Bass Excerpt Tutorial: Beethoven 5 Trio

Learn what audition panels are looking for, and how you can apply and practice these strategies!
#beethoven #trio #spiccato
My website (go here for lessons): www.bobbyscharmann.com
My Instagram: @bobby.scharmann / bobby.scharmann
Jon's Instagram: @mcculloughbenner / mcculloughbenner
Background Music: Untitled™ (comment a title suggestion?)
Bass: me
Drums/Keys: Andrew Wray | www.awraymusic.com | @awray_alltheway

[@doublebasshq]

Such a great analysis of this, Bobby-bravo!

[@BobbyScharmann]

thanks Jason!

[@danielrose1825]

I really needed this 4 months ago

[@BobbyScharmann]

dang...well, chances are you will have it four months from now! did you play Beethoven 5 with an orchestra or was it for an audition?

[@jamesgiles4061]

Just a pleasure , boss! Extremely even and expressive playing and a thoughtful tutorial on how to get there.

[@BobbyScharmann]

thank you as always James! you never fail to watch my videos - honored to have your support :)

[@tibbo04]

Thanks!

[@BroadsideLock]

I'm halfway through my undergrad so I'm really looking forward to auditioning some before graduate school

[@BobbyScharmann]

cool! i'm also kind of excited. clear, tangible goals are great for my motivation.

[@Badtvset]

This is excellent, Bobby!

[@BobbyScharmann]

thank you!

[@Nodybass]

great video man! one of the most interesting double bass channels in my opinion

[@BobbyScharmann]

dude! thank you, that means so much!

[@pinosevera]

Good explanation and great sound!!!

[@BobbyScharmann]

thank you Carlos 😌

[@diannal3925]

This is terrific Bobby!!! Super helpful. Thank you!

[@BobbyScharmann]

thanks Dianna!

[@nreitman]

Nice work! Enjoying the high production values!

[@BobbyScharmann]

thank you Noah! 😌😌

[@Musicman914]

Fantastic tutorial thank you.

[@BobbyScharmann]

thanks for watching!

[@mateoestanislao2250]

I’m just waiting for a “that’s not how you play Beethoven, go to Europe and get some culture!” comment 😅😅

[@BobbyScharmann]

👀👀👀

[@nicholasdoan4030]

Great Video as always! How do you get those 8th note passages so articulate and clear? It looks like you almost do a spiccato

[@BobbyScharmann]

thanks friend! i spent a decent amount of time with the stroke exercise i talked about in the video for sure. the attack portion of the stroke is what gives the clarity! and yeah - definitely off the string, but i've found that keeping things closer to the string and a bit more compact helps clean things up. you also might dig the Fred Zimmerman bowing book if you haven't checked that out...it'll definitely whip your stroke into shape! (i need to go back and practice from it myself, actually lol)

[@santiagovargas5649]

Hello Bobby, great video. The greatest tutorial i have seen at now. But i want to ask you if you use a special kind o rosin or something to produce thar great sound?

[@BobbyScharmann]

hi Santiago, thanks for your kind words! rosin is nothing special - i use Wiedoeft

[@santiagovargas5649]

@@BobbyScharmann Thanks for answer me. I think my rosin lost power because it is very old. Maybe i could improve my spiccato if i change it for a new one. I send you my greetings from Montevideo, Uruguay!

[@lin_leaf]

What type of mic do you use for both your voice and the bass? Is it the same mic? I think that it sounds great!

[@BobbyScharmann]

thanks Lindsey! for voice i use a Blue Yeti Nano, and for the bass i use an Avantone CK-1. neither are exceptional in any way, but especially for the price they get the job done!

[@alfieharries]

Do you find you have to change the spiccato stroke at all at the end in piano? Or is it largely the same but just less weight?

[@BobbyScharmann]

at least for me, another aspect that helps that stroke quiet down is the length of the sustain...almost as though it's a quiet Mozart stroke instead. so yeah less weight, but also shorter.

[@alfieharries]

@@BobbyScharmann thanks

[@Badtvset]

Bob, question: Are you bouncing the stick off of the string? I suck at this… is it just me or do most players do this or simply keep the bow on the string throughout the piece? I’m doing the 3 note variation for each note but, damn! Your thoughts.

[@BobbyScharmann]

hi hello! yeah, i do bounce the stick, but the distance off the string isn't much. definitely plenty of activity in the stick though. i've heard some players keep it more on the string, but i feel like that kills the liveliness of the stroke, or more specifically, the resonance between each attack, so it sounds more "dead," if that makes sense. it will get better! do you find that the bounce is hard to control - or that the sound is kinda thin when you play it off the string?

[@Badtvset]

Hey Bob, I don’t think it sounds dead when on the string. One of the biggest reasons why I wanted to play this piece was because of that bouncy staccato sound…it really lifts the piece right into the air. You have such control, but I know you’ve been playing it a lot of years. I know it’ll get better and I have to be patient. Your technique is excellent. Question. How often do you practice a piece like this? And or do you step away to work on other pieces? Thanks!

[@Opus766]

accenturnate*

[@BobbyScharmann]

lol