wow. Great time. Good tone. Slapping not overly loud. Dynamics. Melody. No complaints here!
Yeah, but he's standing on the wrong side of the bass. Come on Jason, get with the program!
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Double Bass Fingering my new blonde double bass
- Thread starter downrightjoe
- Start date
Yeah, but he's standing on the wrong side of the bass. Come on Jason, get with the program!
Sounds great! I'll be the clown heckling loudly, accompanied by a hooker.
Will you also have big red floppy shoes? A clown really isn't a clown without big red floppy shoes.
And a big red mouth. Ronald McDonald pretty much made that derigueur if you want to be taken seriously as a clown. Any three year old can pout, throw tantrums, be rude to the other kids, refuse to take their medicine, put on a wig, make a face and call themselves a clown. Then again, maybe that's all that's required.
Hello everyone,
I am about to buy a new Shen SB-90and learn URB for music in the styles of ROckabilly, blues, swing and some Jazz, later on as my understanding grows. eventually I want to be classically trained and find work in symphonies and what not.
So here is where I need some help... I pretty much know my scales on guitar with all the intervals and was wondering if they just transpose over to the URB? I am pretty sure the bass strings on the guitar are the same notes on the bass?
Another problem:
I have no Idea how you guys manage to know where the notes are on your fingerboards when you guys have no frets?! I mean surely there must be some exact point to place your fingers for the notes you are looking for right? or does it change?
Please point me to some books or dvd's that will show me where to put my fingers and what fingers to use. Or is there a simple formula you guys can share with me to find the notes and scales without frets using the proper fingers and ergonomics? remember I know the intervals already and the tone of the notes in the scales by ear, I just don't have a mental grasp as to how to or where to put my left hand fingers!
I can't wait to start learning but I want to do it right from the start and eliminate bad habbits. Unfortunately there are no URB teachers in my local area, and right now without a car I cannot go very far with a BASS. Any help would be appreciated.
PS> I HAVE read the faq's and sticky threads on the subjects closest to what I thought I need and unfortunately I don't have the answers I need Thanks.
Wow there is a lot going on in here. Well here is my .02 cents from a guy who is probably in between the two extremes that have been hashed out in this topic. I've taken some lessons, and done some studying from Simandl.
First things - I'm a hobbyist when it comes to bass of all kind. I love playing it, practicing it, and getting better through studying it. I'm not a professional by any means - it's just something I love to do, and am passionate about.
There is one thing that really stood out for me in your OP. You say that you would like to eventually become a classically trained player. IMO if you try to learn on your own, and then somewhere down the road want to jump into the classical arena - you will likely be starting it all over again as far as technique goes. While I appreciate your enthusiam, it sounds like you are ready to put the cart before the horse.
As far as proper fingering and scaling - classical lessons and book study will teach to develop both the ear and proper hand placement/muscle memory. I too am a convert from EBG, and the one thing I can tell you is that you can throw out what you know from fretted, marked instruments. As guitarists or bass guitarists we've been taught to play with our eyes very much - like G is the third fret ya' know. Playing a classical instrument will require you to learn with your ears in a way you haven't yet approached.
In addition to the things I've already discussed, there is also the physical element to playing double bass. Unless you are a genetic freak, you will learn that playing double bass is very physically demanding. You arm was not built to hold parellel to your shoulder for hours on end while pressing down strings and also balancing this monster of an instrument. It takes months to develop the stamina and form that will allow you to play for long periods of time.
To summarize - do yourself the favor of finding at least a few lessons from a pro. Then you can decide where you would like to go from there.
I've already pointed this out twice and earlier in the thread I even highlighted the same parts in bold!! 
There's really only one answer that's appropriate here and only one person disagreeing with that answer!!
There's really only one answer that's appropriate here and only one person disagreeing with that answer!!
I've already pointed this out twice and earlier in the thread I even highlighted the same parts in bold!!
There's really only one answer that's appropriate here and only one person disagreeing with that answer!!
Well fine then, Ill take my .02 cents back.
Even though there are plenty of examples of great players who never studied, it is never but never going to be the AVISABLE route. So it will never be good advice. It is like betting all your money on the ponies, you might win but if you lose you lose big.
What are you gambling with by not taking lessons?
1. Your body. Even with the best technique, this instrument is not easy on our bodies but the impact is GREATLY lessened with "proper" technique.
2. Your musical reputation. If someone important hears you play poorly it can be remembered for years if they don't bother to hear you again (And why would they?).
Other bassists are often the source of work in any scene and they don't repespect your playing you are going to miss out on important work.
3. Your personal enjoyment of music and the instrument. It just isn't as fun to go out and fight your bass every night.
It is a lot of fun to have to worry less about your own chops and be more involved in the music as a whole.
If you are putting all of your focus and energy into your own playing you are less aware of what the others are doing.
That is going to be a bummer for everyone, even the audience.
What are you gambling with by not taking lessons?
1. Your body. Even with the best technique, this instrument is not easy on our bodies but the impact is GREATLY lessened with "proper" technique.
2. Your musical reputation. If someone important hears you play poorly it can be remembered for years if they don't bother to hear you again (And why would they?).
Other bassists are often the source of work in any scene and they don't repespect your playing you are going to miss out on important work.
3. Your personal enjoyment of music and the instrument. It just isn't as fun to go out and fight your bass every night.
It is a lot of fun to have to worry less about your own chops and be more involved in the music as a whole.
If you are putting all of your focus and energy into your own playing you are less aware of what the others are doing.
That is going to be a bummer for everyone, even the audience.
Unless, of course, the OP was a shill who posted something that he knew would start this kind of dust up.
That's a pretty good call. Registered Aug. 2010. Last online 2:40 pm today....
Mel Bay, self-taught, hopeful of orchestral work someday...it was so heart-wrenchingly misguided. Well done OP...let me guess, you're from the BG side?
He's probably just embarassed by all the fuss!
I know there are people who read TB but don't post for fear of being picked on or making a howler of some kind...?
Last week at Jazz Sumerschool, I met a fellow Jazz bassist who said that he got a lot from TB but had never posted and I think there are many people like this.
The reaction that our OP has got here, is exactly the kind of thing that would put anybody off who is a bit nervous about posting!!
I am pretty thick-skinned and don't care what people say about me - but some people can get upset by what is posted that relates to them and it's entirely understandable that the OP hasn't come back - just waiting for the dust to settle!
I "dribble" the strings myself a bit.
Jason,
That's great! Thanks, I enjoyed it very much. Almost got up out of my chair to "cut the rug" with my wife Reminded me a bit of the Jim Hall/Ron Carter performance of St. Thomas.
Just read the whole thread. All I've got is, there are no short-cuts. If you care about playing bass, it becomes a way of life. A lifelong and hopefully enjoyable learning experience, no matter what level you attain. Now...... gotta go practice.
Jason,
That's great! Thanks, I enjoyed it very much. Almost got up out of my chair to "cut the rug" with my wife
Reminded me a bit of the Jim Hall/Ron Carter performance of St. Thomas. Just read the whole thread. All I've got is, there are no short-cuts. If you care about playing bass, it becomes a way of life. A lifelong and hopefully enjoyable learning experience, no matter what level you attain. Now...... gotta go practice.
