dots on double bass

[atom1962]

guys, always i get a lot of help here...
but i am new to upright and i just bought one upright .
i am trying to put dots on the side you know...3-5-7-9-12
is there formula to exactly figure it out? thanks a lot , any help will be appreciated

[sevenyearsdown]

Here is a link to the stickie thread about it. My personal advice is learn without them, and there are plenty of reasons why stated in the linked thread below. Good luck.


The Perils of Fingerboard Markings

[Stev187]

Originally Posted by sevenyearsdown

Here is a link to the stickie thread about it.

Yup. I was going to post that link and another:

Fingerboard Markers(dots)For Upright Bass

EDIT: This one covers the exact question you're asking:

Position Markers

There are more opinions and discussion than you can shake a bow at in these threads.

--Steve

[Bullhead]

I just put three on mine. Used my tuner to find the G on the E string, and at the harmonic, B, on the same, and at the 6th, or C on the same string. I put mine in the center of the fingerboard. It gives me a better reference to all the strings. Darkened them with a pencil and at a distance, they look like inlays. Enjoy!

[atom1962]

OMG guys....that quick?...thanks a lot . let me look around....

[atom1962]

looks like best way to do it is with tuner......

[waleross]

I guess dots are great but the way most people learn is by positions. 1/2, first position etc. I don't even have an Upright bass anymore but I remember my positions . In any case dots or no dots have fun in this endeavor....................

[atom1962]

i need the dots on the side to get going.....later i may remove them

[sevenyearsdown]

Why do you need them?

[jacojbass]

If Edgar Meyer uses dots so can I..... actually inlays

[PaulCannon]

Proceed with caution. They might be useful in the very short term, but they can be very addicting.

If you think you need them for now, I wouldn't keep them for more than two weeks. Start weaning yourself off it almost immediately. Close your eyes or look away and start to use your ears to feel the notes. It will be frustrating at first, but the sooner you start making yourself feel and hear what you're doing, the better off you will be.

[Jason Sypher]

Not dots again?

[Stick_Player]

I have 'dots' on my upright. Use 'em sometimes, other times I don't.

I even have dots and frets on my electric basses and Stick.

What's the big deal? One can either play or not.

[PaulCannon]

Originally Posted by Stick_Player

What's the big deal? One can either play or not.

I guess my biggest problem with dots (or frets, for that matter) is that they are inherently out of tune. Given variations in weather, the plane of vision, and the varying nature of different temperament systems, I fear visual references can be detrimental to those who have not yet learned to play with their ears.

Yes, Edgar Meyer uses dots. However, I'm not sure he would disagree with anything I'm saying. He says they take him from "93% to 95%" accuracy, so for him I think it's a minor thing. He's certainly not relying on them.

[svenbass]

Originally Posted by PaulCannon

Yes, Edgar Meyer uses dots...... He says they take him from "93% to 95%" accuracy.

Where did you hear/read this?

[transition]

Originally Posted by PaulCannon

I fear visual references can be detrimental to those who have not yet learned to play with their ears.

I don't really care either way, but a FWIW thing my teacher told me this week:
Richard Davis (who teaches here in Madison) apparently does this thing at his clinics where he invites a student up to detune his bass.

He then proceeds to play it in tune, to demonstrate that the the positions arent the notes, the notes are where they happen to be.

Obviously, for the most part, your strings will all be in tune with each other, but still... it's a point well-taken.

[PaulCannon]

Originally Posted by svenbass

Where did you hear/read this?

He said this at a master class in Aspen about six years ago. Somebody asked about the dots and he said he barely uses them. I don't mean to speak for him, but this is what he said last time I saw him.

[Matt Ides]

Originally Posted by transition

I don't really care either way, but a FWIW thing my teacher told me this week:
Richard Davis (who teaches here in Madison) apparently does this thing at his clinics where he invites a student up to detune his bass.

He then proceeds to play it in tune, to demonstrate that the the positions arent the notes, the notes are where they happen to be.

Obviously, for the most part, your strings will all be in tune with each other, but still... it's a point well-taken.

Great player and teacher.

[Matthijs]

When starting out on db I used pencil markings. They wear out after time and I made it a point to only renew the markings I actually used. One by one they all disapeared. The last one to go was a mark at the octave at the g string.

You shouldn't fear the addictiveness of markings too much imho. There's so much stuff going on that always needs more imediate attention (sheet music, other musicians, audiences) and forces you to look away from the bass. I'd think it's impossible not to gradually learn to go without markers.

[crowsmengegus]

Originally Posted by Matthijs

When starting out on db I used pencil markings. They wear out after time and I made it a point to only renew the markings I actually used. One by one they all disapeared. The last one to go was a mark at the octave at the g string.

This is what I would do. The pencil markings also allow you to draw a line across the fingerboard so that it will "look more in tune" than a dot. And they wear off quickly enough that you have to deliberately renew them, so they are a habit that kind of breaks itself eventually.

When just starting out, you might be better off using that fingerboard tape that cellos and violins use to mark the positions.