Newbie Question

[krustyo07]

I'm 15 and have played electric bass for about a year and now want to begin playing double bass in my school's symphonic band and have signed up to play that it instead of xylophone/percussion (which I hate.)

I started playing bass guitar in the first place to help out two guitar playing friends who wanted to start a band, but I got really into the instrument and developed an interest in jazz along with folk-ish music (a la the Band whose bassist, Rick Danko, is one of my favorites) which lead me to want to play upright (and to want to quit the band I'm in because they feel Cliff Burton and Steve Harris are the best thing going in bass, but thats another story.)

I'm wondering how much of a change is it to play upright, particularly in the field of fingerings. I made the effort to learn the names of the notes at different frets and already read music after years of piano playing and being in the school band. Will any of my prior bass experience help at all? Or is upright basically an entirely different instrument?

[bassman1489]

it will definitly help. knowing how to read music and having a basic understanding of the fretboard (fingerboard) should make things a bit easier. if you have a teacher who plays both electric and upright, that will also make the transition easier. however, when you start getting more advanced, i recommend switching to a teacher who will focus on upright. if your teacher only plays electric, you might want to find a teacher who plays upright.

[grizliadams]

Hey man...its funny that you should ask about this! Im in the process of doing the exact opposite! Im 22 and have been playing doublebass since i was 14...i love it, i live in belfast, NI and playing in the youth orchestra here took me all round europe, and last summer the US. But since ive left ive had to stop playing as i dont have my own instrument, and its just too expensive to buy one. So i figured plan B is buy an electric bass, and transfer my knowledge of upright over to that. Basically, what im saying should be largely the same in ur case...were both essentially starting over, but hopefully we should be able to pick it up relatively quick...just make sure you get the right tutor!!! I hope you enjoy it as much as i have!!