electric bass 2016 - mr. davies music...

Electric Bass

Beginning Band Primer Part 1

by Mike Davies

�2

Electric Bass: The Basics

Holding the Instrument

When holding the bass, the vertical position of the bass to your frame is another important consideration. This is adjusted by strap length. If the bass is too low, or to high it will strain your arm muscles and impede your mobility on the fingerboard especially.

You should look at some of the instructional videos linked to www.mrdaviesmusicclass.weebly.com to make sure that you are holding the instrument correctly, and that you understand the importance of left hand and right hand placement and how it affects your playing. Many of these issues are not necessarily instinctive. In fact, some of the them will not be obvious at all.

Also, with each method of right hand playing, such as using fingers, picks, slapping and popping, double sided thumb technique, and palm muting, come particular issues which must be mastered.

Maintenance

Bass guitar players should first make sure they have a good grip on the basics of their instrument.

Purchase a reliable tuning device and make sure it is always equipped with batteries.

Every time before playing, make sure that all of the bass guitar's strings are in tune.

To adjust a string higher, turn the knob to tighten it. Turning the knob to loosen a string will make it go lower.

Change the strings on a bass guitar regularly to make sure they sound crisp and clear.

When changing the strings, ensure that proper procedures are being followed and that the instrument is in no danger of being damaged.

Be sure to clean and polish the bass often as well so that it stays looking and playing to the best of its capabilities.

http://www.mrdaviesmusicclass.weebly.com

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How to Pluck Bass Guitar Strings

Pluck Bass Guitar Strings Select from among a few ways to pluck the strings of a bass guitar when playing the musical instrument. The following steps will show you how to play the bass guitar using your first and second fingers to pluck the strings.

Instructions Use your right hand if you are right-hand dominant and your left hand if you are left-hand dominant when you pluck the bass guitar strings. Use your other hand to hold the neck of the guitar to finger the strings. Hold your dominant hand over the strings of the bass guitar with your palm facing the body. Make sure to hold your fingers limply over the strings. Rest your thumb on a pick up, the top of a pick guard, a thumb rest or anywhere else on the base of the guitar, depending upon what your guitar has. Make sure your thumb is situated in a position so that it is comfortable plucking the bass guitar strings. Use your first and second fingers to pluck the guitar strings.

�4

“Half Rest”

“Whole Rests Last Long”

4 beats

1 beat

1/2 of a beat

Looks Like...How Long?Name...

Whole rest

Half rest

Quarter rest

Eighth rest

2 beats

1

2

3

4

g‰

rest - rest - rest - rest

rest - rest

rest

rest

“Nick name”...

“Half Note”

“Whole Notes Last Long”

whqe

4 beats

1 beat

1/2 of a beat

Looks Like...How Long?Name...

Whole note

Half note

Quarter note

Eighth note

Eighth notes 1 beat

2 beats

1

2

3

4

5

“Nick name”...

Ta - a - a - a -

Ta - a -

Ta

Ti

Ti Ti

Basic Rhythms

Rest Symbols

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Rest

1.

Play

Play

Rest Rest Rest Rest

PlayRest Rest Rest

2.

Rest Rest

Play

Rest Rest

Play

Rest Rest

Play

Rest Rest

Directions: Use the correct embouchure to play only the mouthpiece to get used to blowing air at the reed and counting.

�6

First Note

wWhole Note Whole Note Rest

(Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest )

Review Review 1 2 3 My 1st note (“MI”) is ___


Exercise 1-A

Exercise 1-B

(Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest )



“Half Note” (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest )



“Whole Notes Last Long” “Whole Notes Last Long”

“Half Note” “Half Note” “Half Note”

“Half Note” “Half Note” “Half Note” “Half Note”

�7

Exercise 1-C

Exercise 1-D

Bonus: Write in the correct rhythms above the (rhythm) nicknames.

Ta - Ta - Ti Ti Ta -

Ta - Ta - Ta - Ta -

Ta - a rest Ta -

rest, rest Ti Ti Ta -

Exercise 1-E

Ta Ta Ta Ta Ta Ta Ta Ta


Ti



Rest-Rest-Rest-Rest

Rest-Rest-Rest-Rest

Rest-Rest-Rest-Rest

Rest-Rest-Rest-Rest



Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti

Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti

�8

Exercise 2-A

Exercise 2-B

Second Note

Review Review21 3 My 2nd note (“RE”) is ___

Measure or Bar line

Measure numbers Meter symbol called Meter signature.

Beats are in groups of 4





�9

Third Note

Review Review21 3

Stems can go up or down.End or Stop!

Double Barline

Exercise 3-A

Exercise 3-B

Exercise 3-C

My 3rd note (“Do”) is ___

�10

Directions: In the blank boxes, write the correct name of the corresponding music rhythm symbols.

1. 2. 3. 4.

Exercise 3-D

5. 6. 7. 8.

Bonus: Play this exercise based on the position and length of the shapes to reproduce the correct rhythm.

Exercise 3-E

Ta Ta Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest

Ta Ta Ta

RestRest

Rest Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest Ta Ta

Ta - a Ta - a

Ta - a

Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest

Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest

�11

Electric Bass

Primer part 2

�12

The Staff: The next step in reading music is understanding how the staff is used.

The Staff And Clefs

This set of 5 lines are used for writing the letter name of the note also known as the pitch name. The pitch names are based on the musical alphabet A B C D E F G.

