nettor said:
Actually a euphonium is often considered a tenor tuba and, there is quite a difference in size between an FF and a 6/4 BBb.
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Double Bass Don't you ever wish you played flute?
- Thread starter Bethelbass1
- Start date
Actually a euphonium is often considered a tenor tuba and, there is quite a difference in size between an FF and a 6/4 BBb.
JTGale said:At least playing double bass we never have to hear that awful American Pie joke, "And this one time, at band camp ... "
You know, I was going to write that almost word for word...I'm glad I decided to read ALL the posts first
Nobody ever asked me the flute question. I get "what do you call that instrument", "is that a cello" or "how much does that thing weigh" quite often, though.
If I hadn't just gorged myself at the Tin-Tin Buffet, I'd quite like a big ol' plate of 'em. Mmmm.
Got a new one today: "wow, that thing is like a whale! I'm expecting it to spout any second!" Coming from an attractive young lady whose favorite animals are whales - I'll take it!
i get people coming up quite a lot asking me about my bass. especially after a concert, where old men take it upon themselves to come up to me and tell me how they used to play the double bass many years ago and spout a list of random names at me that i have no knowledge of. they then ask me to 'play them a tune'. its fine, i dont mind people being inquisitive, but after playng the rite of spring, sometimes you just want to go home.
i have recently acquired a new wheel for my bass. the popular one now is 'do you have gears on that thing' 'wheres the steering wheel'?
tsk. philistines. i swear people just look at a bass and think..hmm whats the most random obscure instrument that that could possibly be?!
No, its not a harpsichord.
i have recently acquired a new wheel for my bass. the popular one now is 'do you have gears on that thing' 'wheres the steering wheel'?
tsk. philistines. i swear people just look at a bass and think..hmm whats the most random obscure instrument that that could possibly be?!
No, its not a harpsichord.
I wish my wife would pick up her long-neglected flute, so we could wack out 'Goin' up the country' by Canned Heat.
Or make me some flautas.
Or make me some flautas.
When I'm traveling with a bass trunk, people like to ask me "Whatcha got in there? A dead body?" I used to explain what was actually in the case; now I just say "No--it's your mom."
i used to play sousaphone...hauling that bad boy around (esp. on a bike) had me fantasizing about recorders, piccolos...
daofktr said:i used to play sousaphone...hauling that bad boy around (esp. on a bike) had me fantasizing about recorders, piccolos...
Harvey Phillips told me he carried his sousaphone on a bike when he was a kid; he said it acted as a sail and if he caught a good wind he'd make it home in record time. So I guess sousaphone players have got that going for them. Which is good.
Man, one time I decided to play my bass in my dorm room. I left the door open, because no one was around. I was playing for a few minutes and campus security came to my door. The woman asked "Can you turn your guitar-thing down a few decibels?" I was absolutely speechless. I didn't know how to respond to this authority figure sounding like a f***face. Through college, it really seemed to me that I got the most ignorant remarks from the campus police. FYI, I don't have a pickup either.
JTGale said:We are still talking about basses here, aren't we?
that gave me a good laugh. I usually get since I'm 14 "Is that to heavy for you, can I help" or " Wow, you must be a strong boy carrying around that thing" then "How much does that thing weigh?" and that's all i can think about.
apfroggy0408 said:
Must be a Texan thing. I get that one a lot... my stock answer is "it's pretty light cause the inside is hollow".
When forced to suffer another incantation of the "Don't you wish you played the flute/piccolo?" question, I just retort: "No way, because then I would have to listen up close to the damn thing!"
low note bigot
low note bigot
Why not ? I have and I tell you - go on a tube train during rush hour endpin first and EVERYBODY gets out of your way !Sophie said:The best I heard the other day was:
-What's that?
-It's a double bass
-Oh. Is it true they don't have frets?
Never, I repeat NEVER take a bass on the london underground at rush hour on a saturday evening in the sales...
once on the train to a gig a had a girl ask me is it was an oboe i had there. needless to say i was lost for words.
At 5' 4" tall, I always get told how "that bass is bigger than you are" !
Then I turn around, look the bass over from top to bottom, turn back to the genius who made the comment and state:
"Yes, its is".
Sometimes, if I'm in a tolerant mood and the commentor looks reasonably intelligent, I'll explain that in almost every case, the double bass will wind up being taller than whomever plays it since the end-pin will invariably be extended to facilitate proper plaing position.
But I have to be in a really, really good mood to explain this.
- Nick
Then I turn around, look the bass over from top to bottom, turn back to the genius who made the comment and state:
"Yes, its is".
Sometimes, if I'm in a tolerant mood and the commentor looks reasonably intelligent, I'll explain that in almost every case, the double bass will wind up being taller than whomever plays it since the end-pin will invariably be extended to facilitate proper plaing position.
But I have to be in a really, really good mood to explain this.
- Nick
When I used to practice with the bow at home, my brother would say "Peter's milking the moose again..."
Then I'd go to school and roll it around campus and get all of the stupid responses listed above (like "is that like, a violin, like, or something?"), but most people would stare at me and just laugh... but we all know it's because non-bass players are just jealous...right?!
Then I'd go to school and roll it around campus and get all of the stupid responses listed above (like "is that like, a violin, like, or something?"), but most people would stare at me and just laugh... but we all know it's because non-bass players are just jealous...right?!
