LEARN to READ your Left Hand – and Learn Location of all Basses!
LINK – Bass Chromatic Scale and Exercises
This Link starts out VERY easy –
- introduces you to reading bass clef
- Fingering for the Major Scale
- How to LOCATE the SHARP or FLAT of any bass – so you can do simple runs.
Review for more Examples – Link – Bassing for Plumping
This link gives you more scale options – and shows how you will use the mini-runs in your basses – to enhance solos.
Intro to Chromatic runs and Scales
I got a comment – asking for good fingering for a chromatic run on a stradella bass accordion. For a quick answer –
Take the chromatic notes – you want to run and separate them – where there is a 5 note block (even if you have to start with a 2 or 3 note block first or last)
If doing only 5 note run ascending
(same fingering no matter where you start)
(same fingering no matter where you start)
4C 2C# 3D 2D# 3E or 5C 3C# 4D 2D# 3E
If doing only 5 note run descending (Read the previous suggestion backwards!)
(same fingering no matter where you start)
(same fingering no matter where you start)
3E 2D# 4D 3C# 5C or 3E 2D# 3D 2C# 4C
Where ever you start – plan to start or end on 5 or 4
If you NEED to end on a particular bass note – set up your fingering to end with 4 or 5 on that bass note.
Example – if I need to land on D and you are doing 13 notes ascending leading in:
Walk it backward first (Desending)1
D C# C B Bb A G# G F# F E D# D
or
D C# C B Bb A G# G F# F E D# D
or
D C# C B Bb A G# G F# F E D# D
This last example – continue using fingers 3 – 2 until the last set – then use 4-5 or 3-4
So reverse these 3 examples and find the most comfortable position.