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Double Bass 30yo, too old to learn DB?

#61
I was almost 66 when I got my upright bass last November. I've been playing the guitar and electric bass for over 50 years, so I have some solid musical and performing background. That being said, it is a VERY rewarding instrument to learn, but is quite a bit more work than other instruments due to its size and physical demands. The best part for me was friends who I have played with for decades asking me why I didn't get an UB years ago. Just go for it!
 
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#62
frankweir said:
Hi Lady! I started a year ago at 62, same background as yours. Was able to start playing with cajun and bluegrass jam groups within three months or so but not terribly proficiently. Both those genres are a bit easier for getting started...basic chords and simple root-fifth base lines. After a year, I'm getting better with keeping a groove and incorporating lead up notes, passing notes and adding thirds. I also aspire to jazz. When I listen and look at the music, its pretty intimidating. You have to know your chord structure really well it seems to me and anticipate chord changes very very well. Try to find a cajun or bluegrass group. They just CRAVE having an upright bassist if they don't have one! It really fills out the sound so very well...I surprise myself! I sound crummy when I practice but in the groups, it sounds good and its fun! Keeps you motivated. Remember to practice every single day even if not for a long time. Its amazing that you can take a difficult passage and get better at it by struggling with it everyday. Big thing is to play with people! Can't describe how much fun it is. Our cajun group plays outside in a park by a pond in Ann Arbor Michigan in the summer...park goers listen, canoers listen, clap, sometimes dance. Summer breezes, sunsets, and playing upright bass...HEAVEN ON EARTH!!
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Hi, this is an interesting point. Although I am more interested in jazz, I've enjoyed old timey music live before. A friend of mine also suggested a bluegrass/old timey music as an easy starting point with a lot of of simple 1 5 intervals. I don't have any understanding yet of chord progressions - although this is something I'm keen to internalise competently ASAP. In fact, there is an informal bluegrass jam near me every week - could that be a good start to playing simple things? Would love any advice on what id need to do to achieve this...! Will it assist my development?
 
#64
SeaMist_au said:
+1 for a low set up. Also I found starting with low tension strings while you build your strength useful. Any good teacher will fix this but just make sure that you use your larger shoulder and arm muscles to pull back and depress the strings and not your hand grip. You will cripple yourself otherwise. It takes some time to build up strength so just start easy at first. The international society of bassists also recommends stretching exercises for both body and hands.
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This is good advice. I'm pleased to report my hand strength is building already. I'm finding it a bit easier to press strings down. I have also been advised I can get in closer with my body/arm to the bass to finger the lower A and E strings. Am curious to see how my strength develops over the next month or few... :)
 
#65
I think it is fascinating the number of older folk chiming in about picking up the bass later in life (including myself at 46). Everyone seems to be coming from a musical background. I am wondering what it is about the double bass that is attracting this later adoption

For me it has been a long interest in jazz. I had thought about getting a bass for years but was put off by the price (relative to electric guitar). I ended up buying a bass when my son started playing one in school.
 
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#67
awp said:
I think it is fascinating the number of older folk chiming in about picking up the bass later in life (including myself at 46). Everyone seems to be coming from a musical background. I am wondering what it is about the double bass that is attracting this later adoption

For me it has been a long interest in jazz. I had thought about getting a bass for years but was put off by the price (relative to electric guitar). I ended up buying a bass when my son started playing one in school.
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That's a really good question. Even my mother, bless her soul, once said to me: What ever made you take up that big bass fiddle?

Made me think. 50 yo female lugging a bass around, and now in her 60's, still at it, although the Eminence is also calling to me a lot. Might I add that maybe us older folks can better afford the purchase, care, and upkeep of the bass? Also, running into several female players, and having a revitalized love of jazz that has never left me since. For me, it was the thrill of going to the local community college jazz band, after I got up enough courage to sign up, and being there with the upright bass players. I loved the sound and I just had to have one. I was also blessed with great teachers.
 
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#69
I started at 38 with about twenty years of decidedly mediocre guitar playing behind me. Played my first gig with a 50s rock'n'roll band about three months later. Just very simple bass lines, masking tape dots on the side of the board so I could find the notes, and struggling with the tension of the horrible rental bass, but I did it.

One of the great things about the DB is that, though you can spend your life learning to take it to the highest level, you can also play it at a pretty low level and people are still delighted to have you there.
 
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#70
There do indeed seem to be a lot of players in this thread who've taken it up later. Heartening :) for myself, it's typically been a cost factor, also DB are expensive... falling in love with jazz in my mid twenties was a cornerstone, seeing a lot of live jazz and gigs that inspire me. Ultimately, I have the means now, but more than that I've been nurturing a keen interest in developing myself musically - practically, theoretically, creatively - perhaps even therapeutically. Music is a natural love of mine from a young age but my career took a different path - still in Arts. My day job, though, has now become more routine, and expressing my passion for music is the creative outlet I need. More than anything I'm looking forward to a year and many more from now being able to see the time and work I have invested in myself - to feel I've been truly proactive in doing the things that inspire me and mean something true. Music is something I really believe in. It's art that connects with us and an act of free expression. I'm ready to learn and grow more... Those are my reasons :)
 
#71
Nice Thread.
I Started off with UB at 49 in 2010. Actually I'd been putting it off for a while... a very long while. I thought its either going to be now or never and decided to start playing. I took some lessons, read here quite a lot to start me up and bought my first DB. Since then I've been playing and the enjoying the sound of my DB's. At the moment I play in 2 bands, mostly jazzy, blues, soul stuff, EB in one band and UB in the other.

