Double Bass Double bass strings

[Ana_Iguana14]

I just got a new bass that is used. I’m a beginner so I started reading the book and plucking along. But now I’m ready for the bow, so I learned how to hold it and I put enough rosin but when I play the strings they sound cloudy and faint. I can just barely hear them. Even if I press hard.
What do I do?

 

[michael_t]

Wrong forum... I've just asked the moderator to move this to the "Double Bass" side for you.

 

[SLO Surfer]

I just got a new bass that is used. I’m a beginner so I started reading the book and plucking along. But now I’m ready for the bow, so I learned how to hold it and I put enough rosin but when I play the strings they sound cloudy and faint. I can just barely hear them. Even if I press hard.
What do I do?

To get the most help, you should get a teacher to look at what you’re doing and/or post a video here of you playing with the strings sounding cloudy and faint.

There’s so many things it could be but we need a lot more info to be any real help. Like, how do you know you put on enough rosin? How new is your bow hair? Do you have a French or German style bow? Is your bass setup properly?

First thing most will say is get a teacher to make sure you’re doing it right. The teacher could easily tell you if your equipment is having the issues, or your technique, or both.

 

[Ludwig]

With the information given, no help possible. Could be the contact point on the strings or the direction the bow is crossing them. There are string types that make bowing very difficult, too. You should have someone with expericience look at you bowing. At least check before a mirror that your bow is moving at about 90 degrees to the strings. Too much pressure can make the bowing sound bad, contact point of bow to string should be between end of finger board and middle of distance to bridge. As a beginner use metal wrapped strings, avoid nylon wrapping.

 

[garrett2]

I just got a new bass that is used. I’m a beginner so I started reading the book and plucking along. But now I’m ready for the bow, so I learned how to hold it and I put enough rosin but when I play the strings they sound cloudy and faint. I can just barely hear them. Even if I press hard.
What do I do?

Welcome to the exciting world of arco! When you first add rosin to new hair you make a base coat which then further rosin sticks to. So you may not have a sufficient amount of rosin. Also, counterintuitively, a loose grip, loose arm, and shoulder and less pushing makes for more sound.

If you have a German Bow this is an excellent course, and just watching the trailer is inspiring for good technique.

There is little in life as satisfying as when the bow and string come together and a beautiful sound emerges. It takes a lot of work, but it is worth it!

 

[Mark_T]

If you have a German Bow this is an excellent course, and just watching the trailer is inspiring for good technique.

There is little in life as satisfying as when the bow and string come together and a beautiful sound emerges. It takes a lot of work, but it is worth it!

My teacher and I both play French and we agreed that David Allen Moore's German bow course contains plenty of exercises and principles that would also apply to French, even if the precise techniques vary somewhat. That said, I wouldn't suggest shelling out for a German Bow course at the very beginning if I were playing French. Unfortunately, I don't know of a good equivalent for French bow technique, unless you can maybe get your hands on the Rabbath DVDs?

 

[SAlcott]

Find a proper teacher. Tell us where you are and you'll get suggestions.

 

[LouisF]

This will help but best to get a teacher: