Share your GPO Exercises: Double Bass Melody

[Garritan]

In Lesson 3 and 5 there are some exercises designed to apply some of the concepts presented in the lessons.

It is my hope that you would share your work with the rest of us. You don't have to worry about your work being bashed. This is an encouraging and supportative learning community and we ask all participants to be courteous and polite. this fosters trust, openness and a postive learning environment.

Sharing your work will help you to become more proficient in the material covered. Professors and other learners can also provide constructive evaluation to help you along the way. This is the best way of you knowing that you understand the lessons. Each lesson builds upon each other so it is important to do the exercises and helpful to share them.

Let's try our first lesson:

In Lesson Three, there is an Exercise at the bottom: Melody in Strings Instruments: Double Basses Exercise.

Please take a few minutes to look at the score, work with the accompaniment file (mp3 backing track or midi file) and compose your own double bass melody along with the accompaniment.

Please feel free to post your double bass melody. Let's hear some of the various melodies you can come up with.

Here is a recap of the exercise:
http://www.garritan.com/RK/Ch2_files/exercise.jpgGPO Exercise - Melody in Strings Instruments: Double Basses Exercise


In this exercise you will experiment with adding a double bass melody to a background track of winds and strings.

1. Click and refer to the background score here (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/melody-basses-backing-score.jpg)
2. Load the backgound track MP3 (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/melody-basses-backing.mp3) in your MP3 player or sequencer. For MP3 click here (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/melody-basses-backing.mp3).
3. Load the Basses in Melody MIDI file (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/melody-basses.mid) and it's respective instruments.
For MIDI file click here (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/melody-basses.mid).
4. Load the solo or section double bass instrument into GPO.
5. Play your own melody along with the background MP3 ir MIDI file.

Try doing your own melodies with the double bass instruments and post them here, or email them to me and I will post them.
Gary Garritan

[snorlax]

Gary,

There seems to be a discrepancy between the printed score for the bass melody exerciseand the MIDI/MP3--in the viola part (figures that the viola would be the source of a hose-up;) )

Printed score has viola notes G|A|A,Bb|C in alto clef

MIDI has viola notes E|F|F,G|G--a direct double of 2nd clarinet.

I believe that the MIDI/MP3 is right--I can't hear an A in a viola rubbing against the B-flat in clarinet 1 at the start of maeasure 3, but I will defer to ears keener than mine.

Jim

[Garritan]

Gary,

There seems to be a discrepancy between the printed score for the bass melody exerciseand the MIDI/MP3--in the viola part (figures that the viola would be the source of a hose-up;) )

Printed score has viola notes G|A|A,Bb|C in alto clef

MIDI has viola notes E|F|F,G|G--a direct double of 2nd clarinet.

I believe that the MIDI/MP3 is right--I can't hear an A in a viola rubbing against the B-flat in clarinet 1 at the start of maeasure 3, but I will defer to ears keener than mine.

JimThanks Jim for pointing this out. I replaced the file with the correct one. Let me know if this is right.

Looking forward to hearing some contrabass melodies.

Gary Garritan

[snorlax]

OK...
Since I kvetched about the score, I figure I'll make the first post...

Here's my bass melody...

...an MP3 (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/SNORLAX-BassMelodyExerciseV1.mp3)

...the printed score (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/SNORLAX-BassMelodyExerciseV1.pdf)

...a MIDI (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/SNORLAX-BassMelodyExerciseV1.mid)

...and an Overture 4/GPO file (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/SNORLAX-BassMelodyExerciseV1.ove)

Thanx to Gary for hosting these...

Please help me make it better musically...I'm pretty limited as to processing, so I'm not sure what I can do better in that area.

Please--post some more versions, people!!

Jim

[belkina]

Thanks for posting a first example! :-)

A few suggestions:

1) the accompaniment does not need all that doubling; just makes it heavy for nothing. And contradicts your "ppp" dynamic. And it will also muddy up the bass melody somewhat.

2) the bass melody (I assume you are writing for a bass SECTION?) is rather lively for such a large instrument. (I'm assuming a rather quick tempo. You should always specify tempo, btw; things which are OK when slow can be disastrous when quick, and vice versa.) Anyway, if you do want something this quick, this is a case where it would be better doubled with cellos at the 8ve: clearer, better defined.

