OVERWHELMING DELEMA !

lobster_boy · #1 12-30-2001, 04:34 PM

I have sorta told my band teacher that I would be happy to play DB in his band. I've only played a DB 3 times in my life, but I've been playing EB for 4 years. I will be the only string instrument in the band and I'm going to be considered the "string tuba". SO, I've been practicing w/ a bow and it sounds and feels like I'm killing a firepole w/ hack-saw! Do you trusted and superior DBists have any tips for me on bowing? I pretty much have my left hand on control from all the time playing a fretless 6-string bass. I will not be able to get a teacher for 2 months because of my teenage salary. ANY info would be very much appreciated.
BTW: I will be playing with them in a week!

Maurice ElDarko · #2 12-30-2001, 04:57 PM

skip the country till the whole thing blows over

gruffpuppy · #3 12-30-2001, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Samuel
Seize the moment!!

And . . . .

(help me out with the magic words, here)

Umm.
Abracadabra
Please
Practice
Click your heals together and keep saying there's no place like home.

Maurice ElDarko · #4 12-30-2001, 10:42 PM

Close your eyes and think of England!!!

mchildree · #5 12-31-2001, 05:50 AM

...or...you COULD just be up-front with your teacher and let him know that you're a beginner. And make no mistake about it...an experienced EB player who picks up DB is just that...a beginner. It's a different instrument.

Maybe he knows that already and is giving you the opportunity to get started.

rablack · #6 12-31-2001, 09:48 AM

The magic words are of course "get a teacher", but you know that already. Bowing is basically impossible to teach online. "hold your wrist like this... no, less tension in the hand ... you're not bowing from the shoulder... " Get the idea.

There are few links on (All Hail) Bob Gollihur's website with pictures and explanations but nothing will take the place of a human being in the same room who can watch, listen and analyze.

Also, if this is a school bass, chances are the strings are old and shot and the bow needs rehairing.

Don Higdon · #7 12-31-2001, 10:23 AM

Once again, rablack speaks the truth. What's going to happen is, you are going to play with whatever limitations and improper technique you have. Eventually, you will go to a teacher. You will have to learn how to break all your bad habits. This can take a long time. That's the risk of playing without instruction. It's up to you.

lobster_boy · #8 12-31-2001, 12:08 PM

I've been to Bob Gollihur's website and it was very helpful and I've talked to him about an aluminum upright bass before and he was very considerate. I've got to keep the school's bass over the holidays and I've barely gotten steady bowing down but I'm positive theres MANY things I'm doing wrong. The teacher said I can officially begin instruction in 3 weeks not 4. My trumpet player friend is going to be practiceing with me tommorow to go over a few songs we will be playing so maybe I'll be able to struggle through 4 songs. And if it doesn't work out after all I could always pluck through the songs.

**Bob Gollihur** · #9 01-01-2002, 08:47 AM

I remember struggling with arco during my own self-taught days, and even afterwards to some extent.

I know now what got in my way -- old/unsuitable strings (usually Thomastiks), crummy rosin, and ancient hair on my bow. Fixing all three was a revelation. You can finally let the bow do the work instead of trying to force the sound out of the bass.

That said, while I played tuba in the marching band in HS (faint recollection in the distant past) I usually played double bass in the concert band and had an absolute ball doing so. I still remember sawing my way through the 1812 Overture during a concert, and the immersion and joy of the experience -- 36+ years later. Bad tone and all.

Enjoy it. The typically horrible clarinet section will cover up any squawks.

Joe Taylor · #10 01-02-2002, 01:14 PM

Come on guys this newbee wants help.
Basic bow technique is:

1 use rosin
2 make sure the bow is 90 degrees to string
3 bow about 1 to 1 1/2 inches below finger board
4 get a basic string bass book and read about bowing.

the 90 degrees is probably most critical

viking_456 · #11 01-16-2002, 01:49 PM

I don't know if this thread has gone stale or not, but a couple of other things would be:

1) don't use to much rosin.
2) don't use too much pressure. In other words, don't jam the bow down on the string. Having made the transition from primarily a pizzicato player to an acceptable arco player, this was one of the hardest things to get past - and again, instruction helped me here.