Sacrilege - fret lines

John B · #1 10-13-2008, 01:41 PM

So I'm wondering how awful this would be. I am an extremely new to string bass, but I have played guitar for a number of years. Way back when I was a little lad, I played violin. When I started, my instructor put little bits of tape showing the proper location of the notes.

A lot of fretless bass guitars have inlay where frets would be. I'm wondering if it would be unbelievably ridiculous to mark fret positions on a string bass. My thought is a small piece of wood on the bass side, extending to the A string. The wood would be something very close to the ebony fretboard so it wouldn't be visible at a distance.

Crazy or tolerable?

Thanks in advance,
John

Jason Sypher · #2 10-13-2008, 01:55 PM

You would just be putting off the inevitable, learning to play the double bass. Just jump in, get a teach and get practicing!

scarekrow · #3 10-13-2008, 01:57 PM

Could be done. Probably not necessary. Use the tape method until you're comfortable.

hdiddy · #4 10-13-2008, 02:00 PM

+1. If you must, use pencil or white out. Anything that is reversible.

I came up with my own system. I'd use the grain figures on the back of the neck to figure out where the general area of a certain note is. Example... right where there is something like a knot lies my C on my A string. A group of flames in the maple below it is where my D and E lie. SOASF

Also, I've found that the easiest way to wean myself off of this is to play someone elses or another bass altogether. Of course you can just not look at the flames too.

Andrew McGregor · #5 10-13-2008, 03:02 PM

Pointless. You need to be able to find notes by feel. Now, you can use tape on the far side of the neck where you can't see it but can feel it... that works, just don't replace the tape when it wears off because by then you don't need it.

If you rely on visual clues, you're then going to have to get rid of the habit of looking at your fingerboard, which is difficult. It means you don't have your eyes available to look other places, which is a problem when playing in an ensemble, which is of course 95% of what bass players do.

hdiddy · #6 10-13-2008, 03:11 PM

Not if you start weaning yourself early. Not if you start singing the notes you want to play early (which takes relatively little practice). Not if you try to hear the note in your head before you play it. I guess I shoulda mention alla dat. I think the last two are key.

MonetBass · #7 10-13-2008, 03:17 PM

A lot of beginners use colored tape to mark the positions on the fretboard. But as stated several times above, start using your ears and learn to do without markers. You'll thank yourself later.

Paul Warburton · #8 10-13-2008, 03:39 PM

Please help me lord!
It is not the " FRETBOARD ". It is the FINGERBOARD.
The DOUBLE BASS does NOT have frets. And, you might as well digest this: The DOUBLE BASS does NOT have a HEADSTOCK. It has a SCROLL or sometimes, a HEAD such as a carved lions head, A lady or whatever the LUTHIER ( a person who makes or repairs stringed instruments ) is inspired to CARVE.

CT DB · #9 10-13-2008, 03:46 PM

anyone who gets that upset over a new player using incorrect terms needs the lord's help.

OP, everyone learns differently, try whatever you can, and best of luck playing a great instrument.

Gearhead43 · #10 10-13-2008, 03:48 PM

Yes, Lord. Please help him.

hdiddy · #11 10-13-2008, 03:48 PM

Hey PaW, don't forget action! ACTION ACTION!!!!

Marcus Johnson · #12 10-13-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT DB

anyone who gets that upset over a new player using incorrect terms needs the lord's help.

Nice of you to diagnose and prescribe what Paul Warburton needs in his life.

Here's some Lord's help for you, PW.... stare deeply into the pic....

Paul Warburton · #13 10-13-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Nice of you to diagnose and prescribe what Paul Warburton needs in his life.

Here's some Lord's help for you, PW.... stare deeply into the pic....

Thanks for trying to rescue me. It's looking like I can use all the help I can get around here!

Paul Warburton · #14 10-13-2008, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead43

Yes, Lord. Please help him.

Thanks! Intelligent, sensitive, passionate and above all, motivating.
The word Lord was used in jest. I talked to him a minute ago about this and he said: Cool.

Marcus Johnson · #15 10-13-2008, 04:17 PM

That's weird, I just talked to him too, got the voicemail.

Paul Warburton · #16 10-13-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

That's weird, I just talked to him too, got the voicemail.

Aw ****, another god damn derailment!

frichter · #17 10-13-2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT DB

anyone who gets that upset over a new player using incorrect terms needs the lord's help.

Directly from Monetbass profile: 3/4 Eastman laminate purchased 9/15/06

If he is a new player, then that bass has been sittin in a closet for over two years. The OP may be a new player, but thanks to PW, he won't sound as ignorant about the instrument he is trying to learn.

John B · #18 10-13-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Please help me lord!
It is not the " FRETBOARD ". It is the FINGERBOARD.
The DOUBLE BASS does NOT have frets. And, you might as well digest this: The DOUBLE BASS does NOT have a HEADSTOCK. It has a SCROLL or sometimes, a HEAD such as a carved lions head, A lady or whatever the LUTHIER ( a person who makes or repairs stringed instruments ) is inspired to CARVE.

Noted. I really do know the terms, having played violin for a number of years, and having grown up with a professor of music as my father. Please excuse me for playing guitar for the last several years. I promise I will set that demon instrument down, and install vocabcheck on my browser so I don't ever make this mistake ever ever again.

__________________________________________________ ________________________________________

So play by feel it is. I think singing the notes will be a big help. The tape on the far side of the board that's attached to the neck sounds like an interesting idea, too.

Marcus Johnson · #19 10-13-2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John B

Please excuse me for playing guitar for the last several years.

I'm sorry, we can't.

Just kidding, I own three myself. Regarding your original question (what was the original question?

).... I don't think it's necessary. Double bass instruction uses a series of positions and fingerings, and it seems if you did it with the violin, you should be able to do the same with the bass.

Besides... I'm trying to picture how you would even be able to see the lines on the side if the fingerboard without getting your body (your neck in particular) into some pretty gnarly contortions. Do that long enough, and even the lord won't help you..... most likely you'll need...hmmm.....a.....chiropractor....

hey, waaait a minute...

I get it! Now, post #9 makes sense.

txstatebass · #20 10-13-2008, 05:43 PM

Here's what we'll do: Take an old gut G and cut it up into pieces just larger than the diameter if the neck (with the fingerboard). Now wrap the gut pieces around the neck at the approximate location of where a fret should be. Repeat up the neck to the block and voila! It's 1600 again!