saxobass Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 Hi all. I have mostly played double bass in jazz groups, large and small, but have recently been asked to perform with folk musicians. Any guidance available? Perhaps there is a book to be read, or a source of any kind! I don`t really know where to start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guyl Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Clean your ears out - those folkies aren't into sheet music. "it's in D..2,3,4" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 [quote name='guyl' post='448461' date='Mar 29 2009, 12:05 AM']Clean your ears out - those folkies aren't into sheet music. "it's in D..2,3,4"[/quote] Quite true! Sometimes in G. Listen to loads of stuff for ideas; Danny Thompson has to be the N0.1 destination, but lots of good players around. If you already play jazz you probably have an ear for vibe, so just go with the flow - they'll tell you (as they did me all those years ago ) if you're overplaying. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouMa Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 It has to be nick drake or pentangle,get john martyn as well but dont listen to much or you may want to be a guitarist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 (edited) Sometimes in A too. What sort of folk is it you'll be playing, traditional, instrumental, songs? Keep your playing simple. Probably just first and fifth until you pick up the vibe, 2 or 4 to the bar. If it's traditional folk tunes there will be a lot of notes being played by the fiddles, whistles, etc. so keep your playing simple otherwise it all gets a bit muddy. Follow the guitarist's chords and you won't go wrong and just listen. Edited March 29, 2009 by BassBus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Play the big letter on 1 and 3. Magic folky things will happen and you will be asked to play for everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 [quote name='hubrad' post='448468' date='Mar 29 2009, 01:19 AM']Danny Thompson[/quote] +1. What a fantastic player! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianT Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Hi, Just noticed this thread, and coincidentally I have just finished a rehearsal with our acoustic ensemble this evening. We play a fair variety of songs, most of which could be considered folk. The set up is me on doulble bass, 'lead' acoustic guitar, vocalist and another rhythm guitarist who also plays mandolin and banjo. This gives me a fair bit of freedom as to what I do. Mainly it's simple root note patterns for the more traditional type of tunes (e.g. bluegrass), but there is sometimes scope for walking-bass type lines with bluesier material, or even slap bass with some of the faster pieces. I am also planning to learn to play with the bow, which will give me some more options for the slower/quieter pieces. I would think that if you have played jazz and have a reasonable ear then playing folk shouldn't be too hard. I have been able to get by OK with mainly listening to a verse or chorus or so of an unfamiliar song and then joining in. Just get the other musicians to tell you the key the song is in before you go for it (sometimes they forget to tell you which makes life interesting). If you play guitar you may be able to work out the chords by watching the guitarist's hand on the fretboard - I have found that this helps. Generally I try to keep things simple as far as possible though. I'm not an expert by any means - I got my double bass about a year ago after several years of playing guitar and then bass guitar. I went to the local folk club and when they discovered I played bass (even though at that time I was fairly useless - not much better now!) I was made very welcome! It's been great fun and I hope you enjoy your playing as much as I have. Almost forgot - I've got a DVD of Todd Phillips which has been very helpful in getting me started. Hope this helps. Adrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxobass Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 Wow....great response. Thanks everyone. Yes, I`ve played mostly modern jazz for a long time, although mostly on baritone sax over reecent years, so I suppose I`ve got some sort of an ear! Really want to broaden out before I`m too ***** old, and I really fancy some of that John Martyn stuff, so I`ll give it a go. P.S......do they go in for any of that wicker man stuff?.....just in case they don`t like me I mean....lot of volatility in a bass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJ Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I've been playing Bluegrass now for a short while, one of the genres I never got to in my youth. Like the previous chaps have stated, keep it simple, keep your ears wide open, and like the others say, if you can watch the guitarist hands all the better. Have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 There aren't too many upright bassists in the traditional music world. I can only think of two: Sharon Shannon's band has a double bass player whose name I can't remember, and Clannad had one whose name I can't spell, but it's something like Ciaran O Braonain! Going a bit further afield, the double bass is an essential part of many Finnish folk music