Double Bass Another stand up position question???

[rgarcia26]

I am a newbie and after few weeks taking classes I found an stable stand up position???

like a fencing player (I guess that is the right term) with my left leg stopping the lower bound... so the DB wont turn when I am playing... this works very well until I have to play the higher register like from D to G at the end of the finger board on the G string...

I feel like my left arm is going to be pull out of the socket... its a little frustrating because I like the feel of my stand but I guess i have to find something else...

my teacher said that ultimate I have to find what it works for me...

now I see this great guy:
Joshihiro Ursumi


and he angle his Db so much, and its looks like a natural position, but if I try that my DB will spin???

There is not way to have the bass in a angle like that and also have the left leg just behind the lower bound (with is that most people recommend)

any pointers for me?

 

[MarkA]

There are subtleties to positioning and getting around an instrument that can be better addressed in person than through text. That said, and without seeing you, let me suggest that simply shifting your weight back a bit when you shift your left hand to thumb position, say, can change the angle of the neck and open up access to that upper register significantly.

You say you've been taking classes (lessons?) for a few weeks. Have you brought this up with your teacher? He/she might be able to eliminate some other possible causes for the shoulder strain you're feeling, at which I can only guess.

Good luck!

 

[rgarcia26]

There are subtleties to positioning and getting around an instrument that can be better addressed in person than through text. That said, and without seeing you, let me suggest that simply shifting your weight back a bit when you shift your left hand to thumb position, say, can change the angle of the neck and open up access to that upper register significantly.

You say you've been taking classes (lessons?) for a few weeks. Have you brought this up with your teacher? He/she might be able to eliminate some other possible causes for the shoulder strain you're feeling, at which I can only guess.

Good luck!

Thanks I did just that I shift my weight to my right foot and it seems to work... where I was doing wrong I think is that my bass was too straight...

using the same basic fencing position I hold the bass a little farther away about arm length and that's is giving me an more incline bass so a can basically rest the neck heel right between my shoulder and my neck... so I can reach not... I still have to stretch to bow the closed possible to the bridge (on the higher registers)... I am small guy with a big bass something got to give

 

[MarkA]

Forgive me if I'm assuming too much but, from your post and profile, it sounds like you've been playing electric bass for some time but are pretty new to doublebass. Is that correct? Are you doing a lot of work in thumb position? If so, and you've only been at doublebass a few weeks, I am frankly a little surprised. I suppose it could be a valid approach, though, depending on the student and the teacher.

To be clear, I have not seriously pursued the doublebass for some time, though I did study it for ten-years-plus and think that my teachers gave me a very good technical foundation. I do work with young bassists (and other string players) daily and I can still get around a doublebass respectably, but my primary instrument these days is the cello and I am not as attuned to the details of high-level bass playing as I was when it was my primary instrument.

Did you talk about this with your teacher? I'd be curious to know what he has to say on the subject. I haven't read through these forums much (though maybe I should take a break from the electric bass side -- buying stuff or thinking about it -- and spend some more time here!), but I'm sure there are other threads on this topic.

I'd talk to your teacher and then maybe check back here with more detailed information (and perhaps photos). A more knowledgeable poster than I might be able to give you better help, then.

By the way, 43" scale sounds like a pretty big bass. Bigger than your typical 3/4 size instrument (which, can, admittedly vary widely in size and shape). It's possible that it's not the best instrument for a self-described "small guy with a big bass." Again, something I'd take up with your teacher.

 

[drurb]

Did you talk about this with your teacher?...
I'd talk to your teacher and then maybe check back here with more detailed information (and perhaps photos).

Indeed. This is all best addressed, in-person, with a good teacher. Writing and reading about it on the internet really isn't a fruitful approach. There are tried and true methods that have been developed over centuries.

 

[tlhettema]

This video of the Japanese guy is a bit more clear on his angle: .

 

[TonyD]

Check out the Rabbath endpin of Frank Proto: