ABC's of Bass (Book 1)

Bass

rhe/Bct

of Ba,s,s'

for the

Absolute Beginner to the Intermediate Student by Janice Tucker Rhoda

/ Book

1

Bass

/ Book

'1

rhe/BC3 ot Ba,s,s' for

the

Absolute Beginner to the

Intermediate Student by

Janice Tucker Rhoda I dedicate thís book to my devored rcachers: Nancy Círillo, Alan Hawryluh Joseph kary, Rudolf Kolisch, Yuri Mazurkevich, Ceorge Neikrug, Daniel Pinkham, Eric Rosenblith, Gunther Schuller, Roman Totenberg, and Benjamin hnder.

PREFACE This bass method book is designed for the beginning and intermediate student of any age. After many years of combining various methods of teaching both children and adults, I have developed a simple and enjoyable approach for the study of the bass. I use materials which help students advance technically in a gradual, logical and thorough manner. There are short, lyrical wann-up exercises and longer study pieces, as well as familiar classical and popular melodies. I composed fifteen of the forty-nine melodies, which fit in perfectly with the development of left-hand and bowing techniques.

I am convinced that it is never too late to begin studying the bass. In fact, adult beginners learn to read music at a very quick pace, have excellent concentration and are highly motivated to practice. Playing the bass is very engaging and the contents of this book are sure to maintain your continued interest. To the adult student:

To the teacher: During my many years of teaching and directing string departments, I dreamed of developing a method that would help beginners of any age feel more at ease and satisfied - a method that would allow them to progress quickly and play precisely, yet leam to read music well. This method book, and the entire series, is designed to fit these criteria.

Here are some key elements to strive for at a lesson: f . impeccable

2. solid bow 3. correct 4. steady

intonation

technique

posture rhythm 5. accurate reading

6. beautiful tone quality 7. expressive vibràto 8. structured, artistic phrasing 9. precise shifting 10. memorization of piecesx

In any case, it is wise to help our students develop good habits right from the start. Teaching students of all ages is very gratifying. I think teachers will have the same posìtive expériénce I have had while using the series.

-

Janice Thcker Rhoda

* Although it is not essential to memorize pieces, as a teacher have found it to be a very useful tool in developing a student's skill. To paraphrase Rudolf Kolisch (1896-1978), a good memory is a habit formed. His quartet, the Kolisch Strin_e Quartet, was the first to perform its works by memory.

I

CARL FISCHER. 65 BleeckerStreet, NewYork. NY 10012 @ 2003 I ntemational

Copyright

by Janice Tucker Rhoda Copvri aht Secu red. All rights reserved inclúdinó peforminq riohrs.

ABC25

WARNING!.This pu5lication is protected by Copyàght taw. To phótocópy or reproduce by any melhod is an infringement of the Copyright law. Anyone who repraiuces òopyrighteó matter is subjecl to substantial penalties and assessments lor eacfr inlringemlni. printed in the U.S. A.

lsBN 0-8258-5255.2

TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE ABSOLUTE BEGINNER LEVEL FIRST POSITION

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL FIRST POSITION

THIRD POSITION

HALF POSITION SECOND POSITION

ABC25

COMPOSER

PAGE

Parts of the Bass scroll pegs

nut

-

neck

end of fingerboard

The bow is placed halfway between the bridge and the end of the fingerboard. Keep the bow perpendicular to the strings at all times. endpin

Parts oÍ the Bow French Bow îp

end screw

stick -,

tl

rl I

hair stick

German Bow

-

I

fróg

end screw I

4

ABSOLUTE BEGINNER LEVEL LESSON

I

Naming The Spaces And Lines Of The Staff

ryE

The staff has 4 spaces.

ThespacesareACEE

The staff has 5 lines.

ThelinesareGBDEA.

LESSON 2 Pluck The Open Strings A Bridge

-

Look down at your bridge while holding your bass. Memorize the names of the strings as you pluck them one at a time. Say:

Przzicato

G

D

A

E

"GDAEEADG".

