Well I finally have reason to be here

[scottice]

Excellent. Enjoy the experience!

[CamMcIntyre]

Originally Posted by James Hart

I don't know that it will ever leave my home, I don't know if it'll ever become my voice... but I know I want to take some time to get to know it well.

A nice approach. The more you play, the more you love.

In Guitar Ensemble yesterday we all called tunes to play for a fun day, and i called Groovin High-a fun tune by Diz. Every time we hit the B section started to grin. Playing a burner, keeping the tempo where it was counted, and experimenting with changes are 3 things that i didn't think i'd be able to do for awhile. At least not at the same time. As odd as that sounds-it felt great.

[James Hart]

well it's finally here in person!!

as of last night, I am official in possession of an URB
and are my hands sore

[.matthew e wengerd.]

congratulations! and a hardy welcome to the dark side.

[Dbassmon]

James,

I made the jump this past January to DB. I have been an electric player for over 30 years. This has been a humbling experience and I have become consumed with learning this instrument.

I started studying with Mike Richmond he is professeur of bass at Rutgers and NYU. Coinsidently, he is a neighbor of Rufus Reid, they both live in Teaneck. Anyway, he had me dig into Simandl book 1, "no jazz till you can play the bass in tune with a bow".

A Bow? What the heck do you do with that. (shoot arrows, of coarse!) The sound for the first couple of months is like cats in heat. Ouch! The other thing I found a little shocking is the scale of the instrument. It's like 4.5" between F and G on the E string, huge for an electric player used to 34 or 35" scale.

I can say as I start my third month of lessons, that there are moments when something resembling music is coming out the bass. You see, that's how they get you, every once and while it sounds great, you spend hours trying to find it again. I am consumed with this now.

Best of luck. I completely empathize with you and I hope you get a lot of joy out of your new bass.

Regards

[James Hart]

very cool!

I'm going to get out Rufus' book and try to get his spin on standing next to and holding it.

I need to find a teacher quick!

[Bass]

I'll throw in 2 cents.

I played e-bass for 10 years, and jumped to double bass 5 1/2 months ago. The first couple weeks were really frustrating and difficult, but challenging / fun.

The larger scale is a tough one, especially getting used to having only three fingers instead of four.

Physically positioning my body / arms / hands took a lot of trial and error - I stand exclusively, and I think I have it almost right.

Finding where the notes are, and then dialing them in for intonation has been really tough! I've been using a cheapo keyboard to hold a tone - F for example as I play an F-scale. This seems to help.

But, at Thursday's jam I felt comfortable for the first time. I'd call it a turning point. Time, patience and practice.

And as everyone else says, the teacher has been invaluable.

[fish slapper]

Frustrating? Wait until you get the bow out. That will test the loyalty of your loved ones (and your pets). The sound of arco in the early stages is best described as "flogging a cow with a gut wound". (wish I could take credit for that but someone else here came up with that one).

Have fun with Rufus. Welcome again to the Dark Side.

[Dbassmon]

Originally Posted by Bass

Finding where the notes are, and then dialing them in for intonation has been really tough! I've been using a cheapo keyboard to hold a tone - F for example as I play an F-scale. This seems to help.

That's a good tip. I also spend some time with the bass plugged into the tuner. I spend most of my practice sessons depending on my ears alone but the tuner is instructive. I would not recommend becoming too accustomed to checking intonation electronically, not at the expense of trying to develop a better ear but it has it's place and it is useful.

[5stringDNA]

congrats James- welcome to the dark side! I saw that your were poking around for awhile on the DB interest earlier. I had an EM-1 as my first DB and it served me well.. sold it last year for $500 to a friend. Best of luck to ya!

[James Hart]

Thanks everyone!!!

I am sooooo sore today

The good kind, almost a blister on my index finger for the first time in 20+ years and stiff hands like I spent the day doing yard work after a long winter.

I play a lot of fretless... so my ear isn't terrible for a beginner. I've played along with some MP3s... mostly Soul Coughing and The Police. Spent some time playing scales trying to get a handle on the 5th & 7th fret position.... even broke out the bow and did some big power chords

I had in house training today (I usually work overnights and off Mondays.... I'm pulling it out again in a sec


I need to get it set up... the adjustable bridge is bottomed out and the strings a little to tightly spaced at the bridge. The neck work that was done to it feels real nice (shaved and no finish).

I may degloss it too. The finish isn't bad, but it isn't perfect either.

[simandlhandle]

Congratulations on getting a double bass. Many of us started on bass guitar, so you are not alone. My advice; don't try and set it up like a bass guitar( thin strings, low action). People do, but I think you will get much more enjoyment, eventually, by treating it like a seperate instrument, which just happens to have similarities with bass guitar.
You don't need to start going to the gym to play double bass( I do go to the gym but only to get me fit for life), the double bass IS a gym. The more you practise the better you will tone the muscles that you need for playing double bass. It may seem obvious, but when I staretd I got loads of advice, all of it conflicting, and most of it just plain wrong; i.e. " don't play scales it will ruin you feel/ only sit down behind the bass to play/ only stand up to play/ only sit at the side of the bass to play/ look at the fingerboard all the time to check your intonation" etc I know you have been playing bass guitar for years, but I have recently started learning piano after putting it off for years( I now realize), and am a beginner again; a whole new ball game( almost).

[James Hart]

Thanks, I do have some real heavy flats on my 5 string... and I like wrestling room on my electrics too. Also, my main bass is a 7 string... no confusing the URB with that

I bought a piano for the wife, that has become mine... I plan on taking piano based theory classes at the local college next fall.

Well off to play some!!!

[Cathead]

I read this whole thread with great interest being another electric bass player going for the upright. My disadvantage is no teacher and none to be had where I live. So, if I have any bad habits and technique it has taken me a couple of years to develop them :-) Anyway, I just wanted to say that I have really, really enjoyed the journey and play the electric less and less as I learn and get more comfortable on the upright. I can't pass by the thing without grabbing it up...ha ha. Congrats on your new bass and I hope you enjoy yours like I do mine.

[Silversorcerer]

Well ain't it about time. I think I started on my first DB after about 28 years on 4 string fretted EBG. I'm still learning on that and the DB and playing now more than ever.

I had a few brushes with them, but eventually it was all the Mingus I was listening to that brought me in. That and wanting something that made sounds without electricity. Sounds like you have a good plan there, Mr. Hart. I have to say that of the plywood basses I've seen, Engelhardt uses the prettiest veneers. Congrats!! So now I expect to see you refereeing some imbroglios over here sometimes?

[RobinG]

Congrats James!

I too, after over 30 years playing EB took a chance on an UB. While I would have prefered going your route, my burning desire to play an URB and limited funds landed me a Chinese Plywood URB.

So far, I've found it to be very satifying learning it, both by setting it up myself and playing. I've got about a full set down in the cover band I'm in on the URB, and I'll be breaking it out at our next gig It sounds great through my Mesa amp.. talk about THUMP

Robin
Since 1961

[James Hart]

thanks guys....

I cannot wait to hear it through my tube rig


I'm still sore and nursing the first run of blisters. I've been able to double my volume and improve my tone over the last week.

I need to stop watching NHOP videos now before I hurt myself

[DigthemLows]

very cool. I got my 49 Kay as a wedding present from my wife. Almost a year ago............I just recently got a gig and will be spending the summer playing upright almost exclusively. Man, it's still a beast........I approach it differently from my electric, which is good, it's made me a better player overall for sure. Enjoy!

[MonetBass]

Welcome, James! Glad you're enjoying the taming process.

I started out on DB and moved to EB, so I can't relate 100%. But I did develop some bad habits and had to unlearn them once I got to college. You'll find your left hand adjusting pretty quickly. But your right will go "What the hell??" for a while, especially if you're bowing. Just learn to relax your right arm and let the arm weight do most of the work. Long whole notes will be your friends for a while!

[moopants]

Congrats, James! I remember and almost miss the days when I first started. It seems like the learning process goes by quickly, and one of the only things I really remember from just starting out is playing "Shortening Bread" at least 30 times in a row to teach myself to use the bow. I've only been playing 1 year and 1/2, but I've made great progress since I had and still have a great teacher, and I'm very motivated to learn. As long as you're dedicated, you'll be fine.