How old is too old to start Upright?

gmpiper · #1 08-22-2006, 04:09 PM

I'm 41, male, Brooklyn, NY, 3 kids. I've knocked around with a Fender P-bass for 20 years. No formal lessons. Occassional gigs. But I'm gonna be dead soon (in another 50-60 years), and I want to play jazz double-bass. Somebody please tell me I can do this. Because I know I can - just don't know how. I'm starting at the very beginning. Any suggestions? Thanks.

jady · #2 08-22-2006, 04:17 PM

Well first off get your hands on one and play it......i know that sounds like a smart-a** response but in reality there are no short cuts, the more you play the better you'll be....

Get a good teacher, in NYC you should have your pick of great players to learn from. The roughest part of it for me was the hand strength. The DB is not a lazy mans instrument.
You need to move fast, powerfully and relaxed. The only way to get that is once again to play A LOT.

I always have my students practice during commercial breaks while watching TV. If you watch 2 hours of TV a night thats on average 6 commercial breaks in an hour, at 3 minutes per break thats 18 minutes per hour or 36 minutes for 2 hours. I have them run scales or just walk blues changes, but play non stop for the entire break.......You'll have monster hand strength in a month or so........

Good luck and welcome to the rare breed man!!!!

gmpiper · #3 08-22-2006, 04:23 PM

Thanks, Jady.

hdiddy · #4 08-22-2006, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jady

Get a good teacher, in NYC you should have your pick of great players to learn from.... The DB is not a lazy mans instrument.

You probably can't repeat that enough. Yep, read all the newbie links on this site, find a good teacher, and start saving $$$. You'll need probably around $1200 for a bass worth starting off on. Or better yet, rent one until you know it's what you really want. After that, it's all practice practice practice.

philip sirois · #5 08-22-2006, 04:31 PM

hey,

I got you beat...I started playing db at 45...just 18 months ago,
after 35 years playing guitar. It's been so much work but also lot's of fun. I got some solid fundamentals from a couple of teachers, and I plan to continue lessons. I found a few different situations to play/practice on craigslist and the like, and have been just going with it. Getting better in small but steady increments, but still, of course, I always feel like I'm at the begining as well. Best thing I've done in many years. Don't hesitate.

phil

FidgetStone · #6 08-22-2006, 04:44 PM

So far, all good advice. I started playing DB three years ago at age 45 and I'm loving it.

Find a teacher and rent a bass before buying one are my two cents.

TalkBass is, hands down, the best on-line resource for double bass that I have found so you are already ahead of the game! Good luck and welcome aboard.

junglebike · #7 08-22-2006, 06:01 PM

You can start now, even tho you don't have an upright -- half the battle is knowing which notes to play! Do you already know how to walk? Start working on walking bass lines on your p-bass if not. Get a real book and start practicing the less bizzarre standards (e.g. Autumn Leaves, all Miles' stuff, etc.)

Technique is totally different on the upright, but the theory is the same. Set a deadline to try and be capable of sitting in on a jazz gig in ~9 months to 1 yr, or 6 months if you're really ambitious.

gmpiper · #8 08-22-2006, 06:18 PM

Thanks to all for your encouraging advice.

churchboy · #9 08-22-2006, 06:23 PM

You bet you can. I'm 43 and started in january and love it. Getting some jazz gigs because of it.

Rent a bass and start playing

Standalone · #10 08-22-2006, 06:27 PM

Start playing with people. I had my Kay for ten plus years before I really took it up. I found someone on Craigslist who was putting together a group to play through the standards out of the fake books (guys in their 40's-50's)... that was in October of last year, and I was up to snuff by spring--

I wish I had time for/ money for a teacher. I'm probably doing the carpal tunnel damage that everyone warns about on here-- a teacher is supposed to supply the technique that should avoid this.

I have long fingers, so I was pretty much able to move my electric fingering over to the DB.

People on here reccommend renting, but if you have the dough for your own, go for owning one. Get a solid used respectable brand and you can always turn it around for not too much less than you paid for it.

Again, having like minded musicians around who are just a little better than you is the key. My bass has rediculously high action, and is a bear to play... but having friends to do music with, and now gigs... that's enough motivation to keep playing, even with my old doghouse! Best of luck to you.

