Upright Bass
Upright Bass
The Mambo: The Cuban Rhythm That Makes Feet Dance
The mambo is a Cuban genre of music and dance that combines traditional Cuban music with the highly Americanized forms of swing and big band.
It's a very syncopated type of music, a style that finds its footing in rhythm as opposed to melody (though melody, of course, plays its role). Mambo is always played in 4/4 time and uses an amalgamation of American big band instruments and those found in traditional Latin styles; mambo bands will typically have a horn section in a addition to the very percussive bongos, timbales and congas.
Though mambo is a decidedly Cuban style, it's roots are far more European than Latin. The very first mambo was based heavily on English and French ballroom dancing music, and it was rarely intended for dancing. Though it certainly carried an inherent dance ability, early mambo was music for the sake of music; no dance had been assigned to it, nor did it seem like one would be.
The early mambo thrived as a piece of music alone until the 1940s when Damaso Perez Prado, a Cuban bandleader, began specializing in the form. His version of the mambo brought people to their feet and led to the famous mambo dance's creation. Prado is also credited with bringing mambo music and it's accompanying dance to the United States, though the form sustained a bit of a shift as a result of the cultural change. Prado altered the mambo to make it slightly more commercial, more ready for 1950s American consumption, and watched the form become an almost instant craze. Prado's role in composing and popularizing the form earned him the title "Mambo King."
Typical instruments used in mambo music are the conga drum, the bongo, timbales, claves, and a mixture of band instruments including the trumpet, trombone, saxaphone, bass (usually upright bass, but sometimes an electric bass) and the piano. It is this mixture of Cuban rhythmic instruments and instruments used in big band jazz that gives the mambo it's distinctive sound.
Some typical mambo songs include "Papa Loves Mambo", "I Saw Mommy Do The Mambo", "Mambo Italiano" and "They Were Doin' The Mambo".
Rhythmically it is similar to, but not identical to, other Latin-American rhythms such as the samba, tango, bossa nova, beguine, and others, but is unique enough to be instantly identifiable as a mambo.
But like most instant crazes, mambo faded out of American popularity nearly as quickly as it arrived. Though the form is still heard and danced today, it morphed into a variety of different styles, including the pachanga, a mambo-like dance that also faded quickly. Mambo recently saw a resurgence of popularity in the late 1990s with a rock and roll based mambo revival, but that too was extremely short-lived.
About the Author
Duane Shinn is the author of the free newsletter on playing piano using chords titled
"Exciting Piano Chords & Progressions!"
Why is it that upright bass necks are always sanded down?
I've noticed that the back of upright bass necks seem to always be sanded down. At the same time, guitar necks aren't (unless you wear them down) and it seems like there is a lot more playing up and down the neck on a guitar than an upright. Is there a particular reason? And if it's just for reducing friction to allow for faster playing...why aren't all string instruments set up like that?
What do you mean by sanded down? If you mean the paler, less shiny look...then I don't know why it's done, but all string instruments _are_ set up like that. All orchestral string instruments, at any rate. Remember that's the family of instruments an upright bass is coming from. Not the guitar family.
Upright Bass
Paul McCartney on the Upright Bass
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Stagg EDB34 4-String Upright Electric Bass (with Gig Bag) $629.99 Stagg EDB 3/4 scale electric double bass is ideally suited to the electric bass player who wants to play an upright bass. The Stagg EDB is also a great choice for upright bass players looking for a practical adaptable solution to noise and space issues. |
Review of M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 Studio Monitor
When it comes about computer speaker, bass performance becomes one of the most considered things among the buyers. The computer speakers with 2.1 system is the best choice for those who are looking great bass performance, but it takes quite large room with the need of subwoofer. Those who don't have spacious room will possibly consider the 2.0 system computer speaker and compromising the lower bass performance, but wait until you find the M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 which actually a studio monitor with 2.0 system. The special side of this studio monitor is that even though it is quite larger compared to the common 2.0 computer speakers, it has great bass performance without any additional subwoofer needed like you usually found with 2.1 system computer speakers.
If someone suggest you to use studio monitor to replace your regular computer speaker, you will possibly think that it's a stupid idea considering the price which commonly costs over $1,000 each. The thing is, this studio monitor is different compared to other studio monitors. It has great quality and features but only cost $200, a reasonable price for high quality computer speaker.
Measured at 8.5 inches tall, 6.2 inches wide, and 7.5 inches deep, this M-Audio AV 40 studio monitor is made of medium density fiberboard with vinyl coating. The 4-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter are stored at speaker hosts with black-metal grilles. Each channel has 20 watts power which means the entire system provides 40 watts total power. The features are including two sets of left/right stereo inputs which use RCA connectors and TRS (1/4-inch) connectors for pro-audio sources. If you like to have the two speaker separated across the room, there is a standard speaker cable which will connect those two speakers while enabling them to be separated as far as you like. There is also a set of speaker-terminal outputs, a fuse which can be replaced as you need; a Bass Boost and a power switch, and a power cable connector. Don't you think they are quite impressive for a computer speaker?
The user manual will provide detailed information for you to setup and explore the possibilities as you like. Last but not least, the sound quality offered by this M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 is quite good and possibly has the best quality compared to any other 2.0 systems computer speakers. This means you can expect a more realistic sound for drums, upright bass and vocal with this studio monitor.
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If you want more information about this unit, you can check Studiophile AV 40 site.
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Constructing Walking Jazz Bass Lines, Book 1: Walking Bass Lines- The Blues in 12 Keys Upright Bass and Electric Bass Method $14.50 Constructing Walking Jazz Bass Lines Book I -The Blues in 12 Keys is a complete guide demonstrating the devices used to construct walking bass lines in the jazz tradition. Part 1 demonstrates the techniques used by professional jazz bassists to provide forward motion into bass lines, while providing a strong harmonic and rhythmic foundation. Part I includes triads, 7th chords, voice... |
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Creating Jazz Bass Lines $24.00 Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. 100% Money Back Guarantee.... |
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Constructing Walking Jazz Bass Lines - Walking Bass lines : Rhythm changes in 12 keys $19.95 Rhythm Changes in 12 Keys is Book II in the " Constructing Walking Jazz Bass Lines " series for the Double Bassist and ElectricJazz Bassist.Rhythm Changes in 12 Keys compliments Book I " The Blues in 12 Keys " by following on with an in depth study of " must know " Jazz chord progressions for the aspiring Jazz Bassist.Rhythm Changes in 12 Keys is a complete guide demonstrating the devices used to ... |
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October 29th $15.38 1. Lonesome Kid, 2. Since Sunday, 3. Devil, 4. Coyote, 5. The Brakeman's Lament, 6. Riverside, 8. Diver Blues, 8. Oh Nebraska, 9. Tempest, 10. The Woman I Know You To Be.... |
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