Taking lessons: double bass or piano (need advice)?

[pbassist]

Hi to all (and please excuse my bad English),

I been playing bass guitar for around 18 years, mainly popular music, but from a few years to now, I have taken interest in contemporary music, so I have decided to join a music school, I have 2 hours/week of music language (reading, harmony...) and 1 hour of instrument.

Unfortunately the all the bass guitar classes are taken, but I have the choice of taking piano or double bass. Seem that DB is a more logical choice as I come from BG but piano can be a good complement to BG, as my BG technique is not bad and seems that piano is a better instrument to learn music theory.

What do you think?

Thanks.

[Eublet]

Unless you just REALLY want to learn DB and plan on buying one so that you can continue learning, take piano without a doubt. It will make you a better musician.

[One Bad Monkey]

Originally Posted by Eublet

Unless you just REALLY want to learn DB and plan on buying one so that you can continue learning, take piano without a doubt. It will make you a better musician.

I'd go this route. You'll learn a lot more about music in general on a piano.

[Febs]

I would go with piano.

[pbassist]

Thanks for your replies, a few more details and questions:

- Although I'm mostly interested in jazz/contemporary, both instrument classes will be given by classical trained teachers. What instrument do you think it would be harder to get coming from EB and popular music?

- I would need to get or Keyboard or a DB. I can get a decent keyboard (M-audio Keystation Pro 88, with hammered keys) for around $400, but how much would it cost a basic but playable DB? Would an electric upright (like the Stagg one) do the work? I'm on budget, so I can't spend too much, but I have had bad experiences with bad quality instruments...

- So far all your replies are on the piano side. Any arguments in favor of the DB, or is the piano clearly the better choice?

[Eublet]

Originally Posted by pbassist

Any arguments in favor of the DB, or is the piano clearly the better choice?

Learn DB if you want to play DB. That is the only argument I know of. But for learning music and studying harmony, there is no better instrument than piano.

[Michael Case]

Unless you REALLY REALLY REALLY want to learn how to play the double bass I'd take piano. The double bass is a different animal the the electric. With either instrument you'll be a beginner stumbling through the basics.

Piano will be a skill you'll really appreciate, double bass maybe not.

[One Bad Monkey]

Originally Posted by pbassist

Thanks for your replies, a few more details and questions:

- Although I'm mostly interested in jazz/contemporary, both instrument classes will be given by classical trained teachers. What instrument do you think it would be harder to get coming from EB and popular music?

I'd still stick with piano on this. Classical piano is more demanding than double bass is, but it has a more universal application into all settings, whereas double bass doesn't.

Originally Posted by pbassist

- I would need to get or Keyboard or a DB. I can get a decent keyboard (M-audio Keystation Pro 88, with hammered keys) for around $400, but how much would it cost a basic but playable DB? Would an electric upright (like the Stagg one) do the work? I'm on budget, so I can't spend too much, but I have had bad experiences with bad quality instruments...

For an electric upright, I'd say no, but it really comes down to 1. if you're going to go that route and 2. if the classical DB teacher will allow it. We can tell you all sorts of things that it "will" work for your application, but if the teacher says "You need to learn on a real one," that's it right there.

Originally Posted by pbassist

- So far all your replies are on the piano side. Any arguments in favor of the DB, or is the piano clearly the better choice?

For what you want and are hoping to get, I see the piano as a tool to help better yourself as a musician. This is also coming from someone who's played DB for over twenty years. It's a fantastic instrument (that I love), but it is certainly not for everyone.

[Michael Case]

Originally Posted by pbassist

- So far all your replies are on the piano side. Any arguments in favor of the DB, or is the piano clearly the better choice?

Unless the double bass is something you're going to continue to play and study go for piano. The cost of the keyboard you mention is nothing in the DB world. If you want to play DB expect to spend AT LEAST $2000.00 for an instrument that will need a few hundred more in set-up work just to be playable.

[caeman]

How many weeks will this class run? If it is just for a few months, and you really want to learn DB, then rent one.

[pbassist]

Originally Posted by Michael Case

Unless the double bass is something you're going to continue to play and study go for piano. The cost of the keyboard you mention is nothing in the DB world. If you want to play DB expect to spend AT LEAST $2000.00 for an instrument that will need a few hundred more in set-up work just to be playable.

Yes, I wanted to test a DB before taking a decisions, so I went to a shop and today I tested a $750 Palatino 3/4. Playability and intonation were not too bad, but both the build and finish were really cheap, with flaws everywhere, I would not pay even $100 for a EB with such quality. It was fine for practicing, but not for much more... I think that you are right when you talk about $2000 at least.

I also played an Stagg EUB, it had much better playablility (although I think the dots where not placed properly, what messed me up a bit) and sounded fine in pizzicato, but it can't be played with a bow, so I think it's not a choice.

Originally Posted by caeman

How many weeks will this class run? If it is just for a few months, and you really want to learn DB, then rent one.

Well, it would take an entire year, and there are 6 courses, so I can be in this school up to 6 years (1 course for year). After that I can try to join conservatory, which is 4 years more (but with much more hours per week)... definitively it's not a few weeks course, I plan to take at least the full first course, and if work allows it, keep there all the time I can.

Thanks.

[MalcolmAmos]

Double Bass would enter my world IF I were to play (in public) jazz, bluegrass, acoustic mountain or folk music.

The keyboard will fit in your car how will you get the double bass to gigs?

Really I see a double bass when I go to Mountain View, Ark and jam acoustic on the town square, other than that they just do not appear anywhere I play. http://www.ozarkgetaways.com/courtsquare.html

Keyboard cost $200 go for it. This week-end - stay home - you've paid for the keyboard.

