Double Bass dots on double bass

[Ben Mitchell]

I came up with it myself when a teacher set me the task of defining a weakness and coming up with an exercise to address it. I've never seen the Bradetich books but it's a pretty obvious way to practice interval leaps and it doesn't surprise me I wasn't the first to think of it.

I applaud you then, sir. I first learned it when I was a wee lad first starting up. Within the first week my intonation and shifting had gone leaps and bounds.

I like to also alternate which finger I shift into any given note with. For instance playing A on the G string then shifting to E with 4th finger instead of 1st, and so on and so forth. In this way, effectively practicing any shift of any kind. You can also add rhythms, practice both up and down bows, and try to add dynamic contrast.

PLUS, it eliminates the need for dots. Just put low goo colored tape on until you get comfortable.

Ben

 

[Jluvial]

So after reading this thread I decided to try some dots on mine. I'd never used markers except when I was first learning the cello (and never on bass) and only then two for first position for a couple weeks. I decided to add 4 based on what people have said (keep in mind I am tuned in 5ths CGDA): One at the 5th, octave, the 5th above that, and the octave above the first octave mark. I used some masking tape on the side of the fingerboard and put marked some dots on them.

So far it's been great for things like Ab and Db, since I tended to over shoot them. It's also nice for high E and F. Haven't had the chance to use the higher ones except playing around.

 

[Freddels]

If it's regular masking tape, I'd remove it and get the blue painters tape (or something else) b/c regular masking tape will become quite permanent if you leave it on for any length of time. The glue will be quite difficult to remove.

 

[Jluvial]

It's like, dollar store masking tape. It hardly stays on paper, let alone wood. Plus it looks better white rather than blue. If it does leave glue behind I can get it with some alcohol. Thanks for the concern though.

 

[Fogducker]

Two inlays, one on the octave (1/2 scale length, the harmonic too) and one at the "fifth fret" the tuning dot (1/4 scale length).

Fog

 

[TonyMac]

I like my dots. I also use a tuner, mark with pencil, and then use white-out, or liquid paper to make temporary marks. It just makes me feel more comfortable.

 

[billyfalconer]

I went through a period of working quite hard on landmarking exercises. One that felt like it really helped get around on the bass was playing scales referencing back to the low tonic going I II I III I IV I V etc all the way up the instrument.

Is this the same as the one Gary Karr called the "vomit"?

 

[Michael Eisenman]

Max Dimoff warmups (incl. Gary Karr's vomit exercise)

 

[Mark_L]

I saw a picture of Edgar Meyer holding an upright with dots on the fingerboard. If he can do it....

You can also use side dots.

 

[HunterBrodt]

Think about how many influential bassists don't use dots. Also I bet you Edgar can play a bass with out dots with good intonation.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Think about how many influential bassists don't use dots. Also I bet you Edgar can play a bass with out dots with good intonation.

Yes, he certainly can. He's given several masterclasses here at the U, and many's the time I've seen him demonstrate on a student's bass - with a longer scale, higher strings, and no dots - and sound exactly like Edgar sounds on his normal solo-centric bass with the dots. Often the student bass in question is in a different tuning as well. It doesn't matter. Anybody who thinks Edgar needs dots to play in tune probably hasn't seen him play up close.

 

[chris1125]

All bassists refer to natural marks to feel around the upper register of the instrument. On my bass, there is a natural mark on the high d on the g string (in thumb position) which really helps me get around the entire register. Just for the record, you don't get Edgar Meyer intonation from a couple of dots, I don't know why he added them, maybe it's because his fingerboard is 3 inches to long lol

 

[chris1125]

Yes, he certainly can. He's given several masterclasses here at the U, and many's the time I've seen him demonstrate on a student's bass - with a longer scale, higher strings, and no dots - and sound exactly like Edgar sounds on his normal solo-centric bass with the dots. Often the student bass in question is in a different tuning as well. It doesn't matter. Anybody who thinks Edgar needs dots to play in tune probably hasn't seen him play up close.

Beat me to it, haha since you mention that... A few years ago I attended a master class he gave for a school in the area. One of the students wasn't quite as talented as the others and played an old Kay (or maybe engelhardt?) that sounded terrible, I think he was playing the capuzzi. Edgar picked up the bass, said something like "just to warn you I haven't played this in decades" and played the triplets section on the second bass and WOW that bass came to life. It was a revolutionary experience for me, afterwards I went home and practiced several hours on my shen 80 hoping to achieve that sound, with no luck of course :/

 

[drurb]

All bassists refer to natural marks to feel around the upper register of the instrument.

Really? Visual references?

 

[chris1125]

Really? Visual references?

Of course, ebony is not a perfect wood, there are imperfections which can be used to your advantage, by the time I ge past a high c sharp in thumb position I'm fishing for notes on other peoples basses.

 

[drurb]

Of course, ebony is not a perfect wood, there are imperfections which can be used to your advantage, by the time I ge past a high c sharp in thumb position I'm fishing for notes on other peoples basses.

Yes, I understand the nature of ebony quite well. My question really concerns whether "all bassists" use those references in the upper registers. In order to do so, that would mean they'd have to be looking at the fingerboard. That's not something that seems to be routinely done.

 

[timobee4]

Totally beyond me why anyone would come up with such ludicrous idea! 30 years ago my teacher told me to use my ears instead or markers but in any ways how can anyone play double bass looking at the neck???? Perhaps to those bi-bassuals playing bass guitar and Upright Bass dots are a must.

 

[jayscheuerle]

I'm still super new to this and don't use dots (because if I take my eyes off the sheet music, I'm lost!), but even if I did, visually, with the perspective of having my head so close to the strings, I'd think a mark by the E string would make it tough to see how it aligns over on the G string.

 

[timobee4]

Oh yeah! I didnt think of reading charts, looking at dots, listening and looking at fellow musicians, that is serious multi tasking!
When anyone makes a transition from bass guitar and they ask for opinion I just tell them get into a quiet room and do scales up and down the neck!! Most of us would have a Eb neck so after someone showed the correct hand positions and shifting, string jumps (well demonstrated on Ed Friedland DVD) only matter of time and practice! Actually on the long run I sincerely believe that dots and markers will slow you down.

 

[drurb]

timobee4, I'm with you on this one.

What did you mean by this?

...Most of us would have a Eb neck...