Search results for query: *

I am on the top floor and recently started double bass, with the bow. I was thinking of getting an Auralex Gramma iso pad for the end pin. Then maybe hang some moving blankets around my space to reduce the ambient sound. I'd love to build an iso room, a play late. But that would cost a bit, I...

I had a pretty strong reaction to Joe Frazier - Round 3. So I wrote a review on Facebook, this is a shorter version. I'm not quitting my day job to become a writer, but my opinions are real. Here is my review of JF3: I have to be honest, a confession so to speak. I’m a big Jeff Berlin fan. I...

I'm a decent amateur bassist. I want to start playing some rhythm guitar, mostly for my own songwriting. I need a little advice. I can read music in bass and treble. I can technically play guitar, I studied classical as a young man, so I can finger pick okay. I know chords, more than just the...

A couple of things I noticed over the past few days. Some days are better than others, of course. If I've been playing for a while then it starts to get more staccato, but if I focus I can stop it. If I make big leap, like doing a major 7th arpeggio starting on the 4th finger and then back down...

I'm guessing I'm ending the note by lifting the left hand fingers. But I also think my plucking and fretted finger landing is not happening at the same time. I also think my bass is a little tough to play, it's a Precision, the action isn't super high but it does make a good amount of fret noise.

I am not a fast player but even when I play slow or moderately there is too much space between the notes. Any advice other than try to make the notes connect? Any exercises? Thanks!

I played guitar when I was young and played classical guitar for a few years. Two things I remember. One is that my friends and I would play 33 1/3 Beatles records at 45 rpm and I loved the bass lines. The other thing is that in college I studied some classical theory. I loved figured bass and...

Thanks. Last night I tried something similar. I did a few minutes of Scott Devine's Flying Finger exercise, basically a chromatic fingering exercise, very slowly.

I've been practicing a lot chord tone exercises. When I start my practice session I can only do the easiest. But after 10 minutes or so I can play fingerings that involve more finger independence and string crossing. Do you guys just start easy and slowly or do you have specific ways up...

Utrasound on 30th street has a good weekend deal of 3 hours for the price of 2. They do have piano's in some rooms. They are cheaper than Roberto's.

I won't be running out too soon to buy a new bow. That may be part of my tax return budget!

My bow is a $75 CF bow. I'm pretty sure it's a Glasser bow. Yesterday during my lesson my teacher had me try his nice wooden bow. I forget what he said it was worth but it was not cheap. What I noticed immediately was that I could feel the vibration of the string in my finger tips. I don't get...

I know on my electric bass lighter gauge strings don't have as much bottom as regular gauge strings. I would assume that is also true with double bass strings.

I have recently started double bass. My bass was originally set up with Spirocore lights with the bridge set low with flatter arch. I am playing arco since I am studying classical. This was tough for bowing and I was triple stopping. I had my teacher look at it in case it was just bad technique...

They are Weich, red bottom, purple top. I forgot exactly what he said about the fingerboard.

So the bridge adjustment went well. I really see a difference in terms of triple stops on the D string and a little less to the A string. Approaching the E string is a little different, but I'll get used to it. One thing that the repairman said was that I have light gauge strings on it...

If they can make it easier to bow the middle strings then I'll be happier. I'm not sure if the fingerboard was adjusted previously for a jazz setup or not. I'm sure they can tell. I know the bridge was.

When I bought my bass years ago the shop I bought it at, David gage, did a jazz setup and put Spirocores on it because my desire was to play jazz bass. Unfortunately, I hardly played it and stuck to electric. In fact I thought of selling it! But recently I decided to study classical bass. One...

I would say that if I was not using a teacher I would be trying to move forward in the Simandl book. But he wants me to work on getting a good foundation in bowing and how left hand position. The fingertips of both hands are getting a wakeup call!

I have a wheel, which is great for walking around. My concern is stairs, doorways and subways. I used the should strap yesterday and when going up and down stairs I treied to use my arms, as opposed to back, to lift the bass. That worked. I want to work on Chris' technique for carrying. People...

I had my lesson. It went well, although I was late due to a funeral. He was very complimentary and very positive teacher. But don't think that he didn't show me basics or correct me. We worked on basic bowing, he uses the Russian grip. He also showed me how to hold my left hand. We talked about...

Thanks!

I'm sure this has been asked a million times. I have a Mooradian Bag for my bass. I use the wheel when I have to walk long distances. But what is the easiest, least stressful to the back, way to carry a bass up and down stairs, on to subways, etc. Thanks!

I'm facing this problem and I've decided to approach it differently. Until someone complains you are only projecting your fear of complaints on your neighbors. You really have no idea how loud it sounds to them or if they really notice it that much. My advantage is that I work from 7 am until 1...

Considering that he only talked about bass I would consider him a bass geek.

The teacher is a NY bassist named Steve Moran.

I just wanted to post this somewhere and I figure people here would understand. Next Wednesday I have my first lesson with a classical teacher. He'll probably adjust the action and make it higher, my bass originally had a jazz setup. I told him I want to learn proper classical double bass and...

I assisted on a session years ago where he played. He was great obviously and seemed nice enough. But I remember the way he talked seemed pompous and self important but I wonder of he's just an intellectual bass geek. I remember him saying that he changed his strings before every session, that...

I use a standard gauge string. Yesterday I did what fearceol suggested. I was able to play without squeezing for a good bit of my practice. I started watching that youtube video, very enlightening.

I have a couple of left hand issues that I'm sure people have dealt with. Any suggestions are welcome. My action is as low as I can get it on a precision. I'm wondering if they're all related. I squeeze the neck too tight. This makes shifting difficult and I get hand fatigue. I feel like I'm...

I have played bass guitar for many years now as an amateur. Currently I'm in a couple of rock bands and also meet with some friends to play jazz standards. Currently I am focused on studying jazz harmony and improvisation on my electric bass. About 9 years ago I bought an Upright Bass, a 1988...

Thanks. I bought it at the "other" place. But I went to Bill Merchant when I was looking and he was a nice, just didn't have something at a beginner level.

Thanks to both of you. Finding a teacher is the next step, should be easy in NYC.

Years ago I bought an upright bass, when I bought it I had the shop do a setup and put new strings on it. That was about 9 years ago. I played it for a few months and then it sat in the corner while I played electric. Lately I've thought about the upright bass so I took it out of the case ( bag...

OP, I really think you may want to look for a simple music theory instruction book. There may be a music theory for dummies type thing. It's worth it to know basic theory and reading skills and you can get a basic knowledge without a lot of effort.

I've been focusing on my technique lately. My thumb is not centered on the neck, it's too high, and my hand is gripping too tightly. I think my left hand technique in my avatar picture was much better, centered and the finger tips touched the strings rather than the flats. The picture was from a...

I coulda been a contender.

It's funny, every once in a while I'll decide to try playing with a plectrum and it just falls apart. OP, when playing with a plectrum doe you mostly use upstrokes? I ask this because Steve Swallow plays that way. I think Carol Kaye plays with upstrokes too.

I've mostly been practicing chord tones up and down the neck and I make sure I'm shifting smoothly.

The only time I cramp up is if I'm not practicing or playing much and I start to play fast music. I think it's a combination of being out of practice and being nervous. Too much caffeine affects me in a different way some times, I start to rush my time.