前幾天在雜誌上看到一個bass的牌子叫Conklin,很奇怪的是它有七弦。 六弦的bass就已經很誇張了,為什麼會有七弦的bass,那是用來幹什麼？ 怎麼會比吉他還多？那多出的弦的調音是怎麼樣？有沒有人知道？
謝謝lpjiang的回答！ 我原本以為它的高音多出的兩弦會是 B和E,就像吉他一樣,沒想到是C 和F。這樣有點奇怪, 因為我認識一些玩bass不錯的人都會彈吉他,而且有的還彈不錯,Conklin怎麼會設計的空弦調音都是四度,而不和吉他一樣,讓人方便一點？那七弦又要怎麼配,是不是用吉他的低音弦來代替最高弦？ 對了,我上次看一捲錄影帶,其中有一個bass player好像叫什麼Jeff Belin的,彈了一段獨奏,不但技巧高超(他只用四弦的bass),音樂性也超強,非常震憾。有沒有人喜歡這個player或推荐他的唱片？
我以前曾經和一個jeff berlin的學生玩過樂團,據他說jeff berlin的思考方式不是一般調式音階那樣的線性,而是非常立體的和聲.所以他彈的solo聽起來很有深度.例如我那個朋友就很喜歡用降B7 的arpeggio在C mixolydian裡頭solo. conklin的琴我也沒玩過,但找到他們的網站裡頭有一些解答貼上來讓大家參考看看 Q: How is the 7 string bass tuned? While you are on the subject; How about the 8 and 9 string bass? A: Our standard tuning for the 7 string bass is Low B, E, A, D, G, C and High F (all in fourths). It can also be tuned from Low F# (a fourth below B) to High C. Another tuning is from E to High A#. Finally, some players with treble clef in their blood tune their 7's Low B, E, A, D, G, B, E. With that in mind, the 8 string bass is usually tuned Low F#, B, E, A, D, G, C and High F or Low B, E, A, D, G. C, F and High A#. Finally, the monster 9 is tuned Low F#, B, E, A, D, G, C, F and High A#.
關於調音的問題當然如同Johnny所貼的部分所言, 可以有很多種不同的可能. 但是七弦Bass的全部四度調音源自於Anthony Jackson在思考六弦bass定音時的想法, 將Bass視為一種"以單音旋律為主的樂器"; 因此, 全部相同音程的調弦法在演奏音階與移調轉換時比較方便, 不必像吉他一樣因為演奏和絃的關係, 將高音三弦調整成一個開放的和絃. Jeff Berlin是一個非常具有爭議性的人物, 儘管他的演奏技巧與音樂感無懈可擊, 但是他對於許多音樂上的議題都有相當"個人"的意見, 而他也絕不吝於動筆動口捍衛這些觀念, 以致他與其他人爭論音樂議題的消息時有所聞. 他的專輯現在是由Denon出版, 可以先從集結他80年代作品的精選"Crossroads"開始聽聽看. 我玩過朋友的Conklin GT-7一段時間, 七弦並沒有想像中的難以操作, 只是高音域的地方實在聽起來不像bass, 反倒像有點怪怪的ES-175. 七弦的用弦現在幾家知名的大廠都有生產, 不必擔心是否需用吉他弦代替的問題.
很好奇 lpjiang 說的 "像有點怪怪的ES-175" 是怎麼一回事？ 那個弦的 gauge 可以跟大家 說一下嗎？ Jeff Berlin 那個在佛羅里達的學校有網址： http://www.playerschool.com/ 這個地方有更詳細的咚咚： http://jeffberlinmusic.com/ 另外剪貼一段 www.allmusic.com 裡頭的介紹 A flexible and powerful electric bassist, Jeff Berlin has been one of the major fusion bassist since the mid-'70s. His father sang opera and his mother played piano. Berlin had nine years of violin lessons starting from when he was five and was considered a child prodigy, appearing with orchestras in New York City. However when he was 14 he switched directions and began playing electric bass; Jack Bruce was an early hero. Berlin attended the Berklee College of Music for a time and then moved back to New York. For a short period he was in a trio with Allan Holdsworth and Tony Williams. In 1975 he recorded in Europe with Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz and then in New York he became quite busy with studio work, club dates and record sessions. Berlin played with many top musicians including Pat Martino, Gil Evans, Toots Thielemans, Al DiMeola, George Benson, Earl Klugh, Larry Coryell, Bob James, Dave Liebman, Herbie Mann, Ray Barretto, the Brecker Brothers and others. Jeff Berlin was a regular member of Bill Bruford's band (which included Allan Holdsworth) for a couple years starting in 1977; four recordings resulted. Berlin moved to Los Angeles, worked in clubs with Scott Henderson and Frank Gambale, became an educator (helping to found the Bass Institute of Technology), played rock (including with Frank Zappa) and turned down an opportunity to join Van Halen. During 1985-86 Berlin recorded two fusion/rock dates for the soon-defunct Passport label. He moved to Florida in 1990 and has since toured with Yes, John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Kazumi Watanabe and other musicians from a wide variety of creative genres. In addition he started and teaches at the Players School. His third set as a leader, 1997's Taking Notes for Denon, is Jeff Berlin's most jazz-oriented set to date. /Scott Yanow
我覺得lpjiang講的關於調bass定音的想法-將Bass視為一種"以單音旋律為主的樂器"很有道理！我以前都沒想過，為什麼吉他最高兩音不照四度的進行調成C和F。如果這樣調，在音階上的指位可能比較好用 ，但是大部份的三和弦就很難輕鬆地按(假設要六根弦上都要做出和弦音)，甚至根本按不出來。 不過Anthony Jackson是誰？是個樂器製作家嗎？
7弦bass如果最高音是調成F的話, 目前通常用的gauge是.020. Anthony Jackson不是製琴師, 是號稱"長了腳的bass教科書"的電bass大師. 現在的6弦bass的概念完全出自於他個人對於低音樂器的想法. 從1974年開始, 他跟Carl Thompson, Ken Smith及Vinnie Fodera等製琴師合作, 漸漸將6弦bass從個人的奇想轉變成一項具實用性的樂器. 他合作的對象非常多, 我列出幾張我覺得頗能代表他的特色的作品: 1.The O'Jays/For the Love of Money 2.Chaka Khan/Naughty 3.Steely Dan/Gaucho 4.Donald Fagen/The Nightfly 5.Steve Khan/Eyewitness 6.Paul Simon/Central Park Live 7.Lee Ritenour/with Friends 8.Michel Camilo/Rendouz-Vouz 9.Michel Petruccani/Tokyo Trio Live 有機會的話都可以找來聽聽看...