The Bass in Fifths

[Johnny Layton]

Yeah as far as Jeff Bradetich's insights with the left hand, no doubt about it in my mind...would likely bring great value regardless of the bass' tuning.

[Jeff Moote]

That is also a notion that Joel Q has expressed - any left hand issues that are present in fourths tuning will be a bigger problem in fifths, so it is important to focus on a strong technique. This sounds obvious for any tuning, but many get away with a lazy left hand in fourths because we can play so much of the repertoire in half and 1st position if desired.

[Johnny Layton]

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

...many get away with a lazy left hand in fourths because we can play so much of the repertoire in half and 1st position if desired.

I think sometimes that it isn't so much a matter of convenience as a matter of habit...one starts to play in 4ths and can end one's professional career remaining so.

I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with playing the bass in EADG tuning. At times, I do wonder if doing CGDA tuning isn't being redundant...the cello already tunes this way and offers that tonal character...and an element of "richness" will be lost.

But, when I'm working on my scales, my arpeggios, my favorite lines...or just goofing off...I feel like I play better in tune with myself, which is for me a very gratifying experience though it may not be what you or another listener might expect from my making this claim LOL

Anyway thanks again y'all

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by Johnny Layton

I think sometimes that it isn't so much a matter of convenience as a matter of habit...one starts to play in 4ths and can end one's professional career remaining so.

I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with playing the bass in EADG tuning.

I agree entirely! My point was not that we shouldn't tune in fourths, but that we shouldn't get sucked into that Simandl/play everything in the lowest position possible/etc system which is very limiting. This is independent of tuning, but fifths both forces you to be conscious of the left hand/requires facility, and also offers other things (contra C without an extension, favourable intonation for some people)

[Tomas Bouda]

two years ago, i began studying with andrew downing - i was practicing in fifths and still gigging in fourths. it didn't make any sense. so, about 6 months in, i made the decision to go fifths full-time. i have been tuning in fifths since then. let me tell you that my bass has never sung so nicely, with a cello-like voice. being a really big guy (6'8") i find moving around on my 4/4 bass to be relatively easy, although, i must admit that i'm always looking for a 5/8 bass to totally shred on. i can't say enough good things about tuning in fifths...just give it a year, if you're going to give it a shot because you need that time to really get it under your fingers.

one problem with this tuning is that the concerto rep is really much more difficult to play - if anyone has any suggestions for concertos that work well in fifths, that info would be greatly appreciated.

[Calvin Marks]

Originally Posted by Tomas Bouda

two years ago, i began studying with andrew downing - i was practicing in fifths and still gigging in fourths. it didn't make any sense. so, about 6 months in, i made the decision to go fifths full-time. i have been tuning in fifths since then. let me tell you that my bass has never sung so nicely, with a cello-like voice. being a really big guy (6'8") i find moving around on my 4/4 bass to be relatively easy, although, i must admit that i'm always looking for a 5/8 bass to totally shred on. i can't say enough good things about tuning in fifths...just give it a year, if you're going to give it a shot because you need that time to really get it under your fingers.

one problem with this tuning is that the concerto rep is really much more difficult to play - if anyone has any suggestions for concertos that work well in fifths, that info would be greatly appreciated.

Hey Tomas, welcome to the club. I honestly haven't found much concerto repertoire that's more difficult in fifths than in fourths. Have you played the Koussevitzky? That one works well in fifths. I like playing the first cello suite in the lower octave, really good practice!!