Bass / Book 1

rhe/Bct of Ba,s,s'for the

Absolute Beginnerto the

Intermediate Studentby Janice Tucker Rhoda

by

Bass / Book '1

This bass method book is designed for the beginning andintermediate student of any age. After many years of com-bining various methods of teaching both children and adults,I have developed a simple and enjoyable approach for thestudy of the bass. I use materials which help students advancetechnically in a gradual, logical and thorough manner. Thereare short, lyrical wann-up exercises and longer study pieces,as well as familiar classical and popular melodies. I com-posed fifteen of the forty-nine melodies, which fit in perfect-ly with the development of left-hand and bowing techniques.

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

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

CARL FISCHER.65 BleeckerStreet, NewYork. NY 10012

Copyright @ 2003 by Janice Tucker RhodaI ntemational Copvri aht Secu red.

All rights reserved inclúdinó peforminq riohrs.WARNING!.This pu5lication is protected by Copyàght taw. To phótocópy or reproduce byany 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.

rhe/BC3 ot Ba,s,s'for the

Absolute Beginnerto the

Intermediate StudentJanice 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

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

f . impeccable intonation 6. beautiful tone quality2. solid bow technique 7. expressive vibràto3. correct posture 8. structured, artistic phrasing4. steady rhythm 9. precise shifting5. accurate reading 10. memorization of piecesx

In any case, it is wise to help our students develop good habitsright from the start. Teaching students of all ages is very grat-ifying. I think teachers will have the same posìtive expériénceI have had while using the series.

- Janice Thcker Rhoda

* Although it is not essential to memorize pieces, as a teacherI have found it to be a very useful tool in developing a stu-dent's skill. To paraphrase Rudolf Kolisch (1896-1978), a goodmemory is a habit formed. His quartet, the Kolisch Strin_e

Quartet, was the first to perform its works by memory.

ABC25 lsBN 0-8258-5255.2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COMPOSER PAGETITLE

ABSOLUTE BEGINNER LEVELFIRST POSITION

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

INTERMEDIATE LEVELFIRST POSITION

THIRD POSITION

HALF POSITION

SECOND POSITION

ABC25

Parts of the Bassscroll

nut -pegs

neck

end of fingerboard

The bow is placed halfwaybetween the bridge and theend of the fingerboard. Keepthe bow perpendicular to thestrings at all times.

endpin

French Bow

Parts oÍ the Bowstick end screw

tl-,

Irlhair stick fróg end screw

- I I

îp

German Bow

4

ryE

ABSOLUTE BEGINNER LEVEL

LESSON INaming The Spaces And Lines Of The Staff

The staff has 4 spaces.ThespacesareACEE

The staff has 5 lines.ThelinesareGBDEA.

Look down at your bridge while holdingyour bass. Memorize the names of thestrings as you pluck them one at a time.

Say: "GDAEEADG".

LESSON 2Pluck The Open Strings

A

Bridge -

Przzicato G D A GDAEE

.ì.a3

a

-

Repeat this exercise several times.

Copyright O 2003 by Janice Tucker Rhoda

LESSON 3Przztcato The Open Strings

IJ is a quarter note. A quarter note receives 1 beat.

- is a whole rest. It receives 4 beats.

m:, _ cl:- 4means4beatspermeasure.Ilme SlgnatureQ 4 means a quarter note receives 1 beat.

O Pizzicato

Count: L 2 3 4 | 2 3 4

a-

- -

ABC25

6

LESSON 4Play With The Bow

ll means Down bow

FV

V means Up bow

Frì

Count: I

-

34

|.l

|.t-,1.

|.lnl.

3z

l'lft

|lFl

I. PIZZICAIO the first time through.

2. ARCO the second time through.

German Bow Hold

Posture Perfect

French Bow Hold Piuicato Posture

Left Hand Fingerings

. The third finger will not be used at this beginning level. You mayanchor the third finger behind the fourth finger as a means of support.

3{'

4

FfFq

ABC25

LESSON 5Begin 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.

