Heads

Joli Gadjo

Dear Upright Bass players,

I was wondering if some of you play the head of some tunes sometimes ?
If so, which tunes ? With the bow or not ?
Anything regarding your experience in this matter is of interest for me.
Thanks !
-JG

Tele295

Swing de Paris, of course

bnetz

I think it's a Bireli recording where Diego Imbert doubles the head on Belville. It's a fun, chromatic line that's pretty easy. I'd recommend learning all the heads you can, both bowed and pizz. Some may work better than others, but it's great practice to try and figure them out (especially because most guitar players never stick to the actual melody of the tune for more than a few bars). I've found that having the melody under your fingers also helps a lot with soloing.

Another thing that's pretty common (or maybe just with the guys I play with) is to do a bass break on the 'B' section of a tune, the last time through the head, after all of the solos are finished. It can be the actual melody or improvised, but is a great place to work out your head-playing chops.

Have fun,

-b