Melbourne Conservatorium of Music - Theses

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Seeing Double: Towards a Motor Grammar for Two-Line Improvisation on the Bass Guitar

Connolly, Sean William ( 2022)

A two-line improvisation is a form of polyphonic playing in which a single performer improvises two melodies simultaneously. Whilst this form of improvising is common practice on some instruments (namely piano and guitar), it has received little attention from bassists. Accordingly, this research aims to present a foundational motor grammar for two-line improvisation on the bass guitar. This is to be achieved by reframing the left-hand technique used on the bass guitar and adapting Sid Jacobs’ Counterpoint Concepts as a cross-instrumental framework for practice. Secondly, the research draws on similar studies for other instruments to develop an inverse variation model for the application of these techniques and concepts. This approach allows the practitioner to move progressively from predetermined (composed) etudes towards improvisation. The techniques, concepts, and etudes developed in this research are presented through a series of scores, analyses, and video recordings in the accompanying portfolio.