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Double Bass Adult Beginner Double Bass
- Thread starter MaidenVT
- Start date
The answer is always 3/4. As wild as it sounds, 4/4 is extremely rare. 7/8 is slightly more common, but the standard for an adult is 3/4. At 6’3” depending on your wingspan and the size of your hands you could probably handle a 7/8 or 4/4, but don’t do that to your self as a beginner. You want the best chance to succeed, a standard 3/4 will give you that. I’ve only ever seen a 4/4 in person once. One of my section-mates in my college orchestra had a 5-string 4/4 as a loaner while his was in the shop. It was epic. Straight thunder. But we also had to help him get it through doors and anywhere else. It was huge in all directions, difficult to transport, and difficult to play. The sound was worth it, but he was a very good and very experienced player, and he was very very happy to get his normal 3/4 size back despite how good the 4/4 sounded.
it was. That particular concert cycle we were doing some piece that needed a low C, but was also a reduced section, I didn’t make the cut for that particular piece but I didn’t mind because the other bassists and I that weren’t playing, during rehearsals we’d go sit in the back of the concert hall and just bathe in that low C when it came. Other players had C extensions, but you could clearly identify the sound of that enormous beast.
Francois Rabbath, Gary Karr, Edgar Myer. Anyone playing Bottesini or Kousevitsy. Van Hal. Off the top of my head. Hans Sturm
Oops, crossed threads in my head, thought I was in the "rock n roll hall of fame thread.
This might be anecdotal, but my teacher's bass is a 4/4, and it's incredible easy to play. Much easier than my 3/4.
The scale length is 105cm.
I don’t doubt it, The ergonomics are the big problem really since there really is no standard for what size and shape makes a 3/4 or a 4/4. Most folks can handle the extra scale length, it really doesn’t amount to much, some can’t though. But if you have a deep, wide shouldered 3/4 that would definitely be more difficult than a slim shouldered 4/4 or something like that. It’s the type of thing that there are so many variables you just can’t make any hard and fast rules like “all 4/4 basses are absolute mammoth beasts” some will be really well thought out and designed for playability. Some will be built for maximum thunder, playability be damned. It’s a beautiful thing, really, part of the fun is finding a bass you fit with.
It's not like an electric bass, where making your first step the purchase of a $150 Squier and a 15W practice amp is completely feasible. There's so much variation amongst DBs and players, and the thing is so expensive, that it makes a lot better sense, in my opinion, to rent for a year and THEN take some knowledge to the purchasing table.
2-3 hours is too far to drive for a lesson every week, but it's not too far to drive to pick up a rental bass or return it. And I'd guess you're probably not THAT much further from SA or even Houston. I'm a Texan too, I've driven from Dallas to Austin and back for lunch before.
Your profile just says "Hill Country" but you also say you're 2-3 hours from Austin. I can't believe, however, that there aren't some high schools near you with an orchestra strings program. And there are all the various state universities in small cities all over the state as well. Those instructors will have at least a functional understanding of how to teach beginners on double bass, as they do it every day. Even for people who play genres that never see a bow, I recommend getting a bow (French or German would depend on which the instructor prefers), a standard double bass method (Simandl, Nanny, etc.) and work the standard beginning DB process. That process has been developed and refined over the centuries and it's my opinion that it's going to be the fastest most effective way to get the average human playing IN TUNE and WITHOUT INJURY as fast as possible. Sure, you can do it all yourself, there are many who have, but why toss away the fruits of generations of teaching and learning in the hope that you can do better going your own way?
Turf3, thank you for the reply.
I really appreciate your input and everyone's patience as it answers a lot of my wonders about where/how to start. We are basically between Austin and San Antonio in a rural area---love the solitude in retirement, not so many miles but with traffic it is quite a lot of car time to venture into the big cities. And really avoid it as much as possible. Also, aside from internet search results for upright basses, I don't know more specialized shops that are recommended to go to rent/buy/lessons in the Austin/SA area. May just plan a few picnic road trips to visit some shops...
As you point out, renting and finding a local teacher may be my best option for step one. Then move into purchasing when better equipped. I'm going to visit our local fiddle shop (wife plays) and hopefully get some local connections for lessons and rentals...not sure if he deals/rents in larger instruments---I know he does not teach. Had not considered checking with the high schools, etc...thanks for the tips.
I am learning this is nothing like 6 string guitar or mandolin which I am familiar with...
Again, thanks for all your patience and ideas.
Ps---> I just realized that I am way over thinking all this. (apologies)
I really appreciate your input and everyone's patience as it answers a lot of my wonders about where/how to start. We are basically between Austin and San Antonio in a rural area---love the solitude in retirement, not so many miles but with traffic it is quite a lot of car time to venture into the big cities. And really avoid it as much as possible. Also, aside from internet search results for upright basses, I don't know more specialized shops that are recommended to go to rent/buy/lessons in the Austin/SA area. May just plan a few picnic road trips to visit some shops...
As you point out, renting and finding a local teacher may be my best option for step one. Then move into purchasing when better equipped. I'm going to visit our local fiddle shop (wife plays) and hopefully get some local connections for lessons and rentals...not sure if he deals/rents in larger instruments---I know he does not teach. Had not considered checking with the high schools, etc...thanks for the tips.
I am learning this is nothing like 6 string guitar or mandolin which I am familiar with...
Again, thanks for all your patience and ideas.
Ps---> I just realized that I am way over thinking all this. (apologies)
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OK so a look at the map shows me the towns of Fburg, Kerrville, Boerne, J city, etc. - all of which have high schools which means orchestra programs probably; there's probably one or two junior colleges, maybe even a Texas State or UT or A&M branch? I can't believe that in all that great expanse you can't find someone with the skills to do basic beginner instruction closer than Austin or SA. I think you'll get there.
For that matter, there are a lot of people who work in Austin and yet they live well out of town - you might even find a DB professor or grad student at UT or St. Thomas or the like that lives well to the west of town.
For that matter, there are a lot of people who work in Austin and yet they live well out of town - you might even find a DB professor or grad student at UT or St. Thomas or the like that lives well to the west of town.
If you want to play classical, rent until you can afford at least a hybrid. I would check out Quantum Bass in Houston, it is an easy drive and you can see the Rothko Chapel and the Menil Collection.
I would try to find Jessica Valls, a great classical player and teacher in Austin, she would be a great teacher or be able to recommend one. As far as bass methods - use what your teacher uses.
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I would try to find Jessica Valls, a great classical player and teacher in Austin, she would be a great teacher or be able to recommend one. As far as bass methods - use what your teacher uses.
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No ! No! No! this thread has barely started, we haven't even gotten to (usual argument #1) (typical argument #2) ....
+1 for @turf3 . Find a local teacher and rent a standard 3/4 for a while.
After a few months maybe , even given your desire to not drive, go play some others. Quantum in Houston has student basses. Joey Nager may have trades , but if you have time and even if you don't know anything, do a little shopping and talking to people before you actually buy. Rice University in Houston has an outstanding DB program, maybe you can look for bulletin boards with students selling at the end of the semester . Or UNT in Denton has, I was told by a student a few years ago, 200 (!) DB majors - @Lynn Seaton , can that be ? North Texas must be a good source of instruments in circulation.
And as for size , and what difference it makes: wife and I went to Chicago Symphony over the weekend - Alex Hanna and the Bottesini #2 ! and Beethoven 6th Symphony. At one point in the Beethoven, she turned to me and noted "All the basses are different sizes. Does it matter ?". No. Double basses are very idiosyncratic, and so are players, and choices made. Of course , they sounded glorious together , and spanned almost 400 years in construction dates, sized from 4/4 on down.
Hello everyone
So I rented a Double Bass yesterday and went with a German bow. The German bow felt better to me. I don't start lessons until June. I was working on open strings and learning on holding the bow. I'm very excited to learn this incredible sounding instrument. Any tips on working on my First position notes?
So I rented a Double Bass yesterday and went with a German bow. The German bow felt better to me. I don't start lessons until June. I was working on open strings and learning on holding the bow. I'm very excited to learn this incredible sounding instrument. Any tips on working on my First position notes?
Mazal tov!
At this point - before your first lesson - don't get too far into notes. You can work on your stance, bow hold, placement of the bow on the strings (north/south, angles), drawing a good sound, and developing a useful and comfortable left hand. You can play one-octave scales in the major keys of F and Bb (no shifting required), using as many open strings as possible in each, using index, middle, and little finger. You can learn how and how much to tighten and rosin the bow. I don't recommend more than that, because you may have to unlearn some things.
