 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: danny
Date: 2002-06-04 19:25
hey all
a friend and i wanna start a quartet or something like that to pass the time over the summer. he plays a double bass and i play clarinet. my questions; what other instruments should we try to get to play and what kinda music would be best?
any help would really be appriciated cos we are on the point of giving up due to lack of ideas. thanks.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2002-06-04 20:39
Well, I count only two of you, so far, so you're a little short of a quartet:-)
What kind of music would you like to play? Jazz, classical, folk? A bit of everything?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: danny
Date: 2002-06-04 20:54
we dont really mind, anything, classical probably, a little jazz. we dont even know which other instruments would be best to ask join.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Eileen
Date: 2002-06-04 20:55
Maybe an instrument for chords or rhythm. A guitar or piano?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2002-06-04 21:14
Buy two of the same jazz fakebooks, except buy one for "C" instruments, for your friend (and any other "rhythm" player who comes along), and one for Bb, for you. Check the chords in the fakebook to be sure your friend can play them, or at least would like to learn to play them. If the music is too difficult, consider pop tune or show tune fakebooks, etc. You can find these in a lot of ordinary music stores; you don't have to order off the internet. You can also buy a simple tune book with chords, and one of you can transpose.
Don't wait to add people to your group before getting started. The summer may be over by then:-) The two of you playing together will sound bigger than you think. You can always add on more people later. This is informal, correct?
When you get good, pick a nice day to play outside. Go to a park or town center where there are a moderately high number of people around. Leave the bass or clarinet case conspicuously open while you do this (see my post on busking, below:-)
Other posssible instruments, besides guitar and piano, are fiddle, accordion, and other winds.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2002-06-04 21:18
Oh, I'm re-reading and you said, "classical, probably". Well, there are classical fakebooks, too. One I saw I believe is called "The Real Classical Fakebook". Players use it for weddings, and so on.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-06-04 21:49
Steve said in part: (and I am ripping from context):
"The Real Classical Fakebook". Players use it for weddings, and so on."
Considering the morals of our modern youth, "Classical Fakebook" seems to be the norm--when associated with weddings.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2002-06-04 22:56
Danny -
I totally agree with Steve; don't wait. What for?
Start makin' music... today.
If you need to read sheet music to get started, Steve's advice is excellent on that too. As the two of you start playing together where others, family, friends, neighbors will hear you, I guarantee others will wanna join in. Do it for the fun of it, songs you both like, and the rest will 'happen'.
In my opinion, double bass and clarinet is an excellent combination as is. Personally, if I were in your situation right now, I'd probably stay with it for a while - at least until we'd worked out a few numbers. Just the two of you. You don't Need anyone else. But, as with most summertime things, it's unpredictable what course things will take. You sure can have a lot of fun goin' there though
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2002-06-05 03:24
Try a piano accordion, it should drive you nuts by the end of summer.
What is the definition of a gentleman? Someone who knows how to play the accordion but doesn't.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kilpokil
Date: 2002-06-05 04:15
Trumpet
Trombone
Saxophone
Bass Clarinet
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: larry
Date: 2002-06-05 15:21
If you want to play "classical" music, all you need to do is find a string quartet, a horn player and a bassoonist. Then you can play the Schubert octet all summer long. good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2002-06-07 05:19
Sure. Fiddles (violin) can play jazz, too. And flute. I've even heard jazz oboe and jazz french horn. And bass clarinet. Harmonica. And, despite what some may say, accordion and banjo. In fact, the only instrument I've never heard play jazz is bassoon.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2007-01-25 02:28
Looking at it from a practical standpoint, you've already got half of a standard combo setup (a solo instrument, a bass). Add a piano player and a drummer with a sense of proportion (i.e., someone who can control his volume), and you've not only got a group that has endless literature available for it, but also one that can make some money.
I second the fake book suggestion, but would strongly urge that you pick one where you can get all of the parts (and maybe an Eb version as well). The fake book that I use isn't the best that there is on the planet, but it is available in all versions (C, bass clef in C, Bb and Eb). Those four will cover any instrumentation that you are likely to encounter.
The beauty of this is that you have very little in the way of equipment to make the group work. Three music stands, a piano amp (which can double to amplify a vocalist if you want to add one with the addition of a SM 57 and a mike cord) and some black clothing. and that's about it.
Of course, the fake books only give you the bare outline of a tune (verse, bridge, chorus and maybe the intro and outtro). The bass guy won't have too much trouble, the drummer basically follows the lead, and the pianist can fill chords as well as melody. You're there to add a melody line plus some improvised accompaniment (and solo line, if you're up to it).
If nothing else, it will teach you to play the melody with some feeling.
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-01-25 05:41
Clarinet and bass is a good start (two of my favorite sounds already). In the situation you describe, I don't know why anyone would want to make a "normal" jazz quartet (i.e. add drums & piano) and play jazz standards. At least not for any reason other than 100% practical (to get paid gigs), or if you prefer to fall on known things instead of being creative. It doesn't sound like you are desperate for gigs, or that is the reason for doing this quartet. I would recommend taking this great opportunity to try and do something more inventive. I can't really tell you exactly what to do, because I think the main idea should be that you create and invent something that YOU stand behind it, and shows your philosophy, musical ideas, etc. Some examples that I might think about are doing your own music, either composed or improvised, or play more unknown pieces that you want to get exposed. If doing jazz standards, how about making it unique by not making a "normal" group, or changing the standard forms in some way.
Whatever you decide to do, if I were you I would try to ask myself why I'me doing exactly that, and understand the reasons, from each note to the global philosophy of the music.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
) r there any instruments associated with jazz except for brass sax and clar?