GENERAL MUSIC
Instrument Show-and-Tell:
Bass
The bass is the foundation of a jazz band. It provides the low range sound and plays the most important notes in the band, the ROOTS.
In the early days of jazz, many jazz bands would have a tuba or sousaphone player playing the bass notes. However, soon the double bass, as seen in a symphony orchestra, began to take the place of the tuba player.
Tips:
Discuss the difference between playing the bass with a bow in a symphony orchestra vs. plucking the strings “pizzicato” in a jazz setting.
Bass players play a wide variety of bass lines, including a 2-feel consisting of half notes and a walking feel consisting of continuous quarter notes. Bass players can even “slap” the bass to add a more percussive sound to their instrument.
Famous jazz bass players (in no particular order):
Jimmy Blanton
Milt Hinton
Ray Brown
Paul Chambers
Red Mitchell
Charles Mingus
John Clayton
Esparanza Spalding
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