Going back to primarily electric playing.

nathanmcnathan · #1 12-14-2008, 04:04 PM

Hey everybody. After about a year and a half of double bass playing, I've decided I'm going back to primarily playing electric bass. I love the double bass, but I'm finding it's easier for me to play as me on the electric bass, as well as it being just a more portable and easily accessible instrument. I can hear myself better, and I have more control over my sound. I'm still going to play double bass, but right now all the work I'm getting is with electric bass, so I'm keeping that as my main instrument. I'm not advocating this for other players, I'm just doing it because it's right for me
Opinions? Questions? Any relevant comments?

Kevin Hsieh · #2 12-14-2008, 04:09 PM

if that's the sound you hear, go for it.

Fetusyolk · #3 12-14-2008, 04:12 PM

welcome back to the electric side

Mark Perna · #4 12-14-2008, 04:33 PM

It sounds like you're asking for validation and that has me confused. If electric floats your boat, who cares what anyone here thinks? Just do it and have a good time.

mark

Marcus Johnson · #5 12-14-2008, 05:44 PM

Ta-ta.

jsbarber · #6 12-14-2008, 06:01 PM

It takes a lot longer to develop the technique required to play well on the DB. That may be why you can't be you on DB, you haven't yet developed sufficient playing technique yet. If you really want to play jazz, then you might want to reconsider. There are only a few examples of a good sounding bass guitar for jazz, IMO. (I have a CD by Brian Melvin, with Jaco playing on it and he does a nice job. It was Jaco's last recording. But it was Jaco and he was a great musician.) Furthermore, bandleaders who are looking to find a bassist are definitely going to prefer a double bassist for jazz. So, if jazz is your primary musical interest you may want to give DB more time. You are young, you have the time.

If you anre interested in other genres of music then it may not matter so much. But if you want to play jazz, then you may be wishing you didn't switch back. Do some serious listening and figure out what instrument you prefer. Think about what inspires you more than which one is easier for you to play.

IMO FWIW,

Jim

nathanmcnathan · #7 12-14-2008, 06:42 PM

Oh, I can play really well on double bass. I just prefer the electric bass right now. I'm finding that what I'm hearing requires the faster attack and sound of the electric bass. Also, Im playing a lot of fusion and for what I want to do, electric's the best way for me to go. I'm still trying to get the double bass in, I'll always be playing it because my electric bass technique and style is an evolution of my double bass technique. So I'm always going to be doubling, but I'm definately focusing more on the electric bass for now. I'm finding that I go through different phases where I want more double bass, and phases where I want more electric bass. But for now, the electric bass lets me be the most versatile, and I can make more money.

Marc Piane · #8 12-14-2008, 06:47 PM

wuss

...and what Mark said

...and Jim

damonsmith · #9 12-14-2008, 07:28 PM

Uh yeah, even with tons of talent a year and a half is not going to be sufficient to get around the instrument as well as you can on bass guitar.
You should make the choice you need to make, but it has always seemed your assessment of your double bass abilities has been over-stated.
It could be time to move on or you just might need a second or third opinion.

nathanmcnathan · #10 12-14-2008, 07:33 PM

I'm still practising and playing the double bass just as much, but I'm playing out with electric bass now. Unfortunately there isn't much I can do with it here in Barrie, everybody wants electric bass. I'm still doing everything like I'm playing double bass, though. My electric technique comes from my double bass technique, not the other way around, so quitting the instrument would just be stupid. An of course, I'm staying mainly on this side of the forums, there's too much stupidity on the BG side.

Marc Piane · #11 12-14-2008, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damonsmith

Uh yeah, even with tons of talent a year and a half is not going to be sufficient to get around the instrument as well as you can on bass guitar.

Yep. Jeez I've been playing DB for 15 years and I still don't feel like I "can play really well on the Double Bass."

Truthfully if somebody feels that baritone uke is the voice they hear then more power to them. Who gives a **** what anyone else thinks. You have to do what works for you.

