5 great rabbath videos

[flip18436572]

Bassist14,

Thanks for the video links. I am completely new to the double bass and I am awe of those of you who can play at all. I am 44 years old and learning this from scratch. Hearing things like this just motivate me more and more.

THANKS!!!!!!!

[bassist14]

hi flip
thank you for your friendly post!

[flip18436572]

Why does he make it look like he puts little to no pressure down on the strings and still gets a great tone? I feel like I am putting a death grip on the strings to get a good tone.

[PaulCannon]

Originally Posted by flip18436572

Why does he make it look like he puts little to no pressure down on the strings and still gets a great tone? I feel like I am putting a death grip on the strings to get a good tone.

That's because he doesn't use any pressure. He only uses the weight of his arm and gravity. The muscles only get in the way, and can actually dampen the sound.

Check out his DVD The Art of the Bow to learn more.

[flip18436572]

Originally Posted by PaulCannon

That's because he doesn't use any pressure. He only uses the weight of his arm and gravity. The muscles only get in the way, and can actually dampen the sound.

Check out his DVD The Art of the Bow to learn more.

I am talking about his left hand, and I think you are talking about his right hand.

[PaulCannon]

Originally Posted by flip18436572

I am talking about his left hand, and I think you are talking about his right hand.

Ah.

Yes, but it is the same concept. You shouldn't squeeze, just let the weight of your arm find its way into the pad of your fingers. Also remember that his bass is set up to be insanely easy to play. He uses thin, low tension Corelli strings put very close to the fingerboard. Compared to most basses, his feels like a cello.

[that1guy222]

Wow, thanks for posting! Great find.

[flip18436572]

Originally Posted by PaulCannon

Ah.

Yes, but it is the same concept. You shouldn't squeeze, just let the weight of your arm find its way into the pad of your fingers. Also remember that his bass is set up to be insanely easy to play. He uses thin, low tension Corelli strings put very close to the fingerboard. Compared to most basses, his feels like a cello.

No wonder it looks so easy. I am sure it makes a difference on the cost of the DB also and how well it is setup.

Thanks!!!

[BMason]

There are 7 terrific videos of Rabbath speaking in Germany on YouTube that could help you out. He explains his body awareness and technique at a basic, but enlightening level. I've heard that a lesson with Rabbath is life altering and now I don't doubt it. From what I can gather, he seems to be on another planet, pedagogically.

[flip18436572]

Originally Posted by BMason

There are 7 terrific videos of Rabbath speaking in Germany on YouTube that could help you out. He explains his body awareness and technique at a basic, but enlightening level. I've heard that a lesson with Rabbath is life altering and now I don't doubt it. From what I can gather, he seems to be on another planet, pedagogically.

sorry, I only know english, so it wouldn't be too much help for me. Thanks anyway.

[Goalie86]

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

Is anyone else in awe from the incredible emotions in Concerto No. 3 by Rabbath?! Unbelievable playing

When I heard this the first time it killed me. That was in 1990, I believe. CCM. So much emotion.
This piece is also very accessible for us. It is fun to play and has an improv section in the middle.
While his music is relative to his life, it is also worth striving to play. If nothing else, he has given us a way to find our own voice no matter what we play.

[Alex Scott]

sorry, I only know english, so it wouldn't be too much help for me. Thanks anyway.

The videos are in English.

[dchan]

Originally Posted by Goalie86

When I heard this the first time it killed me. That was in 1990, I believe. CCM. So much emotion.
This piece is also very accessible for us. It is fun to play and has an improv section in the middle.
While his music is relative to his life, it is also worth striving to play. If nothing else, he has given us a way to find our own voice no matter what we play.

I had a hell of a time trying to actually find out what piece it was exactly, and whether an actual recording or sheet music was available. I looked at the comments for help initially, and assumed it was a cello concerto. It turns out that I should have simply looked at the title of the video; it was simply a concerto from one of Vivaldi's opuses (or opi? I don't know what the pluralization of opus is.)

I eventually found a sample on Amazon.com. It turned out to be a concerto for violins and maybe a viola, and it was originally in D major rather than the F major that Rabbath played it in. So I don't know how much the sheet music would help; I suppose you could transpose it.

Every now and then, when I feel down on myself and my playing, I play that video to remind myself how much emotion one is able bring out on the bass. It is truly inspiring and incredibly beautiful.

[flip18436572]

Originally Posted by Alex Scott

The videos are in English.

Do you have links???

[funkydanbass]

I thoroughly enjoyed those videos...

[pat1151]

I believe Rabbath himself may have made the transcription available... try liben.com

[dchan]

Originally Posted by pat1151

I believe Rabbath himself may have made the transcription available... try liben.com

The Vivaldi concerto's there. Thanks.

[thedbassist]

Originally Posted by flip18436572

Do you have links???

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy-03jH_mrE

[Alex Scott]

Here is the first one there are several, You can just search for Rabbath on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy-03jH_mrE

It seems that the playing is cut out for the most part, but it is the playing in the 5 videos linked in the first post.