How to Read Stand-Up Bass Notes

Playing an upright bass

The upright bass, sometimes referred to as the stand-up bass, double bass or bass fiddle, is an acoustic bass similar in appearance to a cello. The range for the upright bass is the same as that for a standard bass guitar. Music for the upright bass is written on the same clef used when reading music for an electric or acoustic bass. The only difference is the occasional use of symbols indicating the upright bass notes to be played with a bow. If you can read bass notes for electric or acoustic bass, you can read notes for the upright bass.

Things You'll Need

• Upright bass
• Bow

Instructions

1. Memorize the bass clef music staff. The four spaces are A-C-E-G. The five lines are G-B-D-F-A. To help you memorize the five horizontal lines and spaces and the note name each represents, try making up a phrase. For the spaces, you can use the phrase All Cars Eat Gas. For the lines, try the phrase Grizzly Bears Don't Fly Airplanes.

2. Read notes below the first line in descending musical alphabet order. The first line on the bass clef music staff is G. Going backward, the space below the line is an F. The line below that space is an E. This is the lowest note on the upright bass, played on the thickest string of the instrument without putting your finger on a fret.

3. Read notes going above the bass music staff in ascending musical alphabet order. The fifth line on the music staff is an A. This means the space above that line is a B, the line above that space is a C, the next space is a D, etc. The highest note on your upright bass is the F two lines and one space above the bass music staff.

4. Play bow markings as indicated. Not all printed music will show markings to indicate how the bow is used in a piece of music. In some instances, especially in classical music, words such as "legato" will be used (meaning to smoothly connect notes), with a curved line drawn below the notes to indicate which notes are included. A bracket with the legs facing down indicates a down bow (pulling the bow across the strings away from the instrument), and a small v indicates an up bow, pushing the bow over the strings toward the instrument.

References

• Rockabilly Bass: Scales and Chords for the Upright Bass
• Gollihur Music: Upright Bass FIngering Chart