Discovered a technique to emulate acoustic double bass

[konaboy]

Well I'm sure I'm not the first to discover this. Nevertheless I thought I would throw it out there to get comments and hear who else uses it.

This technique will give you nice pulsing walking bass lines that sound similar to an acoustic double bass when played correctly on an electric bass. I use it when playing some jazz standards.

I use my thumb to pick the strings, aiming to pluck them about the 16 fret or thereabouts. This allows me to place my right forearm parallel with the strings and positions my elbow above the bridge. Then you rest the fleshy part of your forearm lightly on the strings about an inch or two in front of the bridge.

The trick is to get just the right amount of pressure so you get a full tone but with a much shorter sustain than usual. Sounds really effective on standards such as Mood Indigo!

I suppose this is similar to the foam mute that some players put under the strings by the bridge. I tried this with some scrap foam I had in the house but it didn't sound as good.

[rr5025]

I use a Thunderbird and I use my thumb and place the right side of my hand lightly against the strings right before the saddles probably around the same place you are. I started doing this to emulate the beginning of Seven Nation Army and it sounds dead on. Just another way of doing it. I like using it alot it's a nice little trick.

[Michael Campbel]

My instructor does something like this; he thumb-plucks and uses the "pad" of his right hand to lightly mute. I haven't been able to duplicate it yet, but he's got it down.

[Stumbo]

You might try different types of materials other than foam:
1. Get that dead flatwound/upright string sound
2.

[zeppelinfreak]

Sorry, but nothing you do on an electric bass will ever really sound like a double bass. Ive spent many a late night trying to devise ways to make my electric sound like my upright. But truly, the only way to get an upright sound is with an upright

[lunarpollen]

Originally Posted by zeppelinfreak

Sorry, but nothing you do on an electric bass will ever really sound like a double bass. Ive spent many a late night trying to devise ways to make my electric sound like my upright. But truly, the only way to get an upright sound is with an upright

That's not true; there are certain ways to get very specific upright-like tones using an electric bass guitar. Sure, there's no way to get the whole wide variety of expressive upright tones from a BG, but if there's just one or two certain upright tones you want to get from a particular BG, there are ways to do it pretty convincingly.

[zeppelinfreak]

Originally Posted by lunarpollen

That's not true; there are certain ways to get very specific upright-like tones using an electric bass guitar. Sure, there's no way to get the whole wide variety of expressive upright tones from a BG, but if there's just one or two certain upright tones you want to get from a particular BG, there are ways to do it pretty convincingly.

I dont know. Id argue that. Maybe if you had sound samples, you could convince me. But I doubt it. Upright tone is so distinct. You can get near it, but youll never be able to fool an upright player

[konaboy]

I agree, of course you will never get all the tonal characteristics of a double bass.

But I use this trick with my jazz bands and all the other musicians enjoyed it and agreed it sounded more like a double bass. Incidentally we regularly jam with another guy who plays acoustic bass so they are familiar with the sound of electric and acoustic basses.

You will never fool a bassist, but for other musicians it can be quite convincing!

[konaboy]

Just discovered that a small childrens sock between the bridge pickup and the strings creates the same effect and it is much more comfortable to play!

Got to be careful though, if the sock is too thick the string goes slightly sharp!

[fdeck]

You can also emulate an axe with a butter knife, so long as you limit yourself to one or two things that can be done with an axe.

[kcamsdog1387]

I place my thumb on the side of the neck where it meets the upper horn (on my P Bass, about 15th fret) and pluck with my middle and ring finger. My middle finger plucks first and the ring mutes it just after. Sounds a little better on a fretless, but I think it sounds pretty good.

[RJMiller]

Originally Posted by zeppelinfreak

I dont know. Id argue that. Maybe if you had sound samples, you could convince me. But I doubt it. Upright tone is so distinct. You can get near it, but youll never be able to fool an upright player

Right on - "you'll never be able to fool an upright player."

I've played trombone for many years and the MIDI trombone patches I've heard are only laughable approximations. I have a Roland GR-20 module and the upright plucked patch sounds good to me, but not enough "bloom" to the notes, but an upright player would probably find it laughable.

But....we only have to fool the audience, most of whom aren't upright players.

IMHO

Thanks for the tips.

RJM

[zeppelinfreak]

Originally Posted by RJMiller

Right on - "you'll never be able to fool an upright player."

I've played trombone for many years and the MIDI trombone patches I've heard are only laughable approximations. I have a Roland GR-20 module and the upright plucked patch sounds good to me, but not enough "bloom" to the notes, but an upright player would probably find it laughable.

But....we only have to fool the audience, most of whom aren't upright players.

IMHO

Thanks for the tips.

RJM

Hmm, I see what your gettin at. Also, its nice to see a brother of low brass. Im a tuba player myself. I do orchestral stuff, brass choir stuff, and brass quintet stuff. Nothing is quite like playing a brass instrument is it?

[Pacman]

The trick here is not to "sound like an upright". The trick is to play with an appropriate tone for the music.

[zeppelinfreak]

^Which in most cases for jazz, is the tone of an upright

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by fdeck

You can also emulate an axe with a butter knife, so long as you limit yourself to one or two things that can be done with an axe.

QFT. Most excellent. LOL. ROTFLMAO.

[Pacman]

Originally Posted by zeppelinfreak

^Which in most cases for jazz, is the tone of an upright

Or an organ. Or a round electric bass sound. My point is, if the tone is appropriate for the music and you can make it swing, you don't need to copy any other instrument.

[RBrownBass]

Originally Posted by Pacman

The trick here is not to "sound like an upright". The trick is to play with an appropriate tone for the music.

Originally Posted by Pacman

Or an organ. Or a round electric bass sound. My point is, if the tone is appropriate for the music and you can make it swing, you don't need to copy any other instrument.

+100

It makes me sad to read posts from people who feel that they need to make their instrument sound like one that they don't own or play.

There will always be people who'd rather play with AUB players than EBG or EUB players and there will always be people who don't really care what you play so long as you play well enough for their needs. If getting on the stand with folks from the first group is your goal, you need to be mindful that they are looking at you as well as listening to you. If their eyes do not see their desired bass, their ears will reject your EBG tone no matter how nice it is or how nicely you're playing.

[zeppelinfreak]

Originally Posted by Pacman

Or an organ. Or a round electric bass sound. My point is, if the tone is appropriate for the music and you can make it swing, you don't need to copy any other instrument.

On a total side note, I never feel like Im swinging on an electric. Dont know why, but its like, I never feel swingin unless Im playin an upright. I definitely groove on an electric. But I just cant swing on an electric

[Pacman]

Originally Posted by zeppelinfreak

On a total side note, I never feel like Im swinging on an electric. Dont know why, but its like, I never feel swingin unless Im playin an upright. I definitely groove on an electric. But I just cant swing on an electric

Practice I'm comfortable with either, although it's a different swing on each. Of course, I've been at it a lot longer...