eupher61 wrote:Oh? Not going to play the melody? Why not? I do it a lot. .. and there are plenty others who do it more frequently and much better than I.
The Tuba or bass in a jazz group should play a Bass Line, this normally will be straight 1/4 notes based on the chord structure. You'll want to play primarily the chord tones with passing tones added in to make it more interesting. The Tuba will just about never play the melody in a normal jazz combo setting. Think similar to what your left hand does on the piano. Listen to what the bass player of some pro Jazz groups are doing and you'll get the idea. This is going to take a little bit of knowledge about music theory at least what notes are included in the chords as shown on the lead sheets.
If you are also a piano player I would definitely recommend the C Treble clef book since you'll be reading the chord progressions mostly on the tuba the Bass clef /Treble clef isn't an issue. I'm sure you'll someday want to try these tunes on piano so the Treble clef C book will be better for that.
To get good at jazz listen to as many good players as you can, and imitate what they are doing to start with. As time goes on you'll develop your own style.
Retired Army Reserve 98th Div. Band: Euphonium, Trombone, Tuba, Bass Guitar
Miraphone 186 CC
Conn 36K Sousaphone
Euphonium: Yamaha YEP-321 (modified with Euro-shank receiver with Lehman M mouthpiece)
Trombones:Yamaha 612 Bass, Conn 88H
eupher61 wrote:Oh? Not going to play the melody? Why not? I do it a lot. .. and there are plenty others who do it more frequently and much better than I.
The Tuba or bass in a jazz group should play a Bass Line, this normally will be straight 1/4 notes based on the chord structure. You'll want to play primarily the chord tones with passing tones added in to make it more interesting. The Tuba will just about never play the melody in a normal jazz combo setting.
Tell that to Howard Johnson. Sam Pilafian. Bob Stewart. Red Callander (RIP). Carl Kleinstuber. Or me. Or any number of other players.
You'll be laughed out of the room.
Radar wrote:Think similar to what your left hand does on the piano. Listen to what the bass player of some pro Jazz groups are doing and you'll get the idea. This is going to take a little bit of knowledge about music theory at least what notes are included in the chords as shown on the lead sheets.
Even if you do resort to playing just a bass line, if you play nothing but straight quarter notes, and primarily chord tones, the feel will be lost. Yes, listen to jazz bass players; you'll understand.
The OP identified himself as a newbie to Jazz, my directions were meant more as a starting point than the ultimate goal. I never said that bass players never play melody I said it isn't the norm, I also said to start with the primary chord tones and add in passing tones. To list a bunch of professional players who play melody as advice to what a newbie jazz bass player should be working on in my opinion is equivalent to advising him to run before he's learned to walk. If he can learn to lay down a good solid walking bass line he will add more to his group than if he is just one more person playing the melody. I've played in many jazz ensembles over the years both as an electric bass guitarist, and as a trombonist so I've listened to and played with many good bass players outside of the occasional bass solo (and even during a solo) I rarely hear a bass player play the written melody from a fake book.
Retired Army Reserve 98th Div. Band: Euphonium, Trombone, Tuba, Bass Guitar
Miraphone 186 CC
Conn 36K Sousaphone
Euphonium: Yamaha YEP-321 (modified with Euro-shank receiver with Lehman M mouthpiece)
Trombones:Yamaha 612 Bass, Conn 88H
And, the OP did not self-identify as a newbie jazz player. "informal" and "new" are different things.
My comments, in order of posting, were rather obviously directed to 1) the OP, asking which book to use 2) to aqualung's comment about not playing melody 3) to Radar's comments. Since the last 2 quoted, the OP can be assured I wasn't addressing him directly.
Radar wrote:The Tuba or bass in a jazz group should play a Bass Line, this normally will be straight 1/4 notes based on the chord structure. You'll want to play primarily the chord tones with passing tones added in to make it more interesting. The Tuba will just about never play the melody in a normal jazz combo setting.
This is what you wrote. You did not address that comment to the OP but to Steve. It is patently incorrect information. Thanks for contributing to the wealth of misinformation available on the Internet.
+1
For once, I'm n the same page as the Elephant...
Honestly, there isn't a music police that comes around and fines you for playing the melody on the tuba, heck, you could sing or dance too if you wanted.... Good performances are inspired and original, they don't have to follow staid traditions...
'To the OP: It's Jazz... play around, try everything you can musicall and then some...play everything as originally as you can.
Yamaha YEP-642s
Boosey & Hawkes 19" Bell Imperial EEb
My apologies to Steve, after rereading the thread, I hadn't read who posted his comment (which I quoted) carefully and mistook his post as a question from the original poster who did identify himself as a "novice". That's what I get for reading the forum on my cell phone with my aging eyes.
I probably need to listen to some more contemporary jazz but what I'm used to is the bass player primarily laying down a bass line that reinforces the changes, and occasionally taking a solo where he may or may not quote the melody line.
Retired Army Reserve 98th Div. Band: Euphonium, Trombone, Tuba, Bass Guitar
Miraphone 186 CC
Conn 36K Sousaphone
Euphonium: Yamaha YEP-321 (modified with Euro-shank receiver with Lehman M mouthpiece)
Trombones:Yamaha 612 Bass, Conn 88H
