Double Bass Electric bassist making the switch to upright

[roccobass]

Thanks chaps, how long would you recommend practicing with the bow (holding and long tones)..?

You know, there are some great YouTube tutorials out there for bowin

 

[roccobass]

Thanks chaps, how long would you recommend practicing with the bow (holding and long tones)..?

You know, there are some great YouTube tutorials out there for bowin

Argh! I hit send before I was finished..
You know, there are some great YouTube tutorials out there for bowing. Decide on either French or German. I have one of each. I do like the French because you can more easily go back and forth during a song (plucking time bowing and vice versa) I don't play classical. Mostly jazz/Americana type stuff. You might want to just see a live teacher just in the beginning to learn some basic techniques. If you're just starting out, try and find a group that will let you learn as you go. Trust me, there's quite a few. They like the sound and the look of the upright. Yes, also get a full length mirror and watch yourself playing. Above all, have fun!

 

[Wasnex]

Argh! I hit send before I was finished..
You know, there are some great YouTube tutorials out there for bowing. Decide on either French or German. I have one of each. I do like the French because you can more easily go back and forth during a song (plucking time bowing and vice versa) I don't play classical. Mostly jazz/Americana type stuff. You might want to just see a live teacher just in the beginning to learn some basic techniques. If you're just starting out, try and find a group that will let you learn as you go. Trust me, there's quite a few. They like the sound and the look of the upright. Yes, also get a full length mirror and watch yourself playing. Above all, have fun!

Just so you know, you have an hour to edit after posting. You also have the option of deleting a post if you hit the button prematurely. Cheers .

 

[roccobass]

Just so you know, you have an hour to edit after posting. You also have the option of deleting a post if you hit the button prematurely. Cheers .

Thanks. I didn't realize that!

 

[damonsmith]

On one hand, playing the bow your teacher plays is good advice, on the other hand, German is the better bow for jazz players for whom arco is not a primary concern. The hold is easier in the beginning and in general. They both perform well once you get the technique down.
French is worth learning if you are really into arco.

 

[damonsmith]

Thanks for all the input. I will probably get a physical copy of Simandl soon. I'm studying with Joe Solomon as recommended by Mike Davis. It's going well (just had 2 lessons) and I am very excited to be playing upright. Hopefully it won't take too long (although I'm fine if it does) before I can go to some sessions and walk a blues or two XD

Solomon is incredible, might be overkill for a beginner. You might get a second teacher, like an advanced bass major for the basics and then revisit things with Joe.

 

[bherman]

Thanks for all the input. I will probably get a physical copy of Simandl soon. I'm studying with Joe Solomon as recommended by Mike Davis. It's going well (just had 2 lessons) and I am very excited to be playing upright. Hopefully it won't take too long (although I'm fine if it does) before I can go to some sessions and walk a blues or two XD

It will take longer than you might like, I started at a young age on electric, switched to URB at 20, studied intensively for some years and got good, stopped for 20 yrs and its taken me 10 years to really get back to a proficient level (practicing 1+ hrs daily mostly). It is a much more physical and unforgiving instrument, don't expect to be at a performance level without alot of work. IMO its worth it, but as others have said its 180 degrees apart from electric bass. Having experience playing electric helps mentally, but not much with the physical aspects. Keep at it and best of luck with your endeavor!

 

[csrund]

Search Contrabass Conversations channel on YouTube for Andy Anderson's instructional videos. Well worth watching: Contrabass Conversations

 

[MAD DOG]

I used to play upright. The easiest way to play arco and get a lot more control of the bow is to do what Charlie Haden did. Hold a French bow with a baseball bat grip. Purists will gasp, but so much easier and a lot less chance of injuring your body. Be a renegade and you will progress a lot faster and the process will be a lot more enjoyable. Best of luck!!!

 

[CaseyVancouver]

 

[SAlcott]

My biggest tip: Have patience with yourself. You'll get to a point where the bow hold becomes more natural.

But, honestly, I've been playing for 3.5 years and still find things to improve in my bow hold.

My biggest tip: Have patience with yourself. You'll get to a point where the bow hold becomes more natural.

But, honestly, I've been playing for 3.5 years and still find things to improve in my bow hold.

I've been playing close to 50 years and still find new things to learn about the bow.

 

[Don Kasper]

I've been playing close to 50 years and still find new things to learn about the bow.

Have you tried the "baseball bat" grip?
It's on my "to do" list...
Oy Vey.

 

[oren]

I was an electric player for around 35 years before I started on upright. I played strictly pizz (with some lessons) for a couple of years. When I lived in Chicago I took lessons from the amazing Marlene Rosenberg, and she got me started on French bow, but I didn't really spend a lot of time with it. This year I decided that I really should learn more about the bow, so I'm studying with Whitney Moulton, a wonderful player and teacher here in Salem, OR. She took me right back to Mary Had A Little Lamb, which has been humbling. Now my practice routine includes 5-10 minutes of long tones on open strings, vomit exercises (when I was having trouble with one octave she rather sadistically started me working on two octaves, on the theory that it would make one octave seem easy (and it does!)), chromatic scales up the G string with the metronome at 60 starting at quarter notes, then eighths (two times per note), up to sextuplets, string crossing exercises, two octave major and minor scales, working through the Simandl method book, and working on the first few Simandl etudes. That totally sucks up most of my available practice time, though I do try to make it a point to always play through a standard or two with the bow. I still suck at the bow! But every week it gets a little better, though I wish the progress was faster.
I've actually worked up the courage to try a couple of solos with the bow at my last few gigs, which have been very low profile winery and restaurant situations, and while I'm not giving Mr. P.C. a run for his money, I can report that I didn't feel embarrassed at the results.

Keep at it - it's cool that we play an instrument that can have such a wide variety of sounds and fit into so many musical environments.