Prepared Technique - Introduction
Technical Practice The Bass can be prepared in various ways to alter the timbre, pitch, or to provide a variety of sonic effects. Methods of preparation can be divided into five basic categories: 1) Objects threaded under the strings 2) Objects placed between the strings 3) Objects clipped or otherwise attached to the strings 4) Objects attached to the instrument body 5) Object that connect the strings to the instrument body The sonic quality provided by each preparation usually correlates to the material of its construction, for example, if a metallic object is used then the sonic change will tend more toward a metallic sound whilst if rubber or cloth-type materials are used, the effect will be to mute the strings. Here are, however, some general observations:
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Examples in Existing Works
1) Objects Threaded Under The Strings Flagwalk - Barry Guy
Beater threaded under D& A strings and over G&E strings (non- pitch specific placement) Long White Moonlight - Anthony Gilbert
False Bridges under A and E strings to raise pitch to B and F respectively. Argonautenstudie - Christian Ofenbauer
Three knitting needles threaded under D string and over G&A strings at three points (pitch specific) and held in place by blu-tac. |