bands, along with fiddles and harmonium. JPP are a brilliant band in that style. [url="http://www.myspace.com/thejppband"]http://www.myspace.com/thejppband[/url]. Just found this amazing link: [url="http://m.folk.ee:8080/ramgen/2004/JPP.rm"]http://m.folk.ee:8080/ramgen/2004/JPP.rm[/url]. Also Czech music and Hungarian string bands. And then there's bluegrass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonestar Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 +1 again Danny Thompson That bloke with Seth Lakeman is good too. Ben Nicholls according to the album sleeve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 [quote name='pete.young' post='449868' date='Mar 30 2009, 08:26 PM']Going a bit further afield, the double bass is an essential part of many Finnish folk music bands, along with fiddles and harmonium. JPP are a brilliant band in that style. [url="http://www.myspace.com/thejppband"]http://www.myspace.com/thejppband[/url]. Just found this amazing link: [url="http://m.folk.ee:8080/ramgen/2004/JPP.rm"]http://m.folk.ee:8080/ramgen/2004/JPP.rm[/url].[/quote] Good call on that Pete. Haven't heard them before but they are great. That's how to play bass in trad folk too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 [quote name='pete.young' post='449868' date='Mar 30 2009, 08:26 PM']There aren't too many upright bassists in the traditional music world. I can only think of two: Sharon Shannon's band has a double bass player whose name I can't remember, and Clannad had one whose name I can't spell, but it's something like Ciaran O Braonain![/quote] Hah .. there's thaasands of us! The one thing that got to me, having finally got onto double bass in 2001 after years of mooting the idea, was that I suddenly realised it was trendy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJ Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 [quote name='hubrad' post='450539' date='Mar 31 2009, 02:36 PM']Hah .. there's thaasands of us! The one thing that got to me, having finally got onto double bass in 2001 after years of mooting the idea, was that I suddenly realised it was trendy. [/quote] ...and it's great fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 [quote name='TPJ' post='451266' date='Apr 1 2009, 10:49 AM'] ...and it's great fun[/quote] And people actually seem pleased to see you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemuel Beam Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 I saw Ben Nicholls twice with Cara Dillon (married to Sam Lakeman I believe) - excellent player, pizz and arco, equally happy on electric.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorick Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Transcribe some Fairport Convention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 In addition to the god-like Danny Thompson, you should check out Ali Friend for a more modern take on folk double bass. You'll find him on Beth Orton's Trailer Park and Central Reservation albums and also with a band called Clayhill. Otherwise, the 'less notes, more space' approach has always worked for me - folkies love that sort of thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 I recently experienced a folk band with a bass viol, one of those 6-string upright bass type things with catgut frets, at a local barn dance. Cool to see such a beast in usage, shame it was being piloted by a holder rather than a player. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxobass Posted April 1, 2009 Author Share Posted April 1, 2009 I am truly transmobugrelated by all this. Loved the Seth Lakeman stuff. Been standing cool on the west coast of jazz for years and didn`t realise (or had forgotten) what else was out there. Thank you, thank you and keep it coming. Incidentally, glad to hear the KISS principle being lauded (`Keep It Simple, Stupid`). Usually required never to play one note when sixty three can be achieved, and I`m so p***** o** with that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 [quote name='yorick' post='451362' date='Apr 1 2009, 12:24 PM']Transcribe some Fairport Convention.[/quote] AFAIK all Fairport is electric bass, so I'm not sure how relevant that is to upright players. You'd be better off listening to Oysterband's cello player, who is really a bass player with a huge attitude. Back to bluegrass- the best bluegrass bass I've ever heard was Country Gazette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 I've played with a few folkies of various sorts, but it's such a broad genre that it's impossible to suggest one approach. It can vary from having a fairly free rein with people doing their own interpretations of traditional songs and tunes, to playing Scottish dance tunes where doing anything different to the accordianist or pianists' left hand will get you dirty looks! It's surprising that more double bass doesn't pop up in folk music - to my mind it's the natural accompaniment to other acoustic stringed instruments, and really adds something... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJ Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 Allison Krauss with Union Station is a great sound as well. The stuff with Robert Plant is different all together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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