Jazzman · #11 08-22-2006, 06:27 PM

And I thought I was old when I started playing the double bass.

In all seriousness, good luck with it, and get a teacher!

flint · #12 08-22-2006, 07:25 PM

I also thought that I was old when I started two years ago, at 34. And now I'm warming the last chair in our local symphony and trying to get into playing some jazz out. The most frustrating thing for me is wishing that I had started earlier. you just have to remind yourself that the only person you can compare yourself to is your past self.(does that make sense?) Essentially, I believe that as long as you are moving forward in whatever you're trying to do nothing else really matters. You've made the decision, so go for it.

Above all get a teacher! You are in NYC, so that shouldn't be a problem. If finances are an issue, then try to find a good DB masters student at one of the uni's. That's what I did, and I couldn't have asked for a better teacher. (Lord knows what I'm going to do when she graduates!)

You're right in the bass mecca with kolsteins, gage's, etc locally, as well as within a shortish ride to uptons and others I'm sure I'm leaving out...I'm sure you can find a bass to rent while you are deciding what you really need.

Congratulations and good luck. keep us posted on your progress.

drurb · #13 08-22-2006, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmpiper

I'm 41, male, Brooklyn, NY, 3 kids. I've knocked around with a Fender P-bass for 20 years. No formal lessons. Occassional gigs. But I'm gonna be dead soon (in another 50-60 years), and I want to play jazz double-bass. Somebody please tell me I can do this. Because I know I can - just don't know how. I'm starting at the very beginning. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Good for you! Go for it! Everyone here has provided you great advice. One line cannot be repeated enough: "Get a teacher."

j.s.basuki · #14 08-22-2006, 07:45 PM

I started 2 years ago whe I was 47, since then seldom I play my electric.

Alexi David · #15 08-22-2006, 07:50 PM

Age is bull****. Either you want to do it, or you don't. If you want to, and wil work hard, you can do almost anything in life. GO for it!

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #16 08-22-2006, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexi David

Age is bull****. Either you want to do it, or you don't. If you want to, and wil work hard, you can do almost anything in life. GO for it!

Agreed. I got my first DB at age 35, fell in love, and have never looked back. I turn 42 this week, and have been gigging 100 nights a year for the past five. If you're in love, go kiss the bride and set about making a home for the two of you.

christ andronis · #17 08-22-2006, 08:13 PM

..what they all said....I started in college..stopped for 30 years and picked it up again at 52.....you'll be fine!!!

mrpc · #18 08-22-2006, 08:23 PM

I say this is great, go for it! And don't discount your experience with the Fender either. You have alot of valuable music time put in there that will only help speed you along at every level of upright chops you earn.

drurb · #19 08-22-2006, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christ andronis

..what they all said....I started in college..stopped for 30 years and picked it up again at 52.....you'll be fine!!!

Let me add that I started at age 13, played all the way through high-school and college (including playing in a professional orchestra at age 17), had private teachers for years, and then didn't play for many years. Several years ago, I re-acquainted myself with the instrument and figured out how to read music again. It was all spurned by a group of former musicians at work starting a small (and, at the time, pathetic) jazz combo. When my younger daughter went off to college, I ramped it up and fulfilled a dream-- I sought out a fine jazz DB teacher. I'm having a blast and I practice every night! Gee-- I'm 48 now. I've been in love with the DB for 35 years! By the way, the combo has gotten to be pretty good!

This is all to say that if you have the physical ability, the time, and the commitment, screw age-- it's irrelevant!

Johnny L · #20 08-22-2006, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmpiper

Somebody please tell me I can do this.

O.K., you can do this...and I mean that.

Now to reality (or at least my reality): it will take you a handful of years to play anything that satisfies you as quickly as when you play it on electric bass...and if you get addicted to the bow like I am, it's even worse.

I'm talking 5+ years down the road in between holding a day job, keeping marriage and family life in check, etc...it sucks! Worst of all, new strings will set you back around ten 10-spots

On the other hand, it's been a blast with every step up the "ladder" of doublebass. I stand by my sacrifices.