Yes I have a Yamaha 64 key keyboard and love it. Ditto everything that has been said, IMHO everyone needs a keyboard even if you just use it as a drum machine.

Piano starting from scratch and taking lessons from a classical trained instructor - your first nursery rhyme song will be a month away after hours of scale work - gotta do your scales. Getting your left and and right hand doing different "stuff" took me four months. It's a journey, but, worth every mile.

[pbassist]

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

Double Bass would enter my world IF I were to play (in public) jazz, bluegrass, acoustic mountain or folk music.

The keyboard will fit in your car how will you get the double bass to gigs?

Really I see a double bass when I go to Mountain View, Ark and jam acoustic on the town square, other than that they just do not appear anywhere I play. http://www.ozarkgetaways.com/courtsquare.html

Keyboard cost $200 go for it. This week-end - stay home - you've paid for the keyboard.

Yes I have a Yamaha 64 key keyboard and love it. Ditto everything that has been said, IMHO everyone needs a keyboard even if you just use it as a drum machine.

Piano starting from scratch and taking lessons from a classical trained instructor - your first nursery rhyme song will be a month away after hours of scale work - gotta do your scales. Getting your left and and right hand doing different "stuff" took me four months. It's a journey, but, worth every mile.

Yes, I think that in classical music BD is more like a big violin (is that rigth?), and my idea of a DB is more related to what you hear in jazz (walking bass lines and so)... maybe piano is a better choice for what I'm looking for... I will talk later today with the school director and I will take a decision.

Thanks.

[Eublet]

Originally Posted by pbassist

Yes, I think that in classical music BD is more like a big violin (is that rigth?),

More related to the cello actually. The "Double Bass" came about because of the need to have more low end in a symphony, and the cello parts were often "doubled" to provide that.

and my idea of a DB is more related to what you hear in jazz (walking bass lines and so)... maybe piano is a better choice for what I'm looking for... I will talk later today with the school director and I will take a decision.

Thanks.

Honestly, it doesn't matter what you are looking for from a stylistic point of view. Piano is THE instrument for studying music, period. Harmony, chord theory, voicings, inversions, note relationships, etc. Use it to make yourself a better musician regardless of what style you play.

Again, only pursue DB if you want to learn how to play DB, and be prepared to invest a lot of time and money.

You can gain a lot from a little bit of piano study. It'll open up lots of doors for how you approach and think about music. Double Bass not so much. To really be good at DB, you need to play every day and dedicate serious time and study to it. Casual study won't really have a lot of musical payoff as it would with piano. It's really that simple.

By the way, if you're serious, you should study piano regardless of whether you pickup DB or not.

[Michael Case]

Yeah, the piano offers so much. The double bass offers, well, more bass. Honestly, if I had to do things again I would've started piano sooner and probably never started DB.

[mstott25]

Originally Posted by Michael Case

Yeah, the piano offers so much. The double bass offers, well, more bass. Honestly, if I had to do things again I would've started piano sooner and probably never started DB.

because I like you and more importantly because I believe you, I'm gonna take this advice myself.

I think I've suffered from a bit of double bass envy for a few years now, deep down I don't have a love or desire for it, I just wanted to feel "legit" since my favorite music is jazz.

but deep down I love electric for my sound and Ed Fuqua gave some good advice advice once (mixed with his famed wit) about playing some mickey mouse watch or whatever if it was the sound he heard in his head, which encouraged me to stick with electric.

however - I started on piano before bass and still practice it for my music teacher, but the muscle memory is not there like it is with bass and I've gone back and forth wondering if I should even bother playing piano anymore or just switch to double bass.

all that to say - I feel liberated. This weekend is going to rock so hard now.

[Michael Case]

Originally Posted by mstott25

because I like you and more importantly because I believe you, I'm gonna take this advice myself.

Thank you, glad I can help.

Originally Posted by mstott25

I think I've suffered from a bit of double bass envy for a few years now, deep down I don't have a love or desire for it, I just wanted to feel "legit" since my favorite music is jazz.

but deep down I love electric for my sound and Ed Fuqua gave some good advice advice once (mixed with his famed wit) about playing some mickey mouse watch or whatever if it was the sound he heard in his head, which encouraged me to stick with electric.

however - I started on piano before bass and still practice it for my music teacher, but the muscle memory is not there like it is with bass and I've gone back and forth wondering if I should even bother playing piano anymore or just switch to double bass.

all that to say - I feel liberated. This weekend is going to rock so hard now.

Yeah I remember that feeling. "How can I sound like all these great jazz guys on an electric bass?" I think I would have learned more in music school had I gone as an electric bass major instead of double bass. I spent so much time struggling with the bass that I missed a lot of music. I also remember an old teacher kind of nudging me towards DB, then I found out years later when I went to take DB lessons that he'd gone about 90% electric. I'm also getting to a point where I HATE the sound of an amplified DB, but I really don't want to come home from a gig feeling worked over by Andre The Giant because I played un-amped. The electric is my home, when I play it I play music and not the bass. I love my instrument and I love the fact that a set of strings cost $40.00 at most. DB strings start at $140.00 and go up.

[pbassist]

HI,

I finally chose piano, bad news is that we are 3 people for 1 piano in the class (1 hour), with double bass I would be alone with the teacher (not much people choose DB), but I think that piano is the best instrument for what I'm looking for.

Thanks to all.

PD. Now I'm looking for advice for a suitable digital piano / midi controller in the offtopic forum (Digital piano / MIDI controller for learning classical piano.), any help will be appreciated.