E

A

D

G

.ì. a3 a

Repeat this exercise several times. Copyright O 2003 by Janice Tucker Rhoda

LESSON 3 Przztcato The Open Strings J I

is a quarter note. A quarter note receives is a whole rest. It receives 4 beats.

4means4beatspermeasure. m:, cl:Ilme_ Slgnature

Q

O

4 means a quarter note receives 1 beat.

Pizzicato

Count:

L

2

3

4

|

2 3

4

a-

-

ABC25

1 beat.

-

6

LESSON 4 Play With The Bow ll

means Down bow

V

FV Count: I

means Up bow

Frì

34

-

|.l

-

|.t

n

|.l

ft

l'l

,1.

l.

3z

Fl

|l

I. PIZZICAIO the first time through. 2. ARCO the second time through.

Posture Perfect

German Bow Hold

French Bow Hold

Piuicato Posture

Left Hand Fingerings 3{' 4

Fq

. The third finger will not be used at this

Ff

beginning level. You may anchor the third finger behind the fourth finger as a means of support. ABC25

LESSON 5 Begin On The D-String In First Position. Open D, E is 1st finger on the D-string. Ff, is 4th finger on the D-string.

F l-

.al

.)1

FI t-

ft

ft

ll

-

n

-

|l

-

1. Learn the left-hand fingerings using pizzicato.

2. Repeat the exercise using the bow (arco). xSecond finger is introduced on page 18. AÓUZJ

34

. )tl

n

It

|.l

J i,

234

u

half note. A half nore receives 2 bears.

r234

r234

lt

) =J*)

10

LESSON 6 G

A

Open G,

A is lst finger on the G-string in first position.

=o

6

=î

Warm-ups

F

Mary Had A Little Lamb

Easy Duets: on pages 42

ABC25

- 45.

American Folk Song

11

-

Skipping And Walking Fingers JANICE TUCKER RHODA

L2

@**"f Jingte Bells JAMBS PIERPONT

F

a,

Warm-up @ \-/

)

My Dreydl Hanukah Song

-

T.t

F -

-

S. GROSSMAN and S. GOLDFARB

13

LESSON 7

nut

4

B

B is 4th finger on the G-string in f,rrst position. 4

Au Clair De La Lune

French Folk Song

|,l

Warm-up 16 vt

TIvinkle, Tlvinkle Little Star Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman F

French Folk Song

.G ay

o

is a whole note. A whole note receives 4 beats.

l,'l

1234 1234 l.lV

(\/)

o=J*J* J*)

I4

Go TellAunt Rhody American Folk Song

@

,!f

"?f

Study No. @

ABC25

n

1

15

LESSON 8 nut

A Open A-string o

.D is un eighth note. An eighth note rece ives Vzof a bear.

))

=

I1 = J

J. ls u dotted quarter note. A dotted quarter note rece ives lVzbeats. J. = J

Count:

*

)

| 2+

Sav: "one two and".

*Draw quick, light bows on the up bows.

Count: | 2+ 3 4 Say: "one two and three four"

Ode To Joy I'l

@

ABC25

wut--up

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

16

Frère Jacques French Folk Song

lt

Alouette

French Folk Song

Long, Long Ago T. H. BAYLY

l7

LESSON 9 nut

The A-String In First Position A

Bcf, B is lst finger on the A-string. Cf is 4th finger on the A-string.

Count: I+2+3+4 + Say: "one and two and three and four and".

Hot Cross Buns

|l

Moderato ) =120

The Lumberjack

tl

JANICE TUCKER RHODA

LESSON 10

nut

The E-String In First Position

r#

Ff,

C# Ff, is 1st finger on the E-string. Gf, is 4th finger on the E-string.

c#

({}

English Folk Song

Warm-ups .,r||

l:4+Lrt_+:

18

LESSON 11 Second Finger ON

ALL STRINGS in First Position ir

2nd finger on the G-string. F is 2nd finger on the D-string. C is 2nd finger on the A-string. G is 2nd finger on the E-string.

Bb

1B

flarm-uns

l,l

It

-

FI

|l

-

clz

,

|l

C

I

-

London Bridge

English Folk Song

Lightly Row

German Folk Song

f,l a

,/ -.

F

-

*

1- I

ADUZC

means keep first finger on the string while playing Open G.

T9

J. ir u dotted half note. A dotted half note receives 3 bears. ). =

g

)*J

Warm-uns aa

23

Count

123

@ a

a

Count:1

+

.1.

76

Over The Ocean

AllegroJ=138

vn

!-

rlr

JANICE TUCKER RHODA I\I

|

t,

tl -.

"?f

Count:

1

-'+

0 îempo

,. -!

rit. ABC25

@

Warm ws

The Kangaroo

Allegretts ) = t44

JANICE TUCKER RHODA

V

123

"!f

4

In alla breve or "cut time"

(Q

= 7),

there are 2 beats per measure, and the half note receives 1 beat.

The Lioness

Andante ) = el

"!f

fsà \-7

Count:2 + Warm-ups

I

t^

G

Count:1 +

2

(j}) \-/

Allegro )=tt

2

ptzz. :> >

l+2+ Fl

1+2+

Rock'N'Roll >>>

f=

>

rfleàrtS accent the note. Please learn to play the G-Major Scale on page 40.

AÓUZ3

JANICE TUCKER RHODA

Bass

JANICE TUCKER RHODA

2l

LESSON 12 Slurred Staccato And Portato

*Play slurred staccato.

Allegretto J = 132

Merry-Go-Round

I

a t

JANICE TUCKER RIIODA

tL .

"?f

l.l

l'l

@***T *Play slurred portato.

Moderato ) = tZù

Playing Soccer

JANICE TUCKER RHODA

V-J *Play slurred staccato.

rrv-

Pop! Goes The Weasel rl

[-J

English Folk Song

23

6 means 6 beats per measure. 8 means an eighth note ()) receives 1 beat.

@ \-/

count'))))))

t23456

Warm-uPs

- vlt v|ì r23

.|l

4 5

VF

v

6 V

For He's A Jotly Good Fellow

r234

Oats And Beans n

American Folk Song

24

II\TERMEDIATE LEVEL LESSON 13 The Smooth Slur

Warm-up

-

@

]/-,

French Folk Song

Moderato

-

Moderato

Moderato

Y.-.-_

Up On The House Top

This Otd ùIan

American Folk Song

American Folk Song

*C means cornmon time 1ft1. No bowings at beginning-of pieces unless needed in this intermediate level.

The Hope @

a"oante

Hatikvah

N.

H.IMBER

"?f

Please learn to play the A-minor Scale on page 41.

@

China Sea Andante ) =tz

JANICE TUCKER RHODA

ry .trla

Oh, Susanna Moderato

STEPHEN FOSTER

26

THIRD POSITION LESSOI{ Í4 Third Position On The G-String

6

A

I

B C

4

cr

t

D

4

t24

I

ilI

Roman numeral I means first position. Roman numeral III means third position.

r&

Warm-uns

I

*Shift the left hand to third position.

lll

C, Cf,, D in third position on the G-string.

ilI

xxrestez

**Restez means stay in the position.

Check 4th Finger Octave

ADVZC

27

A glissando (J

)

orJ -.-Jl is a continuous, audible sliding movement.

I

III

Yiolin Concerto Theme Allegretto

,

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

Please learn to play the D-Major Scale on page 41.

ReubenAnd Rachel Moderato

@

Warm-uns

English Folk Song

28

Over The RiverAnd Through The Woods ,

Allegro

..4

American Folk Song

--4

Use staccato bowing on the dotted notes.

@

**,Jn

School Is Out!

Allegro ) = 132

JANICE TUCKER RHODA I '4'

rit

f

a,

@**-T

Slur 4 Notes In One Bow Stroke \---^.-

Moderato J = 100 f,l

4

Hop Scotch

JANICE TUCKER RHODA

29

Study No. 2

IL

15 LESSON 33 There are 3 triplet eighth notes (J J J)

(fr)

\-/

Warm-ups

|lvllvllv

3

n

ABC25

Say:

in 1 quarter note. J J J = J

I

,rn tn

"tri-p-let tri-p-let"

lt

30

)

@

i,

u sixteenth note.