Eric Hochberg · #12 12-14-2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanmcnathan

Hey everybody. After about a year and a half of double bass playing, I've decided I'm going back to primarily playing electric bass. I love the double bass, but I'm finding it's easier for me to play as me on the electric bass, as well as it being just a more portable and easily accessible instrument. I can hear myself better, and I have more control over my sound. I'm still going to play double bass, but right now all the work I'm getting is with electric bass, so I'm keeping that as my main instrument. I'm not advocating this for other players, I'm just doing it because it's right for me
Opinions? Questions? Any relevant comments?

So it doesn't mean if you get called to play double bass, you'll turn down the gig. If not, then why define it? Why even post this? Do what you want, it's not like you've invested much into playing double bass.

Phil Smith · #13 12-15-2008, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanmcnathan

Hey everybody. After about a year and a half of double bass playing, I've decided I'm going back to primarily playing electric bass. I love the double bass, but I'm finding it's easier for me to play as me on the electric bass, as well as it being just a more portable and easily accessible instrument. I can hear myself better, and I have more control over my sound. I'm still going to play double bass, but right now all the work I'm getting is with electric bass, so I'm keeping that as my main instrument. I'm not advocating this for other players, I'm just doing it because it's right for me
Opinions? Questions? Any relevant comments?

It takes a long time to not suck on DB.

David Kaczorowski · #14 12-15-2008, 02:02 PM

Wimp. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

Plus, what Fingers said.

damonsmith · #15 12-15-2008, 02:41 PM

Personally, I can play a lot faster and clearer on double bass than I ever could on BG.
There is something about getting the whole body into it that just makes it easier to get around the double bass at a certain point.

I still wouldn't say one is harder than the other. Each one gives back what you put into it. It is harder to play like Mike Mannring than to do what most do with the double bass.

And if you want to hear some unbelievable fusion on DB check out Arild Andersen's Molde Concert album.

ryco · #16 12-15-2008, 03:02 PM

Man -- play both!

I put down DB back in college and wish to hell I never had. I was playing way more rock and T-40 gigs then (80s/90s) and figgered I'd never miss it. Wrong!

Now I play occasional jazz combo gigs and I really wish I could play DB for 'em. So do my curmudgeony mates

If you have the ability to physically play DB now, keep up on your chops. Don't throw away a skill you have developed now, because you may want to play it again one day. Relearning DB is physically difficult. You've already won the hardest part of the battle!

just tellin' ya from my experience. peace!

EDIT: Srry, I should have read the OP more carefully! Carry on then! Straight ahead!

Marc Piane · #17 12-15-2008, 03:29 PM

That the confusing thing. He doesn't seem to be saying that he is going to stop playing DB. In my understanding he is not going to stop taking DB calls. He just feels EB is more his voice.

Ok. Great.

I'm just not sure why there is a thread about it.

I was going to bust the OPs balls about it but thought better.

Unplug...
meet some girls...
explore nature...
go to a ballgame...
no tv, no beer make Homer... something... something.

Treyzer · #18 12-15-2008, 04:09 PM

Don't think there are any DB gigs in the OP's general area. Still keep shedding. You gonna live where you're at the rest of your life? Your pretty young right? Much more fun to be a little fish in a big pond than a big fish in a place with very little water!

Fingers, Did you get my PM about your tunes or did I send it to the wrong place? Yes I am a technical idiot!

Marc Piane · #19 12-15-2008, 05:11 PM

Yup. Thanks for checking them out. I replied to your myspace message.

Mark Perna · #20 12-15-2008, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damonsmith

Personally, I can play a lot faster and clearer on double bass than I ever could on BG.
There is something about getting the whole body into it that just makes it easier to get around the double bass at a certain point.

I still wouldn't say one is harder than the other. Each one gives back what you put into it. It is harder to play like Mike Mannring than to do what most do with the double bass.

And if you want to hear some unbelievable fusion on DB check out Arild Andersen's Molde Concert album.

+1 on pretty much all of this. I haven't heard the Arild album but I just ordered it. It looks good. Good players on it.

mark