My background is electric bass and I compose on keyboards. How I came to DB? I've always liked the DB sound and a few times I got the chance to record DB's in my Studio. The only thing that put me off were all the horror stories of cracks, humidity issues, the price, high maintenance and so on but with time it got the better of me :-)

Anyway, I'm still really happy I went down this road...
Its never too late to start.
Shortly after I started playing, I asked myself why I didnt start earlier... :)
 
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#72
I regret to say I started at 58 with an EUB and a 'proper bass' a year later. My previous work before retirement precluded the time required to play any instrument. For 23 years too. I used to play electric bass before that but that was a long, long time ago.
Thirty as a starting point seems very young to me lol. I wish I had started back then too.
 
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#73
I'm 63, been playing BG since I was 16. On a whim I recently bought a Stagg EUB and love it. I cannot walk past it (on a stand so it is real handy) without stopping to play it.
No lessons yet but I did download one of Chris Fitzgerald's Youtube videos and follow what he says to the letter to stop me playing it like a BG.

I have already had 2 offers to play it in bands but want to get some lessons and woodshed time in first, and am pretty busy playing BG in a 60s band.
 
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#74
SeaMist_au said:
I regret to say I started at 58 with an EUB and a 'proper bass' a year later. My previous work before retirement precluded the time required to play any instrument. For 23 years too. I used to play electric bass before that but that was a long, long time ago.
Thirty as a starting point seems very young to me lol. I wish I had started back then too.
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Lovely stories from all. Seamist, what kind of exercises did you do when you started learning DB with your teacher? What have been helpful tips you've picked up along the way? How has your intonation developed? Also, have you pursued AMEB exams?
At the moment I'm finding my pinky finger collapsing flat when I press down with '4' in half position.
Slow going, starting from the beginning, but enjoying those rich sounds. I picked up a French bow yesterday. Will be interesting!
 
#75
Ladysingstheblues. I had the most pathetic pinky finger when I started playing BG, it was absolutely useless. It took a lot of work to develop any useable strength and independence in it. It is now strong, independent, and fully useable.

I spent hours squeezing the fingers of my right hand (not too hard) against my thumb, as if I were fretting notes*, with each finger in turn, paying particular attention to my pinky. It seemed to work for me.

*Although looking back I had my thumb in the wrong position so may have been better holding something that was more like a neck but at least I could do the exercise without any other equipment so could do it at time or place if I wasn't using my right hand.
 
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#78
Totally out of order: I did AMEB theory 1&2. I would rate basic theory as quite important. I am most of the way through AMEB grade 3 theory but will stop there. I don't think you need more unless you are composing.
My first teacher I went to because my arco was simply awful. This was with my EUB though. He helped with that enormously. Two octave scales a'plenty there. And left hand position too...he was horrified at the angle of my wrist :-o

My second teacher was more of a jazz guy. He immediately picked up that I was playing with an unsupported pinky. Your third finger should play alongside your pinky to give it some support.
Your particular problem could be anything from that to poor wrist position, poor hand position......your teacher will sort that out soon enough.
Having said that I can't stress the importance of a teacher to get you started.

My current teacher started with my bow grip. The other teachers thought it was alright but I am now using a Streicher grip which seems to give much improved control. Then 3 octave scales, three octave arpeggios , thumb position, basic sitting approach and much, much more. She is a straight classical player which is where I am heading ATM.

From my BG days where I was playing heaps of jazz and fusion (and taking lessons too) it was scales, scales, scales, arpeggios and more scales. All sorts including all the modal scales.

I do a full set of body stretches before playing, apply heat/cold packs as appropriate (I am getting older) do at least some basics before a full practice. Basics are string crossings, scales, arpeggios and dynamics.

Just starting out, my advice is to start slowly, build strength and get advice from a good teacher as soon as possible before you have bad habits to correct. Good luck! It's a sharp learning curve but don't forget to have fun along the way......
 
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#80
SeaMist_au said:
Just starting out, my advice is to start slowly, build strength and get advice from a good teacher as soon as possible before you have bad habits to correct. Good luck! It's a sharp learning curve but don't forget to have fun along the way......
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Great reply. Yes, I have considered doing the AMEB Theory Exam. I've been working my way through a Theory Exercise book and plan to tackle Grade 1. I am not sure how I will go with the more involved theory as I can be terrible with memorisation but I am working on it.

Thankyou again for going in to specifics. I want to play jazz but admit I am curious as to the calibre of teaching you might get with a great classical teacher. Has it helped your form/tone/skill taking a classical approach?

It's also interesting you changed teachers, were there particular motivations behind that? Thankyou kindly, again, for your answers.

Oh, and yes - I am having fun!
 

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