It receive s ll4of

a

beat.

))rùrN = ffi

=

)

Warm-up

|lvf'lvnvrlvl'l

A doned eighth note ().) followed by a sixteenth note ()) receives 1 beat.

). * )

=J

314+t/4=l

Warm-ups

Count:

I

1

e2

I

I

E

Row Your Boat Allegretto

American Folk Song

31

Syncopation or syncopated rhythm: The rhythmic accent is on the weak beat (versus strong beat) of the measure

@

warm-up

IIV N Vtl

Count:I

V

+2+ | +2+

Joy To The World Moderato

LOWELL MASON a/er GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL

A

4,-.é

Slur 3 Notes Per Bow Stroke

Warm-up

Swinging High!

JANICE TUCKER RHODA

Moderato J = 100

úNo*

3

t go mer-ri-ly swing-ingon the swing!

Up

3

so high eas-i-ly reach-ing

to

the sky!

32

LESSON 16 Third Position On The D-String

E

I

r# G c#

4

A

4

124

G, G*, A in third position on the D-string.

ilI

I 2

1 shift

III

I I

III

lll

restez

Check l st Finger Unison

lll

restez

Ill

restez

ll .)

1J

Good King Wenceslas

English Folk Song

Moderato I

III 0

Use 2nd Finger I

.1.

4q

,:-

III

Check 4th Finger Octave lll

restez

I

ilI

The King's Jester Andantino J = 100

JANICE TUCKER RHODA

Third position on the A-string and E-string is covered in book 2, "The ABCs of Bass for the Developing Student."

34

LESSON 17 G#

And A In Half Position* On The G-string

nut c#

I

A **gb

2 4

Gf and A in half position on the G-string.

t2 ll2pos Ll2 pos means half position.

xx4th finger Bb ir covered in Book 2. Warm-ups

,

-)

0

1/2 pos resîez

a

1l

ll2

pos

TheWindmill JANICE TUCKER RHODA

Andantino J = 120

2l

mp .tlftl

dolce

|l

n Please learn to play A-Major Scale on page 41.

I

*Half position is covered extensively in book 2, "The ABCs of Bass for the Developing Student." ABC25

SECOND POSITION

LESSON 18 Second Position On The G-String G

nut

1

I t24

2

II

4 Roman numeral

r

in second position on the G-string. Bb, B, C

II

means second position.

(q)

*Shift the left hand to second position.

il restez 4

ll

restez

II

24

/tl

Q) *1st finger Bb is covered on page 40. ABC25

,

II

35

spiccato

Yankee f)oodle

Allegro

American Folk Sone

(r\ D.C. al Fine

Aura Lee

@ .

American Folk Sons

Andante '

t)

-

legato

(4)

@warm-ups

,

Q) Q) ADUZC

Q)

Scarborough Fair

@

37

English Folk Song

,

Moderato

@* ,

Lullaby

) =92 ftAndante [rJJ/ 4 \-/

r]

-A-

,l'

4

al

r)

(a

n

É

zr)

(a Please learn to play the ABC25

C-Major Scale on page 41.

JANICE TUCKER RHODA

38

LESSON 19 Second Position On The D-String D

nut

*F

pf

C#

I

F, Ff,, G in second position on the D-strine.

1

2

4 4

shift

Itt

,

.La .tl

il ,

ll restez z0

0

a

Il

restez 0

,

II rCSrcZ

Check 4th Finger Unison 4

ll restez 02

,

II

II Allegro

Skip To My Lou

American Folk Song

4

.

'

*1st finger ADUZC

-{

lL

Fh

is covered on page 39.

39

,

lI

restez

Hush rLittle Baby

Moderato

American Folk Song

I

@*t'-l.,t, ll

restez

El Capotín

Andante arco

,

I Puerto Rican Folk Song

Please learn to play the E-minor Scale on page 41.

LESSON 20

jUse

1st Finger In Second Position On The D-String shift *î WWarm-upr , z .

tJ

II

ll restez t0 II, restez II ABC25

oo

*Ur. 1st Finger In Second Position on The G-string

ll

.

restez

ì,.

ll

restez

Home On The Range Moderato

,

American Cowboy Song t

restez

rl.

Second position on the A-string and E-string is covered in book 2, "TheABCs of Bass for the Developing Student." ABC25

4 Major Scales And 2 Mtnor Scales G-Major Scale t

A-Major Scale

C-Major Scale

z,o

12

il

L/2 pos

4

A Natural-Minor Scale

olz

t

E Natural-Minor Scale

0tz

Use your metronome at different speeds:

J:50 J=60 J:80

J7 ) ) ). o Usevariedbowines: ) ) )\_/) ) Use varied

rhythms:

J))J -\--l/

4I

42

EASY DUETS Mary Had A Little Lamb

Melody

American Fork song

E

Harmony n

.G -ta

'rlr

I

I

tt'l

-

-aa

Jingle

Bells

rAMES prERpoNr

-

|.t

|ll

F

ll

lll

-

ABC25

ll

43

My Dreydl -

+l-€

-

fr-fi +Ì-fi

S. GROSSMAN and S. GOLDFARB

FI

n

TIvinkle, Tlvinkle Little Star Ah! vous dirai-je Maman

French Folk song

Itl

-la

t

I

.14

-4.

tl

ABC25

rrl

44

Go TetlAunt Rhodv American Folk Song

ll - ta

t

tL .

'rl l'l

ll

-aa

_ójl-

-ta

AL'

'l

I

- aa

rll -ta

45

Ode To Joy LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

F AL'

llr

'fl

l.l -aa

|l -ta

t

|

lll

7

|

E

-

F

-t.

I

-aa

lll

I

r

I

16

Worksheet Directions:

Write the letter names above the notes. 2. Write the fingerings below the notes. 1.

DGAAC

qglq

,

IIII

I

tt

i

ru

I

a

f |

|

ll2

pos

I

IIIil r

I

III

Glossary

47

Accidentals: signs used to indicate chromatic changes. fi sharp, b flat,

i

natural

Arco: play by using the bow. A tempo: back to the original tempo Bow stroke styles: Legato: smooth, no separation between the bow strokes. Portato: a "smooth" staccato bow - half wav between staccato and legato bowing - a slight pause between the bow strokes. Spiccato: a short bow stroke, bow comes off the string.

i

a

f

Staccato: a detached bow stroke, bow does not come off the string.

I

D.C. al Fine, Da Capo al Fine: from the beginning to the end Dolce: play sweetly.

Duet:

a composition written

for two instruments

Dvnamic marks: indicate desrees of volume.

pp

p

= pianissimo = very soft

^f f ff

-piano =soft

= mezzoforte = medium loud

=fort" = loud

= fortissimo = very loud = mezzopiano = medium soft Espressivo: expressive; play with expression. Fermata: hold or pause fî Fingerings: finger numbers of the left hand Key signatures: indicate sharps or flats of a particular key.

W

GMajorffi

E

DMajor

ffi

AMajor

ffiBbMajor E

FMajor

=cMajor

Note values: symbols of rhythm

o = whole note

J.

= dotted half

J.

note

J

J = half note

= dotted quarter = quarter

note

note

.l N

J

= ,i*t""nth note = thirty-second note

.b = eiehth note

Pizzicato, Pizz.: pluck the string.

Poco: little Rests: indicate

silence -.-

whole - -half | =quarter =

Rit., ritard., ritardando: slow down gradually. Scale:

Slur:

a series

a curved

'/

= eighth

I

=Sixteenth

I

=thirty-second

of 8 notes beginning on the tonic note and ending on the tonic note an octave higher. line which groups notes together in the same bow stroke.

Tempo marks: indicate the rate of speed of the composition.

Allegro - fast Allegretto - moderately fast Moderato - moderate

Andantino - faster than Andante Andante - medium slow Largo - slow

Time signatures: numbers indicating beats per measure: ABC25

2346

4448