Upright

[HunterBrodt]

First off this might be in the wrong section. I didnt know what to put it under.

I started upright about four months ago, and am completely loving it. Im putting in 26-30 hours a week of timed (stopwatch going) practice and am doing everything in my power to be the best i can possibly be. Right now im taking lessons for Clark Sommers who won a grammy with Kurt Elling and lets just say he is at the top of the jazz scene.

Heres where the question part comes in, I had been playing electric and putting this amount of time in to that before the switch. I am planning on taking a gap year since I am a senior and need more time before college auditions to get where I need to be. So what should I do about electric, I am devoting all my time to upright, but is it worth it career wise to not completely quit?

Thanks

[lucas vigor]

I would see you will be safe just practicing the electric about 10% of the time!

[HunterBrodt]

I suppose I am wondering if any one else here has been in a similar situation and what did you do?

[chuck3]

I have never been in your situation, but I do double on upright and electric, and I would recommend keeping up with both. Sometimes the situation calls for one, sometimes the other - if you intend to make music your livelihood (as it sounds from your post), the versatility can only lead to more opportunities.

[Bassmickeyd]

Look at both as different instruments, completely different instruments. ..... Plus I hope you're spending time on piano. ...... Because if you are not spending time on the piano then stop thinking about school and a career in music. ...... So, three instruments three equal time allowed for each instrument. ........ Sorry, but you asked. But, remember, you're young you have the time.

[HunterBrodt]

@bassmickeyd Dont take this the wrong way im all ears. But whats the benefit to learning the piano if I already have the theoretical knowledge?

[trajectory fish]

One thing that comes to mind about learning the piano is that you can build up your ear for hearing chords and the way intervals sound together. Plus, it's really fun ... I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons too.

[Bassmickeyd]

Why?
1) It's one thing to write it all out for everyone to read but one day you may need to get it across to someone who doesn't read. 2) Composing, if not now in the future. We, as musicians owe it to all that has come before us to continue to compose. 3) Plus if you're not playing piano what chordal instrument are you playing? ....... I think you've got the time to do it all and if you've got the theory down, like you say, all you needs is the mechanical. ...... And all that takes is time.

[HunterBrodt]

That makes sense. Ill start to learn. I can take a piano class next semester.

[iiipopes]

Originally Posted by HunterBrodt

@bassmickeyd Dont take this the wrong way im all ears. But whats the benefit to learning the piano if I already have the theoretical knowledge?

Theory don't mean $#!+ unless you can execute. Yes. Piano and learning how to at least hum what you see before you play it, and know what you're listening to the first time out. The three together in college we called sight screaming, ear straining and piano profanity. But all performance music majors, regardless of what their primary instrument is, must master these fundamentals if they're going to have a performance career.

[John_Madere]

I rarely practice electric bass anymore. I practiced a ton when I was younger though. After playing double bass all the time, it's easy for me to just switch back. Like riding a bike I guess.

[HunterBrodt]

I can execute my theory, and I go to a private arts school so I do sight sing, chord rec., interval, etc. But I havent spent time on piano yet, I will start to though. Would an hour a day suffice?

[HunterBrodt]

Originally Posted by John_Madere

I rarely practice electric bass anymore. I practiced a ton when I was younger though. After playing double bass all the time, it's easy for me to just switch back. Like riding a bike I guess.

Ive noticed the same thing, I can switch back and still play. Its just the quickness of picking out notes I guess.

[iiipopes]

Originally Posted by HunterBrodt

I can execute my theory, and I go to a private arts school so I do sight sing, chord rec., interval, etc. But I havent spent time on piano yet, I will start to though. Would an hour a day suffice?

Yes. We're not trying to make you into Chopin. The piano proficiency goal is to play something like a moderate hymn or be able to take a lead sheet and outline the melody and chords at sight so you can get an idea of where everything is going. Likewise, for sight singing, we're not trying to get you a role in the Met Opera, but to be able to hum the melody, or bass line, as you see it, well enough to play it without much rehearsal needed. Finally, with ear training, we're not trying to get you to be able to transcribe symphonies at one sitting in front of a recording, but to recognize where things are going as they're going there, so as a bassist you can be the support and not the catch-up.

[Bassmickeyd]

Originally Posted by HunterBrodt

I can execute my theory, and I go to a private arts school so I do sight sing, chord rec., interval, etc. But I havent spent time on piano yet, I will start to though. Would an hour a day suffice?

It's a good start. ..... We're lucky cause piano reads like a road map. .... You find one C and you see them all. ..... You got the time, take the time. And you'll be surprised what you'll take from one instrument to the next.

[engedi1]

congrate on picking up the upright bass. My story is this:
I had played electric bass from age 13 to now. I started on upright when I was 15 and totally fell in love with upright, and bassicaly stopped practicing electric for the next 10 years. After getting a music degree from Arizona State (which had 4 semesters of mandatory piano regardless of instrument, even vocal majors, if you become a music major, you WILL be learning piano, you might as well start now, with a good teacher, FYI) I have recently started playing alot of electric bass again. It was no problem, and everyone I play with tells me I am a great electric player. What is interesting, is that I approach electric more like an upright player now, in regards to fingering, tone, phrasing, etc. I am now practicing electric alot again so as to get my jazz chops up (I primarily studied classical studies)

Question, are you learning to use the bow? Nothing will get your intonation in line like learning to play with the bow, and nothing is harder. Learning to use the bow is a must in jazz even, just listen to Christian McBride who is that rarest of rare-a jazz master who is also an arco master.
Cheers, best of luck!

[Matt Ides]

I was in your shoes about 20 years ago. Played electric for years and started upright too late to pass muster for the college auditions. I would do a few things:

1. Talk to your teacher and let him know your intentions and what schools you are applying to. The year spent can be in preparation for auditions. Also, are their any community jazz combo, symphony/chamber orchestras you can join?

2. You'll get basic piano instruction in college, so I wouldn't spend tons of time on it.

3. Keep up your chops/tech on the electric bass. Find a good, but short, practice routine that keeps you ready to play.

If you want upright to be your main instrument I would spend this year in the wood shen. You won't loose your electric chops and you can dedicate more time to piano (other instruments) in the near future.

Good Luck.

[ethnotime]

Ultimately you might have to focus on acoustic just because it's such a demanding instrument. Basic things like intonation and sound, as I'm sure you're noticed, is a lot more difficult and takes some time (and blisters!) to gain some proficiency. But don't forget the electric bass. Being a doubler can lead to different gigs, meeting different people in different scenes.

I started out on electric and moved to acoustic and then didn't touch an electric bass for ten years. I can still play electric and feel very comfortable playing it (although my reading isn't very good, as I tend to lose myself on the long electric bass neck!) but I definitely do not play like an electric bass player. To a trained ear I play electric like an acoustic player: i.e. I tend to not fiddle with the tone knobs, I'm not so proficient with effects, can't play without looking at the neck often etc.

It also depends on what kind of musician you want to be. (do you want to be artistic, focus on classical or rock or jazz, pay and play type musician etc) If you're not sure then I would practice both.

As for piano, there's plenty of time to practice that instrument. You'll be taking piano classes in college, so if you don't do the practicing now you'll be doing it later.

[Michael Case]

I made the switch in 1997. At first I spent more time on upright and when I would play electric it came back quick. Now I try to balance my practice between the two, because I love playing both. I find that even now the electric has helped me become a better reader since I don't need to struggle with the instrument as much. You'll need to find your own balance though.

[ThumpPlunkJunk]

I started playing the upright in third grade and I've been playing pretty regularly ever since. I'm in 10th grade now, so I suppose that's seven years of bass playing (the majority of which were wasted due to bad teachers and a pupil who had no idea what they were talking about). I picked up the bass guitar a little over a year ago and I just play both whenever I feel like playing both. I don't take the bass guitar as seriously, because it's more of a freestyle instrument anyway, but I do enjoy playing it and I don't see a reason to stop.

That's what it's about, I guess. We don't have enough time in life to be happy and devote ourselves to things we don't want to do. You can't do both in conjunction. So, do what makes you happy--if that means just the upright, do it. If it means just the e-bass, do it. Or if it means both--just do it. Whatever makes you happy.