Double Bass - I don't really get it

[Pilgrim]

No. Electric bass is the proper terminology. A bass is not a guitar. Total different techniques are required.

As Mark Twain replied to critical letters: "Dear Sir or Madam, you may be right."

However, I do find myself wondering what's so different about playing an electric bass vs. an electric guitar, especially when a pick is used. I think that's a very difficult case to defend.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I play it because it made me a much better electric player. Given, I minored in bass for my undergrad, but the technique definitely transfers well. Plus it refined my ear.

The biggest reason I like upright is the sound, and you can not duplicate it. People have gotten close, but it's just not the same. I agree that it is often a very muddy sound, but that's because a lot of people who play upright don't know how to EQ it properly or get good tone with their hands.

Getting good sound from a DB is ALL about the hands. It takes a lot of effort and dedication to achieve a good, clear, sound from the DB.

I get it; some people just don't have the will or desire to put in the time to get beyond the "growing pains". They often subsequently blame the instrument for their failure.

I started playing DB 25 years into the electric, and I've grown more as a musician since taking up DB seriously. It made a huge improvement in how I approach the electric bass, as well. Musically, I'm far better for it.

 

[groooooove]

go hear some great live jazz!

it will make sence. a good DB sound is a really satisfying thing, man.

 

[tfer]

+1 except for the part about "the default bass, just like a Fender Precision is on the EB side"...exactly which genre is a P-bass the default bass?

70s and 80s porn.

 

[Wesley R]

I had a fairly steady stand in gig because I played an Ampeg Baby Bass. Much more portable than a DB, yet some of the same aesthetics. Low volume, small gear, easy, high paying gigs. Ken Karry and the Solo Swingers. the guy looked like Bobby Sherman and was a real decent gent.

 

[Lee Moses]

The reality is that the upright bass is an anachronism, a relic that was dethroned by the Electric Bass Guitar

WINNER!! of the stupid comment of the year award.

 

[Gaolee]

I play an upright bass because it's fun. Making a living playing isn't in my past or present, so it's not likely in the future, either. So, if it isn't fun, it's not worth doing. I happen to like the kinds of sounds you can get from a double bass. You can't go from bowing to rockabilly slap on an electric. You can do other things. Plus, it's big and physical. The only instrument that's better exercise is a drum kit, and if you dance around playing upright, even that's debatable. It's a complete, absolute, blast. Plus audiences really get into it. Nobody in the audience ever staggers up and asks to play it, and the weird guy who always wants to talk to you about how he's also a bass player gets elbowed away by a girl sometimes. And, about half the time, when you hit a nasty clam, nobody but you can tell unless you are playing for a room full of real musicians. I don't do that, so problem solved. When it feeds back, makes the guitar player keel over and hold his ears - no squeal, just a massive Armageddon kind of roar that's impossible to describe and even more impossible for non-bass players to survive without enduring psychological trauma.

There's no downside if you already have the van you need to haul it around. So, if you are a properly creepy van driving kind of guy, there's no downside at all.

 

[Sam Dingle]

I'm gonna take a guess and say you've never played an upright bass, or for that matter seen it live more than a few times. The comment about "not knowing if someone is out of tune" proved that. I'm also gonna guess because of that you haven't listened to many upright players. For your knowledge listen to this cat. His name is Christian McBride.



his playing is pretty clear. And that solo is wow.

 

[bucephylus]

To the OP: please consider the following. Top flight orchestras around the world employ only the very most talented bass players in their sections. If you, or anyone else here doubt this, please go see how you make out with an audition; though you probably can't even get one. And, please, don't misunderstand, I do NOT intend any meanness in this statement. Playing R&B etc is great; but you need to be aware of the level of musicianship going on at the professional orchestra level. That said, those folks do not exclusively play the upright because it looks cooler or because of tradition. The upright in the hands of a skilled player produces bass sounds that are well above and beyond the capability of the electric bass. For an unamplified ensemble. Please seek out a qualified teacher and learn about the upright if you have the time and money. It is well worth it and will make you a better player in many respects. But, expect to make no progress that you find impressive for at least two years of diligent daily study.

In spite of all of the above, the upright is a very poor instrument if any reasonable amplification beyond reinforcement is required. And if a loud drummer is involved, forget about it. Also, even in Big Band settings, you will most likely find that the electric bass has a more cutting sound than the upright and yin yangs better with horn sections. The upright can be awesome in duo, trio, or quartet situations where the mix is not as busy and with a smaller drum kit keeping time on the high hat rather than snare. There are quite simply situations where one or the other is clearly the better instrument.

Some of the other posts on here claiming the upright has been "eclipsed" by the electric bass are somewhat uninformed.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

"Double Bass - I don't really get it"

It's alright Bro'... there's enough of us that *do* to keep the gigs covered.

