I have poor (Double Bass) technique, but good intonation.

[JazzyLambert]

I am a 16 year old bassist, I am totally self taught and have poor technique. I have been playing this way for so long now I really don't think I could unlearn it.

The weird thing is that I regularly score jobs ahead of players with impeccable looking technique, because the sounds that I produce are good. The real problem is that I tend to get tired and sore a bit too quickly and I am sometimes in pain by the end of a concert.

A couple of times players have assumed they are 'better' than me because their posture and positioning etc. are correct, but sometimes when they play alone I can hear, fudged notes and sloppy intonation.

[PoundinThunder]

practice. or fix your technique. if it hurts, dont do it. it will only lead to more problems.

[Uncletoad]

Get some lessons and learn to play properly. You are nowhere near as good as you think, at 16 you can't be. This instrument takes decades to master. If you stay on this path into your 20's and 30's you'll really have problems. Now you are just beginning and can learn all kinds of new and useful things.

This is not an instrument you can master without guidance.

Get a Teacher.

[PoundinThunder]

counting him out because he is young IMO is arrogant. Though i understand a lot of younger people arent as good as they think they are, sometimes one or two come a long that surprise us. you cant make that call without hearing him you know? with that being said, a teacher will help you learn proper technique and preserve your claimed "good intonation". it may feel like you are going backwards, but in the long run, its a good thing

[txstatebass]

Sounds to me like the OP is blessed with a good ear. I had this problem too as a younger player. I call it a problem because over time what the OP might find is that those whom he is surpassing now will eventually catch up. They have the technique to spend long hours practicing, and their intonation will improve, whereas the OP will still be playing the same. Guts and a good ear can only take you so far. There are NO short cuts on this instrument. Take the time to do it "right" and that ear will improve along with your ability to execute.

Or you might be done learning at 16. I thought I was once. Now I'm 30 and ready to actually learn something.

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by PoundinThunder

counting him out because he is young IMO is arrogant. Though i understand a lot of younger people arent as good as they think they are, sometimes one or two come a long that surprise us. you cant make that call without hearing him you know? with that being said, a teacher will help you learn proper technique and preserve your claimed "good intonation". it may feel like you are going backwards, but in the long run, its a good thing

Name one 16 year old that doesn't need a teacher. This kid is already in pain. He's already doing it wrong.

[gregoire1]

I've been playing for almost 25yrs and never realized how awful my own techniqe was. I've been playing "wrong" for almost twice as long as you've been alive! Listen to these guys and get some guidance NOW! At least you caught it early.

[Buzzi]

Mister Thomas Edison (I thinks it was him... anyway) once said that Creativity is 10% inspiration em 90% transpiration... undertand for us as 10% gift and 90% study/research ...
In this moment you may be at just 10% of you could be ... go find the other 90% ...

if you feel pain it mean you are doing some (or many) things wrong...

I was like you (well.. a little younger than you at that time) ... I did begin to play bass praticaly alone... with books etc... but you get at a point that someone must told you what to do ... if you try to discover everything alone... you will take much more time than someone who got a teacher... and you will loose time and probably stay behind of those you think are behing you today...

that is life ...

[namraj]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

This instrument takes decades to master.

I don't agree, I think you can be very good at 16 - 25, otherwise all the talented bands would be old and ugly.

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

If you stay on this path into your 20's and 30's you'll really have problems.

Undoubtedly, if your causing yourself pain now, 10 years of playing like that will cause serious problems, I no many musicians with RSE, not fun.

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by namraj

I don't agree, I think you can be very good at 16 - 25, otherwise all the talented bands would be old and ugly.

Name one that did it without instruction.

Edit: You've lost your way. This is Double Bass. Which you know nothing about.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by PoundinThunder

counting him out because he is young IMO is arrogant. Though i understand a lot of younger people arent as good as they think they are, sometimes one or two come a long that surprise us. you cant make that call without hearing him you know? with that being said, a teacher will help you learn proper technique and preserve your claimed "good intonation". it may feel like you are going backwards, but in the long run, its a good thing

Please fill out your profile. This is the DB forum, and outside of this thread, a quick search of your posts reveals that the first three pages of them are all in the BG forums. While it is by no means forbidden for BG players to post in the BG forums, when it comes to DB technique, it's best not to give advice on a skill set one does not possess.

If you do play DB, please put that information in your profile so as to avoid confusion in situations like this.

[jallenbass]

Originally Posted by JazzyLambert

I have been playing this way for so long now I really don't think I could unlearn it.

Of course you can.

1. Find a teacher who will show you how your hands work.

2. Get in front of a mirror and do those things.

3. Spend many hours doing this.

4. Move your hands very S-L-O-W-L-Y while working on your technique.

5. This will likely take some time.

The only reason that you won't unlearn your bad habits is because you decide not to.

[low-endz]

Learning Proper Technique will help you play longer & most likely improve your intonation as much as you would like to belive otherwise.

Regardless how bad the others sound with proper technique there is a reason why proper technique & posture is important to playing such a physical instrument.

Hey @ 16yrs old its not too late to try something new

[Andrew Grandahl]

You can do it. I taught myself how to play double bass for 5 years and was in the same boat; great ear but poor technique. When I was 15 I started lessons with a really good teacher who straightened me out and my playing skyrocketed because of it. Get a teacher and practice.

[PoundinThunder]

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

Please fill out your profile. This is the DB forum, and outside of this thread, a quick search of your posts reveals that the first three pages of them are all in the BG forums. While it is by no means forbidden for BG players to post in the BG forums, when it comes to DB technique, it's best not to give advice on a skill set one does not possess.

If you do play DB, please put that information in your profile so as to avoid confusion in situations like this.

the comment i made can be applied to BG and DB. a teacher is always a good idea, he/she will work on your technique while keeping/improving the skills you may have. and i do think saying someone is bad simply because they are young is bad. is it probable, yes. but not certain

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by PoundinThunder

the comment i made can be applied to BG and DB. a teacher is always a good idea, he/she will work on your technique while keeping/improving the skills you may have. and i do think saying someone is bad simply because they are young is bad. is it probable, yes. but not certain

I never said he played badly. I said he played nowhere near as well as he thinks. At 16 it's highly unlikely a Double Bass player that is self taught will have near the skill set needed to be exceptional. That is not the case with Electric Bass which takes nowhere near as much time or study to master.

You wouldn't know that not having studied Double Bass.

[derrenleepoole]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

That is not the case with Electric Bass which takes nowhere near as much time or study to master.

Now there's a remark that will surely raise eyebrows... I think I'll sit back and watch the fireworks

[PoundinThunder]

now how do you know that? you have no idea of my previous life experiences. i will say sorry for accusing you for saying he was bad. i understand where u are coming from. and IMO it takes years to "master" anything. some more than others but the way u stated that made it sound like being good at electric bass means nothing. o well, i am done arguing

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by PoundinThunder

now how do you know that? you have no idea of my previous life experiences.

Nope but it does not appear that you play double bass. Do you?

If you don't you have nothing to say on the subject.

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by derrenleepoole

Now there's a remark that will surely raise eyebrows... I think I'll sit back and watch the fireworks

I have studied both Electric Bass and Double Bass for a long time.

The Double Bass is significantly more difficult and time consuming to play equally well as the Electric Bass.