Double Bass When to play chords in 3/4 time

[John524]

If I'm playing chords with two notes on a DB, and I am playing along with a song that is 3/4 time, (see picture as example...)

1. Do I just play the first note of the chord at the beginning of the measure (since there are 3 beats) as in example 1 (G, G7, C)?

2. I sometimes see chord markings above the measure that occur in the middle or even the end of the measure (ex: D and D7 in photo). Do I just play that note on the second or third beat (as in example 2)?

3. Generally does the location of the chord above the denote where in the measure the chord should be played or do you just get a feel for it?

Thanks so much!

 

[DoubleMIDI]

If a chord changes during a bar it should be written on top of the melody note that starts at that beat. If written behind it means it takes place later (usually on a quarter note). If it is unclear otherwise a rhythmical notation for the chords is needed in the bar.

But when a chord changes and when you have to play a note on your bass are two very different things. For a beginner play on 1 and 3, 1 and 2+ or walk on all three quarters.

But that can get boring over time, specially with 3/4. So anticipation (like the second note of 1 and 2+) could be used on almost any beat (by an eight or even a quarter note) or doubling of the durations over two bars (1 and 3 | 2 instead of 1 2 3) can give you a lot of things to try and keep or dispose. Keep your ears open to check if it fits with the others or not.
This is not really for beginners, but it would be nice to experiment at home with that. Sing the melody or imagine it and check if that works. It's a lot of trial and error until you understand what you can do and what you should avoid.
Simpler things would be splitting one beat in a bar (check all possibilities) into the next smaller note values (two eight notes) to vary. Might come in handy for a linear bass line movement, but don't do that every time.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

If I'm playing chords with two notes on a DB, and I am playing along with a song that is 3/4 time, (see picture as example...)

1. Do I just play the first note of the chord at the beginning of the measure (since there are 3 beats) as in example 1 (G, G7, C)?

2. I sometimes see chord markings above the measure that occur in the middle or even the end of the measure (ex: D and D7 in photo). Do I just play that note on the second or third beat (as in example 2)?

3. Generally does the location of the chord above the denote where in the measure the chord should be played or do you just get a feel for it?

Thanks so much!

In your first example, the chord change is for the whole bar so you have the usual options depending on where you are in the performance; for the melody in and maybe the first chorus of everyone's solo, you may want to play the root on the downbeat, but as the performance progresses, you are basically trying to improvise a melodic accompaniment to the soloist, so your line may develop motion that offers other chord or even non chord tone options that fit the "logic" of your line.
As regards your second question, if the chord change is written in the middle of the bar and it's the only change written, that means that's the chord change for that whole bar. In the 2nd example, what is indicated is (what I would read as) a D major grid for two beats with harmony changing to a D dominant 7 chord for the last beat. Whic is likely indicating G major in the next bar, so you have the option of emphasizing the addition of the dom 7 (C) OR building a line that moves towards that upcoming G chord.
So as to point 3, generally yes. There are some common practice standards, like I said in the middle of the bar means THE WHOLE BAR GETS THIS CHANGE. If the melody is two dotted quarts and there's a change over each melody note, then you play that specific rhythm. If there's a change in the previous bar (say G minor) and in the next bar there's no change until the last beat (or last eighth note) and there's a change over that note, you again play the change WITH the melody; works for melody notes tied into the next bar.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Second example, bar 3: lazy writing, should have been positioned at the beginning of the bar. It is obvious that the previous A7 from bar 2 does not fit to the actual D at the first beat in bar 3. Therefor lazy writing, should have been positioned at the beginning of the bar.

Same example, bar 4: nothing at the beginning means last chord is still valid, D7 at the third beat means change to D7 harmony at the third beat.

Chords stay valid over several bars unless a new chord is notated or n.c., which means no chord.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

If I'm playing chords with two notes on a DB, and I am playing along with a song that is 3/4 time, (see picture as example...)

1. Do I just play the first note of the chord at the beginning of the measure (since there are 3 beats) as in example 1 (G, G7, C)?

2. I sometimes see chord markings above the measure that occur in the middle or even the end of the measure (ex: D and D7 in photo). Do I just play that note on the second or third beat (as in example 2)?

3. Generally does the location of the chord above the denote where in the measure the chord should be played or do you just get a feel for it?

Thanks so much!

In your drawing, the D7 occurs on the 3rd beat of that measure.

 

[John524]

Thanks to everyone for the interesting and informative responses! It is helping me to understand.

I went through the song and by ear found the notes (without looking at the music) and identified the scale. Then I looked at the suggested chords and came to the conclusion that it was in C Major, I IV and V chords. I am writing my own bass notes over the melody and playing along. From there I will add other notes (in the scale) to make it a bit more interesting. I'm sure there's a term for doing this but it helps me to learn the song.

 

[Steve Freides]

@John524,

It depends.

-S-