Edgar Meyer uses some sort of markers/dots on his bass, I've been told.
I couldn't find a picture of his bass, though.
I couldn't find a picture of his bass, though.
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Double Bass "Cheater Lines" or not? (position markers)
- Thread starter unbridled
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I have also put position markers on the side of guitars necks when they did not have them.
The problem was finding a small white object to inlay. I finally found small plastic pins (probably nylon) used in hair styling in some way. They sold for about $2 for a 100 or so.
They are about 2.5"long. You cut off the tip, drill a shallow hole (no more than 3/16"deep-1/8" is better) either just undersize or exact size. A drill 3/32" worked for me.
If undersize use a little sandpaper on the pin to make a tight fit. 5 Minute Epoxy the whole pin in (for easy of handling), cut it off when the epoxy is dry and use a very fine needle file followed sandpaper of the right grit...like 1200 or finer. Wax and you are done.
They are very unobtrusive and look professional.
The problem was finding a small white object to inlay. I finally found small plastic pins (probably nylon) used in hair styling in some way. They sold for about $2 for a 100 or so.
They are about 2.5"long. You cut off the tip, drill a shallow hole (no more than 3/16"deep-1/8" is better) either just undersize or exact size. A drill 3/32" worked for me.
If undersize use a little sandpaper on the pin to make a tight fit. 5 Minute Epoxy the whole pin in (for easy of handling), cut it off when the epoxy is dry and use a very fine needle file followed sandpaper of the right grit...like 1200 or finer. Wax and you are done.
They are very unobtrusive and look professional.
I love it when a musician reveals, "Hey that might work for a lot of people, but this works best for me." I am like that both as a left handed and short scale player. There is always someone willing to say "do it the way I (and maybe most people) think is right." But the player often knows what works best for them and can remember to challenge themselves and take things to the next level at their own pace and style.
I put them on the side of my EUB because I don't play it enough to just have muscle memory work well. I don't see any reason not to.
I used 1/8" pinstriping tape so, if I ever want to remove them, it's as easy as peeling them off.
I used 1/8" pinstriping tape so, if I ever want to remove them, it's as easy as peeling them off.
I think they do more harm than good. But I just hung out with Paul Kowert the other day and played his bass with markers set in diminished patterns and quickly ignored them. My gut says it’s fine to put them on AFTER you’ve learned the fingerboard and have trained your ears to play in tune. AFTER you can play but not as a crutch.
Buy the side dot stickers from gollihur music. Use a tuner to position them. If they fall off(eventually) maybe you'll find you don't need them. I have them on my upright and find them usefull so that I can hit the first note right
I had this conversation with my 14 yo son. A pretty good cellist who plays with with local and school orchestras. He thought it was not cool to call them cheater lines. In effect he said, all string instrument players (violin, viola, cello, and double bass) use tape to learn basic positioning at first, and with time, they remove them as their ears learn the correct pitches for each note. He no longer uses tape, or even looks at the board often, to play. Repetitive practice taught him to trust his fingering to correct intervals and pitches.
They are in diminished patterns? Also harmonics are dot markers for your ears in thumb position. That said my next bass will have them because leaps up and down from the stratospheric regions of the fingerboard are more secure with a visual target.
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I can’t remember now, perhaps minor thirds as you go up (down) the board
He is a kid who has been learning since the age of 5. But of course it’s an observation. He’s not an expert. The point being made was that it’s not “cheating.”