3) on a non-orchestral note: I find the repetition of the motive at the end a bit over-done, given that the phrase is so short.

I hope that is of some use! :-)

Alan

OK...
Since I kvetched about the score, I figure I'll make the first post...

Here's my bass melody...

...an MP3 (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/SNORLAX-BassMelodyExerciseV1.mp3)

...the printed score (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/SNORLAX-BassMelodyExerciseV1.pdf)

...a MIDI (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/SNORLAX-BassMelodyExerciseV1.mid)

...and an Overture 4/GPO file (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/SNORLAX-BassMelodyExerciseV1.ove)

Thanx to Gary for hosting these...

Please help me make it better musically...I'm pretty limited as to processing, so I'm not sure what I can do better in that area.

Please--post some more versions, people!!

Jim

[snorlax]

Thanks for posting a first example! :-)

A few suggestions:

1) the accompaniment does not need all that doubling; just makes it heavy for nothing. And contradicts your "ppp" dynamic. And it will also muddy up the bass melody somewhat.

2) the bass melody (I assume you are writing for a bass SECTION?) is rather lively for such a large instrument. (I'm assuming a rather quick tempo. You should always specify tempo, btw; things which are OK when slow can be disastrous when quick, and vice versa.) Anyway, if you do want something this quick, this is a case where it would be better doubled with cellos at the 8ve: clearer, better defined.

3) on a non-orchestral note: I find the repetition of the motive at the end a bit over-done, given that the phrase is so short.

I hope that is of some use! :-)

Alan

Alan, THANKS!...

FYI...

I assumed that the accompaniment was a given--that the assignment was to write a melody to the given acc. I didn't want to take the liberty of changing it in any way, so I just went with it as it was after I asked to have the viola part fixed.

The tempo is not quick...it was quarter=38, which I forgot to mark:o . My bad. That's why I made the statement at the bottom of the score PDF that I would have written the piece as q=76, with doubled tempo and doubled note values, hence 8 bars. At the given tempo of q=38, it's not that fast.

I'm an extremely crappy "Grab and Pray"* string bass player & I could almost get through it:D at q=38. Does it sound that fast on the MP3?
(Yes, I indeed went to a local college where I frequently rehearse and tried it on the bass before brass ens. rehearsal;) )

Yes, I agree with doubling at the octave in the cello. (Or perhaps tuba [loco] a la Meistersinger?? Can't recall if the tuba line is in the cello in add'n to the bass part.)

How much liberty can I take with these assignments to change parameters of the accompaniment such as doublings, tempo, voicings, etc??

I also agree about the repetition of the motive...let me see if I can rework that.

Alan, I'm not disputing any of your statements in the least; I just adhered too closely to the LETTER of the assignment, perhaps at the expense of the SPIRIT (or the MUSIC) of the assignment. THANK YOU for taking the time to listen and respond. We need people of your experience, skill, and caring to comment here!! I am setting about the process of improving it per your ideas.
Again, thanks and appreciation.
Jim

*Come to think of it, many of my previous relationships with girlfriends were that way as well.

[belkina]

Alan, THANKS!...

[...] I'm not disputing any of your statements in the least; I just adhered too closely to the LETTER of the assignment, perhaps at the expense of the SPIRIT (or the MUSIC) of the assignment. THANK YOU for taking the time to listen and respond. We need people of your experience, skill, and caring to comment here!! I am setting about the process of improving it per your ideas.
Again, thanks and appreciation.
Jim


Glad if it helped. I admit I neither looked at the assignment as given very closely (obviously, I did not make it up) nor listened to the MP3, just read your score.

As for the tuba in Meistersinger, I presume you mean in the overture. Yes the celli are present. It's very rare for the tuba to be used on the bass *IN A TUTTI*, without the celli also participating. Can happen, but not at all common.

I hope I was not overly critical, just trying to help ... :-)

[Garritan]

I assumed that the accompaniment was a given--that the assignment was to write a melody to the given acc. I didn't want to take the liberty of changing it in any way, so I just went with it as it was after I asked to have the viola part fixed.

Snorlax,

Excellent melody! I liked the tempo. It does remind me of what a few bass players I know would do.

You are right about the accompaniment being a given and to write a melody to it. And you did very well for the accompaniment provided.

It would be easiest to use the accompaniment as given but if people want to modify it they are welcome to do so. The important thing is to cover what is being taught - in this case melody in the double basses.

