Playing the bass is about so much more than just playing the roots, outlining the chords, or playing a cool bass line. In this article, Millie T. Martin, professional and conservatory trained bassist and educator at our sister school Music 1st explains why it is so important for bass players to learn to read treble clef. 

I cannot recall how many times a friend or a parent has approached me asking “What is the best instrument to start with…..guitar, violin….piano…?” I always recommend the piano as a first instrument. It offers it all, right hand and left hand coordination, use of the feet with pedals all while reading both treble and bass clef together in the music. Then adding and learning other instruments later or alongside the piano is simple. Plus when a child learns to read both treble and bass at the same time they are also learning to read in school it supports both reading books and music as a unit. Why not take advantage of the formative years of rapid early learning.

The job of the bass player throughout history has remained much the same, be it classical or modern. A bass was always needed for every ensemble. The two vital lines in music are the treble clef usually containing the melody and the bass clef which represents and supports the harmony. In ear training dictation you first get the treble clef, then the bass clef, then on the third playing the chord qualities, (major, minor…etc) and the inner voices follow the rules of voice leading and resolution are filled in after getting the treble and bass clef lines.

Chords symbols used in modern day charts originated from the figured bass bass line of the harpsichord parts. Each number below the bass note told you the intervals above that note to play and interpret the full chord. Thus you are able to fill out the score with the melody. I feel the beauty of baroque performance is much like jazz and our charts evolved from figured bass parts …C7 came from the note “C” written in bass clef with a “7” underneath, telling the player it contains the seventh of the chord in the score above the written bass note. The figures below in the harpsichord part and chord symbols above in piano parts represent the same thing, they tell you the chords built off the bass note.

The system of musical notation is fascinating and the history of music leaves no doubt it is truly all about the bass…but please do learn to read treble clef. Many bass students do not read treble clef as they started only with bass clef. I work with them on learning treble clef because it is vital! I have heard all the excuses, the number one being “They make a bass clef fake/Real Book, I do not have to read treble.” Well singers read treble and the standard charts are all in treble. I often read from piano parts playing a mixture of the written piano bass line along with interpreting the chord symbols. When you want to solo the melody is in treble clef. To be able to go to a full score for musical answers to my questions requires my ability to read treble clef. I also can read the other clefs, alto(aka viola clef), tenor (and yes solo bass music also requires you to read tenor clef) and the rarely used soprano clef. Once you learn the treble and bass clef you gain an understanding of how clefs work, each offering every instrument a five line staff, be it a piccolo or a tuba, thus limiting the amount of ledger lines needed to write the pitches for each instrument.

When learning a chart I  want all of my students to learn the melody in treble clef (both arco, with the bow and pizzicato , plucking), the bass line in bass clef, the chord symbols if present and the “feel” of the piece, waltz, cut time, bossa nova etc. The final step being able to transpose the melody/chart to another key is another great skill. Many awesome bass players become amazing arrangers. John Clayton immediately comes to mind after recently seeing a lecture he gave on the subject of arranging charts and scores.

I want my bass students even with little piano expertise to be able to take the music to a keyboard and play the parts they need to hear. I  teach them a method of  finding and reading the notes correctly. This requires the ability to read both clefs . It can be taught without prior piano instruction and at any age, but the ease of learning them together early is what I recommend if at all possible. When you have this superpower the entire world of music is open to you like the doors of the largest library you can imagine. You can communicate with people around the world and throughout history. Music to me is the best time traveling device! Understanding the language of music is just like reading and appreciating Shakespeare. Plus if you study the performance style of the period it is like reading Shakespeare in old English and getting all the nuances of the language existing at that time.

I do not remember learning to read books or music, it just happened! What a gift. I grew up in the DC Metropolitan area. I attended public schools after finishing fourth grade. The piano was my first instrument. I started at 7 years old. That being said, when I started string bass at the age of 11 years old in the spring semester of sixth grade. I did not find it difficult. While other students struggled with learning to read I remember being amazed at how easy learning the bass was for me. One finger, one note. I also continued with piano which I feel in retrospect supported my learning the bass at a rapid rate. In seventh grade started playing in the school orchestras and attended regional and state orchestras. Private lessons, youth symphony, summer music camps and international youth orchestra festival followed by the age of 15. By the time I was headed off to the Cleveland Institute of Music I had already become a professional musician playing with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra in high school and at 17 years old the only bass player at a professional musical dinner theater gig while continuing with my symphonic playing. I had no trouble reading the bass book or understanding the score. I feel my love of music and success started with my music reading abilities which were learned at the piano. While attending C.I.M. to receive my B.M., my early years at the piano gave a huge advantage in my theory, ear training and sight-singing classes over students who never played piano. I passed out of my piano requirements and took my offered piano lessons anyway. Then came reading and playing jazz and pop/rock charts and doing jazz gigs alongside my orchestra gigs while at school. I also credit my mother, my amazing teachers and my great education allowing me to win symphony jobs and receive my M.M. as a full graduate assistant and teach at universities. I am fortunate to continue to play music professionally around the world. I also work with my wonderful students, both young and old, learning many instruments. They learn and perform many different styles of music and best of all I have been able to teach myself and my students multiple instruments because of my ability to read music well.

So yes, I am a lifelong lover of the bass and everything bass…and yes it is indeed all about the bass, But…please read treble! You will not regret it. It will make your musical life complete. I hope this helps you on your musical journey!–Millie T. Martin

Millie teaches virtual/remote double bass and piano for Music 1st.