Rob MacKillop Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 I've just started the first of John Patitucci's Melodic Etudes, and am very impressed with them. I'd like to know if anyone else here is working through the book? There are 60 studies in various keys and with various scales, and then there is a scale dictionary at the back, with separate fingering for upright and bass guitars. I've just done a video of the first study, in C Major. I recorded it twice: once unplugged but with a close mic, the second time through a Phil Jones Double Four. I like the acoustic sound, although completely impractical in any gig situation! The bass is the Ibanez SRH500F, a great instrument for the price, though I really wish it didn't have those "in-between frets" dots on the fretboard, which are really distracting! TI-Flats - can't remember the gauge. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan63 Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 Thanks for posting this Rob, nice work, the whole book should keep you busy for months Obviously you could mix acoustic and amplified signals depending on how you record it for a best of both worlds sound Thanks for the demonstration of the Ibanez bass, I'm tempted by @Treegirl's one that is for salen at the moment but like many am skint for a month; also interesting to read you comment about the fingerboard markers distracting from the edge markers, but it will be useful for anyone looking at this bass 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 1 hour ago, Rob MacKillop said: I've just started the first of John Patitucci's Melodic Etudes, and am very impressed with them. I'd like to know if anyone else here is working through the book? There are 60 studies in various keys and with various scales, and then there is a scale dictionary at the back, with separate fingering for upright and bass guitars. I've just done a video of the first study, in C Major. I recorded it twice: once unplugged but with a close mic, the second time through a Phil Jones Double Four. I like the acoustic sound, although completely impractical in any gig situation! The bass is the Ibanez SRH500F, a great instrument for the price, though I really wish it didn't have those "in-between frets" dots on the fretboard, which are really distracting! TI-Flats - can't remember the gauge. Very nice! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob MacKillop Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 Aiden - it is a great bass for the money, and 2nd-hand even better if in good condition. They've tried to cater for everybody's preference regarding fret markers. The side dots are all I need. The in-between dots might suit someone else. But they've also added black thin lines where the frets would be. They are so thin and so dark, I can't actually see them when playing, unless I face a light and stick my neck out. My personal preference is side dots in the usual places, including the 3rd. If we are going to have fret lines, then make them visible. But as for in-between dots on the fretboard - who wants that? Otherwise it is perfect 🙂 Ambient - thanks. Glad you like it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz39 Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 Lovely playing. I can't even imagine trying that! I have had a noodle on the 5 stringer version of that at PMT - it's lovely and woody, the fret lines are sort of faint brown - a help for the intonally-awkward like me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob MacKillop Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 The book is great for sight reading, with all keys presented in their modes and the melodic minor scale. Each piece gives a flavour of the scale or mode. Nice to have a few Phrygian pieces in there, not to mention Locrian. There is no tab, and no fingering, which is ideal if you want to improve your sight reading. Published by Carl Fischer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob MacKillop Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 Cheers, Daz. Four string is enough for me. If five, I'm not sure if I'd want a higher or lower string. And while I dither over that, four strings are enough to keep me busy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petebassist Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 Nice playing! and love the bass (I have one also). I hadn't come across these etudes before. I only ever look down on the side of the neck so I only see the side dots, not the fret-board dots. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burno70 Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 Lovely playing! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob MacKillop Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 Cheers, Pete. They're good etudes. I hope other members here taken them on. It would be good to build up videos of the whole book. I try to just look at the side dots, but every now and then the fretboard dots distract me. Ah well, there are worse things in the world to worry about. I'll get used to them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob MacKillop Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 Cheers, Burno. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKenrick Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 It's one of my favourite books for reminding myself that my reading isn't what it should be 😂 A great practice resource and a serious workout; most of the studies are rhythmically straightforward but challenging it terms of pitch, especially given JP's preference for using all of the ledger lines above the stave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob MacKillop Posted January 16, 2020 Author Share Posted January 16, 2020 Agreed. Even more useful for fretless intonation workouts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 I’ve tried a few of these, and they’re really good! If you’re struggling with intonation, you can run a root note drone in the background which will help you stay true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob MacKillop Posted January 16, 2020 Author Share Posted January 16, 2020 Good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 I use them for reading practice so I consciously don't learn them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob MacKillop Posted January 16, 2020 Author Share Posted January 16, 2020 I get that. I haven't read them all, but my feeling is that there are a half dozen or so that I would want to memorise, at least for a while, and use the rest as quality reading fodder. And then there are moments when I use them as springboards for improv. They are there to be used in any way we see fit. I'd like to see more composed pieces for bass players. I should perhaps mention my own Mel Bay publication, Classical and Contemporary Studies for Bass Guitar? https://www.melbay.com/Products/30676M/classical-and-contemporary-studies-for-bass-guitar.aspx 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Hughes Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 I’ve played around with the first few on double bass, never tried them on electric though. And then I get ..... distracted by things that are easier to play! Thanks for the link to your book, that looks like a worthy addition to the library. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 Interesting book that you propose. I have a recording of these early bass composers. I'll listen back to it later. I like your playing too. Thanks for the link. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 Just bought your book to study some different pieces. Thanks again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob MacKillop Posted January 17, 2020 Author Share Posted January 17, 2020 Great! Any questions, just ask. I was going to start a thread to promote my book, but when I did that on Talk Bass I got the hair-dryer treatment from a Mod. So I've asked a Mod here what to do without infringing forum rules. Awaiting a reply. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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