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Double Bass Advice would be MUCH appreciated

A

Aleksander

Nov 18, 2011
3
0
Chicago
#1
I've been on a bit of a break from playing (I do wish I had not done that now). I've also decided to take a break once I graduated high school in 2010 so I can really decide what I want to do in college (my dream is jazz performance). So I've decided to move to Chicago. Here I am in a tiny studio apartment with my cheap upright bass and barely decent electric bass (I can't afford much at the moment but I do want to invest once I'm sure I get back into playing). ANYWAY, my question is, does anyone have any advice for someone such as myself that really wishes to get back into playing (preferably jazz again) and what I can do to sort of recondition myself? Like I said I really wish I had not taken my break for I feel that I've lost more than I thought. Any serious advice would be appreciated.

(By the way I feel I should mention that I no longer have a vehicle to carry my bass around but the 'L' is nearby, as in winter).
 
#7
1- Get a copy of the Real Book, both the 1st and 6th edition. They are on ebay as digital and hard copy. A copy of Ray Brown's bass book is good for upright basics and construction of walking bass lines, and there are plenty of other entry level bass instruction books around.
2- Begin with the easy tunes, like 12 bar blues - Pick a simple jazz blues tune, like "Blue Monk", learn it, and do a you tube search for it, and listen to what other bass players are playing in the tune. Learn how to swing and stay in the groove. Practice with a metronome or drum loops. In short, get your basics down first.
3- Learn to read both clefs.
4- Get a beginning jazz theory book and study it.
5- And Listen! Listen to recordings and study what other bass players are doing. Listen to other bass players and find the ones you like. As my teacher used to tell his students -get the music inside of you. Then play.


My opinion is that getting a teacher before you have the basics down, is a waste of your money. Beginning DIY will teach you to to self motivate and self correct. You'll get much more out of a teacher if you have your foundation down and can swing. For sure, you will have some fingering problems, holes in your jazz education, etc., when you start taking lessons, but these are fixable.
 
#8
Aleksander said:
ANYWAY, my question is, does anyone have any advice for someone such as myself that really wishes to get back into playing (preferably jazz again) and what I can do to sort of recondition myself? Like I said I really wish I had not taken my break for I feel that I've lost more than I thought. Any serious advice would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Take lessons from me. My studio is close to the Blue line and several bus routes (Chicago and Halsted) and I have a bass there you can use. Serious. Message me if you are interested.

Also I respectfully disagree with azure. Bad habits are really hard to break. Get thee to a teacher. Even if it's not me there are tons of good ones in Chicago.
 
#9
Thanks for the words of wisdom folks. I've been looking around for jams sessions and such (some are tough because I am still under 21). I just picked up my bass from getting a couple repairs; let the practicing begin! I do have a Real Book that I have used plenty from when I use to gig around Tucson when I was still in Arizona.
 
#17
Make sure you get your upright fitted with your preferred choice of amplification, mic or pickup, and get an amp that works well with both your upright and your electric bass. That way you don't have to waste money on separate amps and you don't have to worry about hurting yourself on a gig or in a jam session.
 

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