hypothetical questions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Harms Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 I have played a few movements of Bach's 1st cello suit on electric bass for a recital once. While it isn't a solo meant for bass, it is interesting and challenging solo material for any instrument. The version I performed was transposed to a more bass friendly keys to make it more manageable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 I've played the entire first cello suite on a five string bass. It comes out an octave lower than the cello and sounds really good. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Valentino Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 I am a solo bassist. I perform quite regularly in that context. And, I might add, finding pieces in the "solo bass repetoire" is troublsome. Most of us who do solo bass (such as Mr. Hellborg, Wooten, Steve Lawson, Michael Manring, David Friesen, Scott Kungha Drengsen, Eberhard Weber..even myself) have taken to composing pieces specifically for the bass as a solo instrument. Often this incorporates a wide range of techniques derived from other instrumental styles, such as flamenco chording and strumming. BUt most of , we have learned to look at the bass as a compositional tool; all the techniques and tricks don't mean a thing if the compostion is flawed. And, more often than not a well defined and balanced composition can exist, musically, without the gratuitous "flash" or tricks. Wel defined harmony, rhythmic interest and melody are far more important than technical "show-off". Hellborg has been a huige influence on me..in fact "The Silent Life" changed my whole thinking and perception of the bass as a solo instrument. I do not know of any transcriptions for those pieces (they are infact studio improvisations for solo bass), but I have learned a few of those tunes. Like Victor, Jonas is a bona fide virtuoso on the instrument (tho he clearly does not enjoy or like this title), and as such quite a few of his works are very difficult to get. He and Oteil Brubridge are really the masters at chordal bass playing. The 1st Bach suite, IMHO, is a must for all bassists to learn..not just those who wish to play solo. As a technical excercise it is daunting yet not too terribly difficult. As a musical compostion is absolutely brilliant In fact..... all of the Unaccompanied Cello Suites by Bach make fine solo bass pieces. a rather brillaint recording of these suites was recently done by the incredible Edgar Meyer on URB (in his unique "solo performance tuning") In addition they are excellent practice material. For my own solo bass "recitals" I often create solo bass arrangements of tunes not neccsarily designed for bass. The first solo tune I learned, mainly to piss off a gtr playing friend, was "Blackbird (and not he Jaco version), the 2nd "Somewhere Over The Rainbow". Both done as chord/melody pieces a'la Joe Pass. I frequently add lesser known classical pieces to my shows ( small suites by Scarlatti, an Aaron Copeland meldley, Overture to The Rite of spring.....) and often pop and jazz tunes (Fly Me to The Moon, Bridge Over Troubled Water). You can create your own solo bass arrangement to anything....Pink Panther Theme is tons of fun......and in the process you wil learn oodles about conceptual harmony, compositional balance and melodic phrasing, all of which will help you greatly in more "standard" approaches to the art of bass playing. Max ...it's not the arrow, it's the Indian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 The Jaco book will probably have "Chromatic Fantasy" in it. That song is a very cool solo bass piece, and it's painfully difficult to play (up to speed anyways). I need to get back to that thing and finish working it out. I've made it through the first page before, at nearly the speed Jaco would play it at. Man is it a hard bugger. "Classical Thump" is also a very cool piece. I'm not huge into the slappy/poppy thang myself, so I've never even thought of working it up. If it's your bag, I'd suggest trying to tackle it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattC Posted May 28, 2003 Share Posted May 28, 2003 The back book you're referring to (or so I believe) is the same ne that I have. Those are excellent all-alone bas pieces. I'd think twice about using them as a "wanking" solo piece, however. ...think funky thoughts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PETE_COMBS Posted June 2, 2003 Share Posted June 2, 2003 Try learning stuff from Stanley Clarke, Pete Combs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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