Being a Session Bass Player for Musical Theatre
by Chris BeerninkPlaying bass for musical theatre is one of the most rewarding (and challenging) gigs you can get as a bassist. Recently I wrapped up a run of 11 shows performing electric bass and double bass for Tim Minchin’s Matilda the Musical. From disco bass lines to swelled bowing and uptempo walking, the show keeps you on your toes—especially when you’re switching rapidly between upright and electric bass in the pit.
And honestly? I love being told what to do.
Why I Love Playing Bass in Musical Theatre
As a working musician, I need balance: improvised music, covers, originals, and theatre work. Playing musicals scratches that team-player itch. You’re locked in with the band, the cast, and the conductor—literally locked away in a musty orchestra pit with dust falling every time the ensemble stomps.
It’s not just about playing the right notes. In musical theatre bass playing, you’re:
Following the conductor
Reacting to dialogue and stage cues
Supporting cast members and dancers
Shifting between genres on the fly
The Real Skill: Following Your Conductor
Tone, sight-reading, and solid rhythm are givens. But the real challenge—the make-or-break skill for a pit bassist—is adapting to your conductor.
That means:
Learning their ictus (the exact point of the beat)
Reading their signals for vamps and cut-offs
Interpreting body language for tempo and dynamics
Figuring out how much fun (or shenanigans) is tolerated in the pit
The less you rely on cues, the more confident and professional you’ll feel.
My Rehearsal Prep System
Whenever I get a score (bonus if there’s a rehearsal track), I prep in layers:
1. Passive Listening
Play the tracks while driving or doing dishes. This sinks the music into your brain and highlights tricky tempos, odd time signatures, or standout bass features.
2. Score Read-Through (No Instrument)
Mark tough passages and, more importantly, note cueing instruments or vocal lines that follow long rests. These save you in real shows.
3. Targeted Practice
Any passages beyond your default sight-reading level? Practice them ahead of rehearsals. For Matilda, there was one frantic chromatic bowed part—I worked out efficient fingerings away from the instrument and sang it with the track before even playing it.
4. Play-Through with Score
Finally, play along with rehearsal tracks or a metronome. By now, you’ll know the music well enough to focus on conducting, dynamics, and ensemble balance.
Musical Theatre Bass Gear Setup
Here’s what I used for this run of Matilda:
Instruments:
¾ Double Bass w/ Evah Pirazzi strings, Schumann fibreglass German bow, POPS rosin
Dingwall NG2 5-string Bass (D’Addario NYXL fanned-fret strings, Gruvgear Duostrap Neo)
Pedals & Preamp:
Radial Tonebone PZ-Pre (the MVP for instrument doubling)
Amp & Cab:
Aguilar Tonehammer 500
Markbass NY121 (for pit playback)
Monitoring & Stands:
Pacific Ears J2 in-ear monitors
Hercules Double Bass Stand + Mini Electric Stand + Tablet Holder
Why this setup works:
The PZ-Pre makes fast swaps seamless, with mute and individual level controls—essential when you’ve got three seconds to switch instruments.
The Dingwall 5-string covers the tonal range of almost any score, with sustain and flexibility for theatre’s wide genre demands.
Final Thoughts: Why Theatre Bass Playing Matters
For me, musical theatre gigs are a highlight of the year. They demand preparation, versatility, and teamwork—skills that transfer to every other playing situation.
If you’re an aspiring bassist, adding theatre experience to your toolkit will make you more employable, more adaptable, and a better listener. Whether it’s doubling upright and electric, nailing tricky written parts, or syncing with a conductor, playing bass in musicals is a skillset worth investing in.