 

[sears]

Props to OP for his superior trolling.

 

[madbass6]

There was a reason why the Precision Bass was invented and was successful across the board when it came out. The Double Bass is unwieldy and is very hard to play in tune. These thing haven't changed and you can emulate an upright sound on a fretless bass guitar. I think people are more forgiving for the sounds/tone/clarity that come out of upright basses. Let's listen to one of the all time greats on upright Ray Brown:

And,let's listen the one of the all time greats on electric bass guitar.


When Brown plays in first position,his notes turn to mush, when Jaco is playing up there,you can hear every note cleanly, they are both on fretless instruments. There is a reason why Miles went electric didn't want live in the past and have yesterday's sounds.

The reality is that the upright bass is an anachronism, a relic that was dethroned by the Electric Bass Guitar

Dude the reality is you're so confused!

Freebase almost of the hook!! ?

Here's whats got to be the 2nd dummest comment of 2016!! Bass community or not!
Brace yourselves here it goes!! Just my opinion..

"Quote"
WHEN BROWN PLAYS IN FIRST POSTION HE'S NOTES TURN TO MUSH? unless your last name is coincidentally BROWN you're nutts & WRONG!!

And Again we can't compare a fretless bass with an uprite Bass just cuz It's fretless!! it's a totally different Beast!!! why is that so hard to figure out?

Just look at the two!
Listen to the two!
Observe the artist playing the two!
Still in doubt? Try it for your self!!
Just cuz it's fretless doesn't make Iit the same!
if it'selectric it's just a fretless Bass guitar NOT a substitute for a uprite Bass ever!!!
Hey everybody is entitled to there opinion and I'm the first to respect that! but please don't cross that thin line between an opinion and stupid senseless comments!

 

[Steven Ayres]

I'm a little bemused at the idea that a DB is such a pain to move when so many of us have spent so much energy hauling refrigerator-size speakers around. But once I heard the sound coming out from under my fingers, there was no way I was going to settle for just the metal-and-magnets sound again.

It won't do everything, of course, so I'll often find myself setting up both DB and EB, even on a big-band gig. That's when the equipment load starts to rival that of the drummer.

But about the only thing that consistently bugs me about DB is that so often I have to fight for enough space on stage or in rehearsal.

 

[madbass6]

I'm with you on this subject. Its like riding a horse when an automobile is now available. Its old and antiquated.

Yeah but then again There are some roads that are only accessible by horses !

 

[Tom Howland]

I love both electric and Double bass. Two totally different animals. The Upright moves air. And yes it look cool.
It is also harder to play, but worth the effort.

 

[CGremlin]

Nothing boring about this tone IMO:

 

[Rib 13]

"...exactly which genre is a P-bass the default bass?

70s and 80s porn.

ya know? You got me there

 

[ThudThudThud]

John Patitucci-ness....

 

[PB+J]

I double on upright and electric. They are very different animals. the upright is physically demanding and much much harder to play in general, unless maybe you are just thumping on one and five. But it's so frickin' amazing to play. The feel, the sound, the attack of the notes, the freedom from plugging in.... I didn't really understand "swing" until I played the upright, and then all of a sudden a bunch of stuff made sense. There's a totally fantastic quality you get with an upright that you really can't get with an electric bass--the thunk on the front of the note followed by the long full decay: the tension and release inherent on that, the way you have an urgent front end and a relaxed back end, just makes stuff swing hard. I changed my whole approach to electric bas after playing upright and it made me a much much better player, especially on stuff that isn't obviously "swing but whre, as Keith richards says, you need the roll as well as the rock. It also helped me figure out sonic stuff, on electric bass, like about NOT sounding like a guitar

If you don't like it, fine, maybe it's not for you. electric bass is a great instrument in its own right and you can do things with it you can't do with the upright. But it's not played the same way--you REALLY need to get your left hand position together in a completely different way, and you need the right hand to pull through with authority--nothing like the slab.

Also playing it with a bow--man, there is nothing like the power and range you get with that, from a whisper to a roar, LOOOOOONg held notes that you can swell or diminish....

 

[xyloeye]

WINNER!! of the stupid comment of the year award.

Agreed, although there are several other winners in my opinion. I'm two years into playing upright after spending many years trying make a fretless electric sound like an upright. Can't be done - at least not by me. In both of the big bands (swing) I play in, it's exclusively upright now. The different is striking according to several of the retired pro players. It's a different attack. The sound is just not the same. It's not the same instrument. It's a pain in the butt to cart around but entirely worth it. I have three high end electrics sitting just around while I use my plywood (relatively cheap) upright. You have to get through the really steep learning curve to understand the benefits.