Thanks for being the first. Looking forward to hearing some more.

Gary Garritan

[Leaf]

Can anyone here tell me how to make a Finale .MUS into a PDF? :rolleyes:

[Garritan]

Can anyone here tell me how to make a Finale .MUS into a PDF? :rolleyes:An easy way to convert Finale to PDF is to use a PDF printer driver so that Finale will print as a PDF file. You insatall the PDF printer driver and to create PDF files you simply select the "print" command from Finale. Here's a free driver you can download: http://www.pdf995.com/

Gary Garritan

[snorlax]

For Alan:
Nah--you are not at all too critical...not even close...much too nice and reasonable;) ...I have been ripped apart to varying degrees by a handful of brass virtuosi in master classes...some ripped more viciously than others, but I learned from each experience. Being an autodidact, those experiences were extremely valuable to me!
People such as you and etLux have the unique ability both to encourage and to indicate the areas in need of improvement.
As an educator myself, I appreciate the difficulty of doing that. I'll bet your students really put out 100% effort for you and are not afraid to take some chances.:)
PS--my view of the orchestra is sorta tuba-centric, then brass-centric. Probably a slightly skewed Orchesteranschauung.:eek:

For Gary:
I probably wouldn't have done this without GPO and the forum here. Given the personnel here, it's a master class free for the taking. As always, thanx and appreciation!!

Jim

[Leaf]

Thanks Gary, I'll make some and send it.

PS: I emailed what I have so far... and lacking in knowledge of music theory so going by ear, so go ahead and be as critical as neccesary. I won't be too sensitve unless you say something like goodgrief you need to give up music and try something else.:p


...but if you said wow you maybe need to have your ears checked or something, then that would be OK.:eek:

[snorlax]

An easy way to convert Finale to PDF is to use a PDF printer driver so that Finale will print as a PDF file. You insatall the PDF printer driver and to create PDF files you simply select the "print" command from Finale. Here's a free driver you can download: http://www.pdf995.com/

Gary Garritan

YES! I still have PDF995 on one computer without Adobe Acrobat...it is stable, efficient, and easy to use. I did indeed pay the $9.95 to get rid of the nag ads. Even if you don't pay, the ads are not that "nagiferous" anyway. Highly recommended.

Jim

[marnen]

An easy way to convert Finale to PDF is to use a PDF printer driver so that Finale will print as a PDF file.

And even that is only necessary on Windows and Mac OS 9. Mac OS X has PDF support built into the operating system, so in the Print dialog, you'll see a handy PDF menu that lets you make whatever you're about to print into a PDF file, save it, e-mail it, fax it, or do other nifty things. Just another way Mac OS X kicks ~~~. :)

Technical digression: if I understand correctly, the reason this is possible is that Mac OS X uses PDF as its internal representation for graphics it's about to print. This makes sense, since PDF is more or less an extension of the PostScript format, which has been used in just this way for years.

[Garritan]

Here is Robert's example of a bass melody here: (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/melody-basses-test.mp3)

http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/melody-basses-test.mp3

[Leaf]

Here is Robert's example of a bass melody here: (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/melody-basses-test.mp3)

http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/melody-basses-test.mp3
Wow, that's very beautiful!


Maybe you can ignore the mess I sent you which may not even be a melody, i'll work on making one, plus now i know how to move the staves so not still having that problem.

[Garritan]

You can also play pizzicato melody in the basses!

Robert sent in this pizzicato melody using full section basses and one solo doubled with unison harp.

Robert's Pizz Bass Exercise (http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/ROBERT-BassMelodyExercisePizz.mp3)

http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/ROBERT-BassMelodyExercisePizz.mp3

Excellent work Robert!

Gary Garritan

[Garritan]

If anyone needs a place to host their exercises, email them the me and I can post it or send you a link so that you can share it on the forum.

Gary Garritan

[Leaf]

Okay, here is an mp3 and a Finale score:

http://www.mydocsonline.com/pub/Leaf/Leaf's_DoubleBassMelody.mp3

http://www.mydocsonline.com/pub/Leaf/DoubleBassMelody.MUS

edit: I love the tempo and mood of Snorlax's piece, uplifting and bold, but mine is trying for the opposite, slow or quiet and contemplative, the intent was for it to sound like the end of a work, but not to sound too somber, don't know if it does.

When I gave a Pianississimo expression to two measures on the Double Bass stave, I accidently had it on "all staves,' can anyone tell me how to delete that?

PS: on an earlier attempt with this one , I changed the instrument names on each stave to match the original and it totally screwed up the sound... so this one I didn't do that.:cool:

[Crazykeys]

Please help.

How should I proceed to attach a Mp3 and PDF file to this message ?

:)

[Garritan]

Okay, here is an mp3 and a Finale score:

http://www.mydocsonline.com/pub/Leaf/Leaf's_DoubleBassMelody.mp3 (http://www.mydocsonline.com/pub/Leaf/Leaf%27s_DoubleBassMelody.mp3)

http://www.mydocsonline.com/pub/Leaf/DoubleBassMelody.MUS

edit: I love the tempo and mood of Snorlax's piece, uplifting and bold, but mine is trying for the opposite, slow or quiet and contemplative, the intent was for it to sound like the end of a work, but not to sound too somber, don't know if it does.Leaf,

Very nice contemplative and brooding bass melody. You did a terrific job and it certainly does sound like the end of a work. It's fascinating that starting with the same material how the mood can be changed.

Thanks for posting your exercise. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

Gary Garritan

[Garritan]

Please help.

How should I proceed to attach a Mp3 and PDF file to this message ?

:)Crazykeys,

If you can host it on your own server just insert the link. If you cannot, email me the mp3 and PDF and I'll host it and post it.

Gary Garritan

[Garritan]

Gustave just sent in his Doubel Bass exercise.

Here is the link:

http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/TURINI-DoubleBassExercise.mp3

And here is the PDF score:
http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/TURINI-DoubleBassExercise.pdf


A fantastic job Gustave. I like your technique as well.

Thanks for sending this in.

Gary Garritan

[Leaf]

Thanks very much for those comments, Gary.

I have this funky little 99 dollar keyboard, but with GPO it sounds just like a Steinway... plus all these other instruments... and now this course, sometimes I have to just pinch myself. :)

Best Regards,
David

[Garritan]

Jamiha also did a Double Bass exercise:

http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/JAMIHA-DoubleBassExercise.mp3

Good work Tony! Nice complment with the background track. Thanks for sending this in.

Gary Garritan

(And thanks DPDan for rendering it to MP3)

[jamiha]

Thanks for hosting, Gary,

How did DPDAN do that? wma to mp3. where can I learn that?
tony

[Leaf]

Thanks for hosting, Gary,

How did DPDAN do that? wma to mp3. where can I learn that?
tonyHe's a real pro when it comes to audio, and I'm sure the pros around here can probably tell you a better higher quality method, but the way i did it is easy and does not require much, Itunes (which is free) has a converter.

http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
(if you uncheck the two boxes, you don't have to put your email address in there to download itunes)

click "Preferences"
click "Advanced"
click "Importing"
then on "Import Using" choose "MP3 Encoder"
then click "OK" at the bottom.

Now if Itunes is your default player when you click a wma or wav I think it will autoumatically be converted

but just n case it is not, after it is in Itunes you can click the song to make that line turn blue, then on the "Advanced" drop down menu, click "Convert Selection to MP3"


Now where your music is saved it will be there, for me in My Music there was an iTunes folder with another folder in it that was called untitled, and it was in there.

Best Regards,
David

[jamiha]

Thanks Dave,

I'll give it a whirl.

tony
(east dallas)

[Leaf]

Jamiha,

I may have accidently gave you some false info, i'm not able to open a wma with iTunes. I though you could convert it just like you do .wav's, but apparently it won't open a .wma if you are on a mac, i don't know if it will in windows.

David

[stevebryson]

Hi - I'd like to jump in! My .mp3 file is

http://homepage.mac.com/stevepur/GPO/melody-bases-steve.mp3

and my score is

http://homepage.mac.com/stevepur/GPO/melody-bases-steve-score.pdf

I kept the melody simple, fitting my impression of the background and my understanding of what the contrabass can do well. I pretty much left the background alone, adding a little reverb and tweaking volume levels.

This is done in Logic pro 7, with the melody line played live on a keyboard using the mod wheel and a few tweaks by hand in Logic.

I welcome all comments, critical and otherwise. I miss Prof. Belkin's detailed comments, so I hope he will continue them.

