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Double Bass Beginning with Lack of Teachers

Ike Harris

Ike Harris

May 16, 2001
857
13
75
Nashville TN
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#1
Darkstrike said:
This one may be an odd question, to ask teachers, since it mainly deals with a lack of teachers, but here goes.

What advice would you have for someonw who wants to get into upright(or electric upright, as is my case), both pizz and arco, but doesn't have access to a teacher locally?

Any suggested reading, in books or links?
Basic advice and tips?
Warnings, perhaps?
Suggested listening?
Click to expand...



First of all, I would exhaust all possibilities to find a private teacher. This instrument is a totally different animal from electric, the only similarity being the tuning of the strings. Travel an hour or two if you have to. I had one student that drove from Paducah Ky 2 1/2 hrs one way. Even just for a few lessons to get the fundamentals, because you can injure yourself with the wrong technique. The Rufus Reid book, Evolving Bassist is a pretty comprehensive book that will take you from basic to advanced. I like to use the Bille method for beginning arco for students that need a slow, user friendly start, even though the fingerings are 1-3-4. Substitute 2nd for 3rd. As to recordings, check out the many great players on youtube. Ray Brown has a whole masterclass on there. You can catch Gary Karr there as well. Look for the names of the great players on the forums here. They're all(almost all) on there somewhere. And you can watch their technique as well - can't beat it, except for a private lesson.

Good luck,
Ike
 
#3
When I was a young man/bassist, I wanted to study in Phila. - about 2 hours away. With my schedule, I couldn't get there every week, so I called Carl Torello (Phila. Or.) and asked if I could arrange a double lesson every other week and, to my surprise, he said YES! Worth a try.
Best miles I ever put on my new '58 Rambler.
Tom Gale
ASODB.com
 
#6
I've been roasted for this before, but I'll say it again: the most important aspect of a double bass teacher in the beginning is learning the basic physical interface with the instrument and the basic techniques that you will use on your journey forward. After some stubborn "I can do this myself" experiences at the beginning (during which i injured myself in several different ways), I found a teacher who would help me do the things I was trying to do, and who helped me develop some healthy left hand technique that would keep my body healthy. That teacher/student relationship was short, but laid the foundation for everything I've done since. I've also been fortunate enough to take the odd lesson here and there from some great touring pros who have come through town.

While I agree with the party line that in the best of all worlds it's a good idea to study arco even if you really want to focus on playing pizzicato and/or that you should spend years studying classical music to develop your technique even if you want to end up playing other styles, that didn't end up being my path. In your case, I'd advise that the most important thing should be to learn some basics of posture, leverage, and fingering from a good teacher. After that, there is plenty of safe and productive exploration you can do on your own, especially if you can't or don't drive.

EDIT: OP edited to include the question from the "topics" forum.
 
#7
Thanks for your input Chris, you hit on my biggest worry, the physical aspect, last things I want are to damage myself, and bad technique.

I got about an hour and a half to play one, recently, and while I had great fun, and was able to make it sound convincing enough(my ear isn't completly terrible, since I have a few years on fretless bass guitar), by time I put it down, I was out or breath, and my left hand has a slight ache for an hour or so.

So, I will still try and get some lessons, but, its not looking likely. Heh, maybe I should invest in some driving lessons at the same time...
 
#11
May I suggest that you try to get at least one lesson every month or six weeks apart at the most from the closest reliable professional even if it means dragging your bass 50 miles on the bus and up a dozen flights of stairs! There is no replacement for up close and personal and you can do a lot of 'practicing the wrong thing' if you don't get a regular check-up.

In this situation, which is far from perfect, you should also be very careful WHAT you practice. Get a lot of material from the teacher and concentrate on the aspects you discussed in your albeit rare lessons. Don't go fiddling with things which you might work on for six weeks only to find out that you're doing everything wrong!

It can be quite disheartening in this position but try to get into a local group or orchestra so you have REAL practical apllication for what you learn and try to link everything up; lessons, technique, repertoire etc.

Once again, even if they're six weeks apart try to get a real live in the flesh teacher to have a look at what you're working on.

FC
 
#12
Or convince a friend or family member to drive you to the lesson (possibly pay them). I agree that some lessons are better than no lessons even once a month. You can supplement the physical lesson with a video lesson (I sometimes send my students a little video of what we worked on to keep them on track between lessons). If you can give us your location we might be able to better assist you. Cheers.
 
#15
the OP has got it right...however with advances in VoIP and video chat, lessons online are very possible.

I teach via skype (shamless plug) and have studied with Gary Willis the same way...he lives in Spain and i in the US. it works. try that out.

in the mean time check my Youtube channel. there are some good things on you tube, but tons of useless crap.


btw my videos are ollld i need to update. i dont even look like that anymore....:hyper:
 
#16
Denson your videos have been extremely helpful for many of my students. Your work is well structured and builds a step by step progress, which i found marvellous. I wish i could have acess in these lessons when i started my DB venture, since i could have avoided developing some bad habits. Correcting these bad habits was the hardest part of my learning procedure during all those years.
Keep the good work and the bass spirit high.
Mike
 
#17
Bassius said:
. . . I teach via skype (shamless plug) and have studied with Gary Willis the same way...he lives in Spain and i in the US. it works. try that out.
Click to expand...

I suggested Skype to a teacher, but we didn't get to try it. (Life got in the way.) As soon as I retire (22 more weeks), I'd like to try Skype with someone who's willing to teach a 65-year-old beginner with a strange bass that requires me to adapt almost everything from DB. (I'll do the adapting, not the teacher. I'm used to it.) I'm not asking much, am I. :rolleyes:
 
#19
MIKMAN said:
Denson your videos have been extremely helpful for many of my students. Your work is well structured and builds a step by step progress, which i found marvellous. I wish i could have acess in these lessons when i started my DB venture, since i could have avoided developing some bad habits. Correcting these bad habits was the hardest part of my learning procedure during all those years.
Keep the good work and the bass spirit high.
Mike
Click to expand...

Hey thanks mike!

If you ever want to do some advanced lessons 1:1 with me via skype, pm me

:D:D:D
 
#20
Bassius said:
i'd be glad to help out Jack

oh and Jack

if you ever see a pic of my conklin upright....your guitarron is a walk in the park ;)
Click to expand...


Thanks, Denson. I've got about 20 weeks to retirement, and I now do have one prospect for a local teacher, but I'm not yet sure he'll want to teach me on my odd instrument.

I Skype my grandkids alot, and I think it'd work out fine for bass lessons. Looking forward to trying it.
 

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