FIF

l- t-

ftft

-ll

-n.al

-|l.)1

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

ltIt|.ln. )tl

J i, u half note. A half nore receives 2 bears. ) = J * )

234 r234

r234

10

LESSON 6

A

=î

G

=o

Open G,A is lst finger on the G-stringin first position.

6 Warm-ups

F

Mary Had A Little LambAmerican Folk Song

Easy Duets: on pages 42 - 45.

ABC25

11

-

Skipping And Walking FingersJANICE TUCKER RHODA

L2

@**"f

Jingte BellsJAMBS PIERPONT

F

-a,

@ Warm-up\-/ -

)

My DreydlHanukah Song S. GROSSMAN

and S. GOLDFARB

-

FT.t - -

13

LESSON 7nutB44

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

Au Clair De La LuneFrench Folk Song

|,l

16 Warm-upvt

TIvinkle, Tlvinkle Little StarAh! Vous dirai-je, Maman French Folk Song

F.Gay

o is a whole note. A whole note receives 4 beats.l,'l (\/)

o=J*J* J*)

1234 1234l.lV

I4

@

Go TellAunt RhodyAmerican Folk Song

,!f

"?f

Study No. 1

@ n

ABC25

15

LESSON 8nut

Open A-string

.D is un eighth note. An eighth note rece ives Vzof a bear. )) = I1 = JJ. ls u dotted quarter note. A dotted quarter note rece ives lVzbeats. J. = J * )

A

o

Count: | 2 +Sav: "one two and".

*Draw quick, light bows on the up bows.

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

Ode To JoyLUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

I'l

@ wut--up

ABC25

16

Frère JacquesFrench Folk Song

lt

AlouetteFrench Folk Song

Long, Long AgoT. H. BAYLY

l7

nut

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

LESSON 9The A-String

A

In First PositionBcf,

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

|l

+

three and four and".

Hot Cross Buns English Folk Song

The LumberjackModerato ) =120

tlJANICE TUCKER RHODA

nut

r#

c#

LESSON 10The E-String In First Position

C#Ff,

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

({} Warm-ups.,r||

l:4+Lrt_+:

18

LESSON 11

Second Finger ON ALL STRINGS in First Position

Bb 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.

flarm-uns -Itl,l

1B

clz

-|lFI

,C|l

I

-

London Bridge English Folk Songf,l

a ,/ -.

F

Lightly RowGerman Folk Song

-

* 1- I means keep first finger on the string while playing Open G.ADUZC

T9

J. ir u dotted half note. A dotted half note receives 3 bears. ). = ) * Jg Warm-uns

aa

12323Count

@aa

Count:1 +

.1.

76 AllegroJ=138vnOver The Ocean

JANICE TUCKER RHODA

rlr !- | I\It,

tl -. -'-

"?fCount: 1 +

0 îempo

,. -!

ABC25rit.

@ Warm ws

The KangarooJANICE TUCKER RHODAAllegretts ) = t44

V

"!f123 4

In alla breve or "cut time" (Q = 7),there are 2 beats per measure, and the half note receives 1 beat.

The LionessJANICE TUCKER RHODAAndante ) = el

"!fCount:2 + I 2

fsà Warm-ups\-7 t^ G

l+2+

Fl

Count:1 + 2

(j}) Allegro )=tt\-/ ptzz. :> >

Rock'N'Roll Bass1+2+

JANICE TUCKER RHODA

>>>

f=

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

AÓUZ3

2l

LESSON 12

Slurred Staccato And Portato

*Play slurred staccato.

Merry-Go-RoundAllegretto J = 132

IJANICE TUCKER RIIODA

a t tL .

"?fl.l

l'l

@***T

*Play slurred portato.

Playing SoccerModerato ) = tZù JANICE TUCKER RHODA

V-J

*Play slurred staccato.

rrv-

Pop! Goes The WeaselEnglish Folk Song

rl [-J

236 means 6 beats per measure.

8 means an eighth note ()) receives 1 beat.

count'))))))t23456@ Warm-uPs\-/ - vlt v|ì v

r23.|l

4 5 6

VF V

For He's A Jotly Good Fellow

r234

Oats And Beansn

American Folk Song

24

Warm-up-

II\TERMEDIATE LEVELLESSON 13The Smooth Slur

]/-,

@ Moderato French Folk Song

- Y.-.-_

Up On The House TopModerato American Folk Song

This Otd ùIanModerato American Folk Song

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

The HopeHatikvah

@ a"oante 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, SusannaModerato STEPHEN FOSTER

26

I4

It4

C, Cf,, D in third positionon the G-string.

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

r&

A

B

C

crD

THIRD POSITION

LESSOI{ Í4Third Position On The G-String

t24ilI

6 Warm-uns

I*Shift the left hand to third position.ilI

lll 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

Yiolin,

III

Concerto ThemeLUDWIG VAN BEETHOVENAllegretto

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

ReubenAnd RachelEnglish Folk Song

Moderato

@ Warm-uns

28 Over The RiverAnd Through The WoodsAllegro , ..4 American Folk Song

--4

Use staccato bowing on the dotted notes.

@ **,Jn

School Is Out!Allegro ) = 132 JANICE TUCKER RHODA

I'4'

4

@**-T

f rita,

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

Moderato J = 100

f,l

Hop Scotch JANICE TUCKER RHODA

29

Study No. 2

IL

LESSON 1533

I

There are 3 triplet eighth notes (J J J) in 1 quarter note. J J J = J

,rn tn(fr) Warm-ups\-/ |lvllvllv

Say: "tri-p-let tri-p-let"

lt

3

n

ABC25

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. ). * ) = J314+t/4=l

Warm-ups

Count: 1

Ie2

I

I E

Row Your BoatAmerican Folk Song

Allegretto

31Syncopation or syncopated rhythm:

The rhythmic accent is on the weak beat (versus strong beat) of the measure

@ warm-up

IIV N Vtl V

Count:I +2+ | +2+

ModeratoJoy To The World LOWELL MASON a/er

GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDELA4,-.é

Slur 3 Notes Per Bow Stroke

Warm-up

Swinging High!JANICE TUCKER RHODA

Moderato J = 100

3go mer-ri-ly swing-ingon the swing!

3

Up so high eas-i-ly reach-ing to the sky!úNo* t

32

LESSON 16

Third Position On The D-String

G, G*, A in third positionon the D-string.

124ilI

1 shift

E

r#G

c#A

I

4

I2

4

IIII

I

III

lll restez

Check l st Finger Unison

lll restez

Ill restez

Good King Wenceslasll .)1J

English Folk SongModeratoI

III

0

Use 2ndI

Finger4q

.1.,:-

IIICheck 4th Finger Octave

lll restez

I

ilI

The King's JesterAndantino J = 100

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

JANICE TUCKER RHODA

34

I24

-),

LESSON 17

G# And A In Half Position* On The G-string

nutc#A

**gb

Ll2

xx4th finger Bb ir covered in Book 2.

Warm-ups

0

t2ll2pos

pos means half position.

Gf and A in half positionon the G-string.

1/2 pos resîez

a 1l

ll2 pos

Andantino J = 1202l

TheWindmillJANICE TUCKER RHODA

mp dolce

|l.tlftl

n

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

*Half position is covered extensively in book 2,

ABC25

I

"The ABCs of Bass for the Developing Student."

35

SECOND POSITION

LESSON 18

Second Position On The G-String

Gnut

t24II

1

I2

4

Bb, B, C in second positionon the G-string.

Roman numeral II means second position.

r (q)*Shift the left hand to second position.

restezil

4

ll restez

,II24

/tl Q) II*1st finger Bb is covered on page 40.

ABC25

spiccato

AllegroYankee f)oodle

American Folk Sone

(r\D.C. al Fine

Aura Lee@ Andante American Folk Sons

. ' t) -

legato

(4)

@warm-ups

,

ADUZC

Q) Q) Q)

Scarborough Fair37

English Folk Song,@ Moderato

@*

,

Lullaby JANICE TUCKER RHODAftAndante ) =92[rJJ/ 4\-/ -A- r]

,l'4

al

(a

nr)

É

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

ABC25

(a zr)

38

LESSON 19

Second Position On TheD

D-String

F, Ff,, G in second positionon the D-strine.

nutC#pf*F

Itt,shift

I1

2

4

4.La

.tl

il,

ll restez

z0 0a

Il restez

,0

II

4

Check 4th Finger UnisonrCSrcZ

ll restez

02 ,

IIII

Skip To My LouAllegro

4

American Folk Song

-{. ' lL

*1st finger Fh is covered on page 39.

ADUZC

39

,

lI restez

Hush rLittle BabyModerato American Folk Song

I

@*t'-l.,t,

ll restez

Andantearco,

El CapotínI

Puerto Rican Folk Song

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

LESSON 20jUse 1st Finger In Second Position On The D-StringWWarm-upr , z shift *î

. tJ

II

ll restez

t0

ABC25

restezII,

II

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

ll restez

. ì,.

ll restez

Home On The RangeModerato,

American Cowboy Songt

restez

rl.

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

4I4 Major Scales And 2 Mtnor Scales

G-Major Scalet

A-Major Scale

-L/2 pos

C-Major Scale il12z,o

A Natural-Minor Scaleolz

4

t

E Natural-Minor Scale0tz

Use your metronome at different speeds:

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

J:50 J=60 J:80

o

J))J-\--l/

42

EASY DUETSMary Had A Little Lamb

American Fork songMelody E

Harmony n

.G-ta

'rlr-

I I tt'l

-aa

-Jingle Bells

rAMES prERpoNr

|.t

|ll

F

ll ll

lll

ABC25

-

43

My DreydlS. GROSSMAN

and S. GOLDFARB-

+l-€

-fr-fi

FI+Ì-fi

n

TIvinkle, Tlvinkle Little StarAh! vous dirai-je Maman

French Folk song-

Itl

-la t

I

.14

-4.

tl rrl

ABC25

44

Go TetlAunt RhodvAmerican Folk Song

ll- ta t tL .

l'l'rl

ll

-aa

_ójl-

-ta

AL'

I 'l

- aa

rll

-ta

Ode To Joy45

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

FAL'

l.l

llr 'fl

-aa

|l-ta t

E

lll | 7 |

-

F

-t.

I lll I r I

-aa

16

Directions:

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

DGAAC

Worksheet

qglqI

,IIII

tt

iI rua f | |

ll2 pos I

IIIil III

-

rI

Glossary

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 andlegato bowing - a slight pause between the bow strokes. i a

Spiccato: a short bow stroke, bow comes off the string. fStaccato: 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.

47

pp = pianissimo = very soft

p -piano =soft^f = mezzoforte = medium loud

f =fort" = loud

W = mezzopiano = medium soft ff = fortissimo = very loud

Espressivo: expressive; play with expression.

Fermata: hold or pause fîFingerings: finger numbers of the left hand

Key signatures: indicate sharps or flats of a particular key.

E GMajorffi DMajor ffi AMajor ffiBbMajor E FMajor

=cMajorNote values: symbols of rhythm

o = whole note J. = dotted quarter note .l = ,i*t""nth note

NJ. = dotted half note J = quarter note J = thirty-second note

J = half note .b = eiehth note

Pizzicato, Pizz.: pluck the string.

Poco: littleRests: indicate silence -.- = whole '/ = eighth

- -half I =Sixteenth

| =quarter I =thirty-second

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

Scale: a series of 8 notes beginning on the tonic note and ending on the tonic note an octave higher.

Slur: a curved line which groups notes together in the same bow stroke.

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

Allegro - fast Andantino - faster than AndanteAllegretto - moderately fast Andante - medium slowModerato - moderate Largo - slow

Time signatures: numbers indicating beats per measure: 2 3 4 64448ABC25