Though I've owned GPO for a couple years this is the first time I've used it for a lead line, utilizing the mod wheel expression feature. I'm really impressed at how expressive it is.

Thanks Gary for this amazing course!!! It's really gotten me off my butt to do some music again.

Steve

[Garritan]

Hi - I'd like to jump in! My .mp3 file is

http://homepage.mac.com/stevepur/GPO/melody-bases-steve.mp3

and my score is

http://homepage.mac.com/stevepur/GPO/melody-bases-steve-score.pdf

Steve,

Glad you're doing some music again, and you're doing very well. I like your double bass melody, it fits the accompaniment perfectly. Very nicely played too.

Gary Garritan

[greatgreybeast]

I apologize in advance for bumping up old threads, but I've started the course late, and it will take some time to catch up. Anyway, here is my double bass melody, to add to the pile. I've enjoyed listening to everybody else's - great work.

http://www.filelodge.com/files/hdd4/61911/melody-bass-robinthompson.mp3

(btw, this mp3 seems little funky - everybody else's opens in a new tab and plays in the embedded quicktime - mine asks to download. I'm not sure if that's the format or the file host, but let me know if there are any problems with it.)

-Robin

[Garritan]

I apologize in advance for bumping up old threads, but I've started the course late, and it will take some time to catch up. Anyway, here is my double bass melody, to add to the pile. I've enjoyed listening to everybody else's - great work.

http://www.filelodge.com/files/hdd4/61911/melody-bass-robinthompson.mp3

(btw, this mp3 seems little funky - everybody else's opens in a new tab and plays in the embedded quicktime - mine asks to download. I'm not sure if that's the format or the file host, but let me know if there are any problems with it.)

-RobinRobin,

Very nice :) I enjoyed your exercise and thanks for posting it. You're off to a good start and you'll probably catch up in no time. I was able to play your exercise from the browser with no problems.

Gary Garritan

[snorlax]

I apologize in advance for bumping up old threads, but I've started the course late, and it will take some time to catch up. Anyway, here is my double bass melody, to add to the pile. I've enjoyed listening to everybody else's - great work.

http://www.filelodge.com/files/hdd4/61911/melody-bass-robinthompson.mp3

(btw, this mp3 seems little funky - everybody else's opens in a new tab and plays in the embedded quicktime - mine asks to download. I'm not sure if that's the format or the file host, but let me know if there are any problems with it.)

-Robin

Robin...
Not to worry about lateness...I'm dragging tail myself:n: .
This was nice writing. Everyone who submitted had a unique approach...that's the nice part of a "pad" accompaniment!
Keep on keepin' on!

Jim

[dfhagai]

HI,

I'm sorry to for jumping in late but this course is amazing.
I would like to upload my MP3 for this exercise.
I've noticed that users have uploaded it to :
http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/
How do I upload there?

Many Thanks
Hagai Davidoff
Israel

[Leaf]

HI,

I'm sorry to for jumping in late but this course is amazing.
I would like to upload my MP3 for this exercise.
I've noticed that users have uploaded it to :
http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/
How do I upload there?

Many Thanks
Hagai Davidoff
IsraelHi Hagai,
If you don't have a hosting service such as http://www.mydocsonline.com/ then you can email it to Gary Garritan and he will post it for you.
Use this email address:
gary@garritan.com

David

[dfhagai]

So I will.
;)

[Leaf]

So I will.
;)I just noticed i had mispelled his name in the email address, oops! It's fixed now, sorry. Hope you used the spelling above it, the one with the t in it.:o

[dfhagai]

Email Fixed and resented.:)
Hope it will be uploaded here soon for all to criticize.
HD

[Garritan]

Email Fixed and resented.:)
Hope it will be uploaded here soon for all to criticize.
HDHagai has submitted his Melody in the Basses exercise.

Here is his mp3:
http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/HagaiDavidoff-MelodyBassExercise.mp3


And his score:
http://www.garritan.com/RK/exercises/HagaiDavidoff-MelodyBassExercise-PDFScore.pdf

Excellent work Hagai! I like the melody being done pizzicato. Keep of the good work and look forward to hearing more of your exercises.

Gary Garritan

[dfhagai]

Thanks Garry,
This is the most enjoyable way to study orchestration that I can think of.
And I Thank you again for making it possible.
;)