The note heads are placed either on the line or in-between the lines in a space.

Example 1

Example 2

The Treble Clef: This symbol is also known as a treble clef (or G clef) and it is used to designate the note names on the lines and spaces for Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone Trumpet, and Bells.

Example 3

The Bass Clef: This symbol is also known as a Bass clef (or F clef) and it is used to designate the note names on the lines and spaces for Trombone, Tuba, Bassoon, Cello and Bass,

�13

Line Names, Space Names and Ledger Lines

Notes have a letter name based on the musical alphabet of “A B C D E F G ” (remember that notes can have rhythm names too). The letter name depends on what line or space the note (note-head) is written on.

Example 4

Example 6

The next step in reading music is reading the note rhythms on the lines and spaces of the staff. Don’t forget the other note reading symbols like Meter sign that tells how to divide and count the beat. Bar-lines divide the beats into groups of beats called measures. Measure numbers help us find our place, and the double bar-line is the end.

Measure numbers Bar-lines Double Bar -

The EndThree Note Review

1 2 3 4

Beats

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

GoodBoys

DoFine

Always

AC

EG

Line Names Space Names

F

B

E D

C D Ledger Lines - are Names of the lines and spaces above and below the 5 line staff.

Example 5

�14

Three Note Review

BfCD

Down Up Down

2 plus 3 Quarters

Key signature - assigns what notes to use. B and E are flat for Flutes.

�15

:

French Folk Melody

Hot Cross Buns

1.Repeat - A symbol that composers use often. It means to play the part again.

Repeat Sign

Down by the Station

(Optional Repeat)

:

�16

A New Note

Eb or (“Fa”)

Swing Fa

F or (“So”)

So Samba

or

or

�17

Spanish Melody

Three Note Cha Cha Cha

Merrily We Rhumb-along

eEighth Note(s) are 2 times faster than quarter notes.

or

(Optional Repeat)

:

(Optional Repeat)

:

�18

King Wenceslas Melody

Soli = one group Tutti = all together

Bonus: Please write (draw) the missing notes below the letter names on the correct location on the staff.

Dreydl, Dreydl, Dreydl

�19

Bonus: Write in the note names for Bass Clef

�20

Putting It All Together - Reading MusicRemember that reading music is recognizing the note names on the lines and spaces. Reading music is also knowing when to play notes and how long to play the notes (Rhythm). Remember to play using good posture and proper technique.

1st and 2nd Ending - This is a type of repeat in which the end of the musical phrase changes and the regular repeat won’t work. The notes in the 1st ending bracket “1st” ending are played and then on the repeat, the music skips to the “ 2nd ending”. The double bar repeat sing is used with the 1st ending bracket.

Repeats: Using 1st and 2nd Ending

Melody From Lightly Row

Jingle Bells

�21

Bonus - Note Naming Practice - Please write in the names of the note below the note on the space.

Aura Lee

Dynamics -The loudness or quietness of a song.

Very Quiet

Quiet

Medium Quiet

Medium Loud

Loud

Very Loud

Dynamics

Ode To Joy

(Optional Repeat)

:

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Warm Kitty Soft Kitty

Some Folks

Go Tell Aunt Sallie

(Optional Repeat)

:

(Optional Repeat)

:

(Optional Repeat)

:

Mystery Song

Oats ’N Beans

A New Note

G or “La”

La Di Da

or

(Optional Repeat)

:

Electric Bass

Primer part 3

Caisson Melody

What is a Tie? A Tie is a curved line that connects two of the same notes. Both rhythm values are added together. Essentially the two notes are glued or tied together to make one longer note.

What is Moderato? It refers to a tempo; moderate, restrained.

Pick-up notes are notes that start in the middle of a measure.

3 2

1

Mary Ann

Tie

(Optional Repeat)

:

�26

When the Saints Go Marching

1This meter signature means that the beats are divided into 3 and the quarter note gets one beat.

2

A

Note review

Down In The Valley

Accent - to put emphasis on a note

3

(Optional Repeat)

:

(Optional Repeat)

:

�27

1 2 3

Bile That Cabbage Down

This meter signature means that the beats are divided into 2 and the quarter note gets one beat.

Review

eEighth Note(s) are 2 times faster than quarter notes.

or

Review

Allegro - means the tempo (speed of the beat) should be quick and lively

8th Note Workout

Skip To My Loo

�28

Bonus: Write in the note names

Frere Jacques

1A round is a song in which two or more parts play exactly the same melody (and may continue repeating it indefinitely), but with each part beginning at different times so that the different parts of the melody fit harmonically together.

Chiapanecas

(Optional Repeat)

:

�29

Slur (curved line)

Roses Of The South

1A Slur is a curved line that connects notes of different pitch together to indicate that only the first note of the connected notes is articulated. It creates a different sound from when every note is articulated separately.

Morning Song

Rain Rain

(Optional Repeat)

:

(Optional Repeat)

:

�30

Oh Susanna

Camptown Races

Theme from William Tell

(Optional Repeat)

:

(Optional Repeat)

:

(Optional Repeat)

:

�31

Bb Scale Exercise #1 "Pepperoni Pizza Pie"


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Bb Scale Exercise #2 "Rock It"



Bb Scale Exercise #4 "Swing It"

Bb Scale Exercise #3 "March"

Rhythm Exercises 1

2

3

4

5

7

6

8

electric bass 2016 - mr. davies music...

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