C-Extensions

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Sam Sherry

Ken --

An excellent suggestion and well-taken. I played in orchestras as a student, amateur and semi-pro and stopped about twenty years ago.

I love improvising. Orchestra music, for all the many moments of beauty it provides, is second choice. I'm lucky to be able to play and even luckier to be able to play jazz.

Play on, maestro!

But what I mean now is to do it again being that you have a c-extension and get some classical use with it. That's all.

[Ken McKay]

I remember listening to Paul Warburton play quite often when I was taking lessons from him in Denver. On his Bohmann fiver, we (the audience) would be lucky if he hit one or two choice notes on the B string during an entire night of playing.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ken McKay

I remember listening to Paul Warburton play quite often when I was taking lessons from him in Denver. On his Bohmann fiver, we (the audience) would be lucky if he hit one or two choice notes on the B string during an entire night of playing.

I am mainly referring to playing Orchestra, not jazz clubs. That's where the extension work comes in. For me, throwing in a low note in jazz is by choice and done often for self satisfaction. I know this from personal experience. Playing the written notes in an Orchestra is more of a job whether you're having fun doing it or not. I just got this Schubert piece for a chamber concert and there are Eb's in much of the first movement and and a D or two that I noticed. Playing the runs without the Ext. or a 5er sounds just wrong. de-tuning is not much of an option either unless you have no choice. The part should be played as written as I intend to do so.

If you wanna see the bass play some low notes, go to the Orchestra hall, not the beer hall!

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Playing the runs without the Ext. or a 5er sounds just wrong.

Could you explain why they sound wrong on a 5er?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

Could you explain why they sound wrong on a 5er?

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I mean that playing them without 'either' a 5 or ext. sounds wrong. By jumping up for the lower notes and then continuing the run ascending or decending is what I was referring to.

Playing them as written can be done only on a 5, ext or de-tuned. A regular 4 string bass you have to cheat and play 'up' those notes that are below the 'E'.