Doubling on electric bass..

vince · Post by **vince** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 12:12 am

Hi everyone!

I'm doing a tuba audition where i also need to play one piece on electric bass. The problem is that i can't have a jazz combo with me at the audition..

Do someone has any suggestions? Maybe a good play-a-long cd (without the bass track..) ?

Thank you very much for your help!

Vince

Tom Mason · Post by **Tom Mason** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 12:20 am

The Abersol (sp?) series has play along capabilities. They work for just about any instrument around.

The Texas all-state jazz band audition series for string/electric bass is another series where you have a play along capability. You would have to order the CD and the music, but each year they would have a number of selections in various styles. The set for bass would have a track where you could play along.

Tom Mason

Mike Finn · Post by **Mike Finn** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 7:20 am

Hi Vince, I'm not sure what your audition committee will be looking for, but the last time I had to play both tuba and bass (for the military) they wanted me to play some scales, a melody, and a few different styles of bass lines: rock, funk, blues, latin, and swing style walking bass over a set of chord changes. That said...
Depending on your ability (and tastes) if they are looking for a prepared piece, one of the Bach Cello Suites is always nice, you can even do the double stops (and maybe some tasteful harmonics). A Rochut etude would be nice, too, and probably easier since they may already be quite familiar to you. For a challenge, I like Marcus Miller's "The King is Gone" from his "The Sun Don't Lie" album, or Jaco's version of "Blackbird." These each would work very well as solo bass pieces, and no accompaniment is necessary as long as you hold the groove.

Transcriptions for each are out there on the net somewhere, if you need them.
Hope this helps!
MF

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:15 am

Vince,
I'm glad to see a tuba man doubling on electric bass.It makes you all the more employable.If you can nail a gig with string bass the tuba can be an extra hook for any ensemble-even a rock band.
A Duracell orchestra will serve as an audition tool.A C.D. sans baseline would be best but a regular C.D. will give the auditioners enough of a listen to tell if you can cut it.
Good luck!
Dennis Gray
www.johnreno.com/

Charlie Goodman · Post by **Charlie Goodman** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 1:28 pm

I like the idea of playing something along the lines of Jaco's Blackbird. That's not too hard, I can play it fine and my chops on bass are negligible. If you're better, and can do slap, Victor Wooten has a book out with some really impressive pieces.

adam0408 · Post by **adam0408** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 4:51 am

yeah yeah, classical thump would be a great wooten piece and would definately floor the judges if you could pull it off. The double thump/slap thing is VERY difficult to master. Also, you could tap take the a-train, with your left hand playing the walking bass line and your right playing the melody (yes, I have seen it done, and attempted it) Any number of fake book standards could be played this way. Autumn leaves is a great one that guitar players do quite often and you could just steal Joe Pass' version of the song and transfer it to bass.... two handed tapping will impress anyone. Especially the ladies.

Tom Holtz · Post by **Tom Holtz** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 5:41 am

adam0408 wrote:two handed tapping will impress anyone. Especially the ladies.

I thought two handed tapping was one of those things you wound up doing after you haven't impressed the ladies.

I'll be here all week. Try the veal.

But seriously, folks... If you can play like Victor Wooten, great. On the chance that you're in the 99.8% of the human race who wishes they were Victor Wooten, make sure you don't pick something flashy at the expense of what the folks at the audition are looking for, which is rock solid time.

TubeNet

Doubling on electric bass..

Doubling on electric bass..

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