Double Bass DB technique

[Chris Fitzgerald]

AH... I've never heard a Dockers commercial I guess. From the video posted, Allison seems perfectly average built - what would pass as "medium" in Europe but somewhere in between scrawny and medium here in the US. When I read the comment about "fat pants" and watched a bit of the video, I got momentarily confused... not an uncommon occurrence these days!

 

[damonsmith]

Yeah, the dude is a sharp dresser, I will give him that. He always has great shirt on. The ads for clothes like that probably use "electronica" for the soundtrack, though.

 

[martinez]

I'm normally on the BG side but I did play DB a few years during my music degree in college.

I always cringe a little when I see a BG player put their fretting hand thumb over the neck or even touch the E/B strings ... To me it is a sign of not so great technique and makes for a lot of unnecessary hand movement but it is accepted.

On DB I learned to play classical and my teacher told me to keep my thumb on the back of the neck, not a problem from me since I also do that on BG. But then I see a lot of punk, rockabilly and sometimes jazz player wrap their thumb around the neck ... and I cringe a little their too.

I was wondering how the DB community see those technique.

Just to respond to this - remember that DB and BG have fundamentally different mechanics. IMO if you try to emulate CB left hand position on BG you end up bending your left wrist at pretty steep angle. I've always thought a really bent wrist put a lot of pressure on tendons that should flow.
For DB a left thumb wrapped around the neck seems like it would create fingering problems with fast passages, but maybe the punk/rockabilly guys need more leverage (gut strings, crazy high action, etc.).

As long as you can make the sounds you want to make, nothing hurts and you're not going to damage yourself or an instrument going forward then do what works for you.

 

[statsc]

I didn't bring up his name, but once it comes up, it is a rare case where we need to make a hard distinction between Charlie Haden and Allison. Allison is clearly a virtuoso administrator. He has done quite well for himself and I am sure he is well aware of his choices around the instrument. He is unfortunately a clear example of what poor technique can get you. He sounds like a great guitarist who just picked up the bass for the first time - he has no sound. The rub is he doesn't seem to care.
It is fine for him to get all those gigs and (sadly) even a teaching position. What he needs is to not get any credit for what he is doing on the instrument from bass players talking about the instrument.
With two Lee Konitz albums under his belt and hundreds festivals I am sure it is a small price to pay.

I'd be interested to know what you base your opinion of Ben Allison on. What he's written, said, hearing him live, hearing/seeing him on videos or recordings?

I had a chance to see him perform live several years ago. I didn't get the impression that he didn't care about technique or sound; neither did I think he was particularly virtuosic. Interesting compositions, enjoyable concert; refreshing to see a group led from the bass.

 

[damonsmith]

I'd be interested to know what you base your opinion of Ben Allison on. What he's written, said, hearing him live, hearing/seeing him on videos or recordings?

I had a chance to see him perform live several years ago. I didn't get the impression that he didn't care about technique or sound; neither did I think he was particularly virtuosic. Interesting compositions, enjoyable concert; refreshing to see a group led from the bass.

Videos and recordings. The obvious enthusiasm for being on stage and maybe even the music he has written does not translate to interest in the bass to me.

Also, there is no shortage of bass led groups these days. Maybe you have heard of Dave Holland? There has never been more original composition and groups led by bassists in this very style than there is today.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Just to respond to this - remember that DB and BG have fundamentally different mechanics. IMO if you try to emulate CB left hand position on BG you end up bending your left wrist at pretty steep angle. I've always thought a really bent wrist put a lot of pressure on tendons that should flow.
For DB a left thumb wrapped around the neck seems like it would create fingering problems with fast passages, but maybe the punk/rockabilly guys need more leverage (gut strings, crazy high action, etc.).

As long as you can make the sounds you want to make, nothing hurts and you're not going to damage yourself or an instrument going forward then do what works for you.

Depend your position on BG. Many will make their fretting hand move so much exemple they will wrap their around the neck and they are ok with a straight wrist to play the E and A string but then when play on the D and G string the need to bend the wrist inward and put their thumb over the neck . It is ridiculous but a lot of people do that ...

In my case when I play my thumb is always on the back of the neck and follow the middle finger... so if I have to play on the E or B string, the neck is almost in my palm but then when I play higher like on the D-G-C strings my thumb is almost at the bottom of the neck.

I did play that way too on the DB.