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Double Bass Fret Markers

C

clokwise

Sep 7, 2012
76
1
#1
So I am an electric bass player and am really interested in moving over into playing upright. One of my biggest issues is going to be having no fret markers or dots for reference. I don't need the actual fret itself but the reference is nice. Is there a way or method for adding the dots to the neck for reference while learning? I know I can out dots on there but wasn't sure how to go about the spacing.

Thanks
 
#4
I put on some of those little vinyl dots from Gollihur music, instantly allowed me to competently play out of 1st position and into thumb. But I'm not going for pro, just good enough for studio and gigs, and at this point I rarely look at them. So I don't really see a problem with them unless you get too dependent on their use.
 
#5
I played electric for 10 years before playing upright.

Let me give you some cold hard wisdom.

Looking at the neck of your upright isnt going to do you any good when playing it, in fact it will cause you to make more mistakes. Adding markers on it really wont help you learn the notes or the positions, even when starting.

In fact, i have a lot of bad habits on electric i wish i didn't have from looking at the neck. I do my best not to look when i can, because reading music is a pain in the rear when i constantly try to look at the notes i play.

Find a good teacher who can teach you the positions. Use the open strings and harmonics as references when learning and realize its gonna be out of tune. It will get better with practice.
 
#9
clokwise said:
So I am an electric bass player and am really interested in moving over into playing upright. One of my biggest issues is going to be having no fret markers or dots for reference. I don't need the actual fret itself but the reference is nice. Is there a way or method for adding the dots to the neck for reference while learning? I know I can out dots on there but wasn't sure how to go about the spacing.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Whiteout dots on the edge of the fingerboard at G, A, B on the E string plus the octave can be helpful in getting you oriented to the spaces your fingers need to cover.

And a few lessons from a DB teacher make a huge difference in how quickly you pick up the instrument! ;)
 
#10
As a newish player myself, i advise not to use the markings. While it may make the instrument more accessible in the very early beginnings, it will do nothing but slow down your progress and enforce bad habits.

I decided to not use markings from the start. Honestly i still looked at the neck frequently, and noticed my own "landmarks" on the wood neck in the area of where certain key notes are. But those were few and far between and haven't developed into a crutch. I now generally dont look at the neck unless i hear an off note, then might take a peak to correct.
 
#11
Like others have posted, i started with dots to get me through early gigs but I really didn't start getting my intonation together until the dots were gone.

Better to work with a bow, open strings and your ears.

Walk before you run...master the low positions first where the open strings help keep you in tune. That's where all the money is after all ;)
 
#13
brianrost said:
Like others have posted, i started with dots to get me through early gigs but I really didn't start getting my intonation together until the dots were gone.

Better to work with a bow, open strings and your ears.

Walk before you run...master the low positions first where the open strings help keep you in tune. That's where all the money is after all ;)
Click to expand...

And therein lays why you don't need fret markers. Just start with the open strings, and progressively make your way up the neck from there. This is how i am approaching it and it deffinitely works. The only issue i am having is that i rarely want to leave the lower register! Probably a good thing i guess...
 
#14
EDGAR!!! Yes, even Edgar Meyer uses dots. I have some colored dot I bought at Staples at the Harmonics and octave position. I wouldn't do anything permanent because of changes over time to the instrument, but it helps. As others have stated, best to learn the feel of your instrument, but then again, I dont look at my bass guitar fretboard much. Same principle on the upright.
 
#16
Yeah, I look at the striping of the maple on the neck to find certain notes occasionally. Same with swirls in the fingerboard for thumb-position notes.

But, because of parallax and the curve of the fingerboard, etc., I've found that having markers on the side never made finding notes more accurate.

Sometimes I'll use a pencil dot right beside the spot where my finger is supposed to land if it's a tricky reach while practicing and by the time it's well-learned the muscle memory will take over.

But seriously, the best way to learn where notes are located is to practice scales and intervals (especially with a drone) in the dark or with a blindfold and use your ears.
 
#17
A TalkBass dead-horse, the marker question. My take... Markers do not equal good intonation and tend to make you focus your eyes on finding the notes your ears want to hear. Using your eyes to stare at your fingers takes your attention away from any music you are reading or any useful information on stage that you will need to play music at a higher level. So much happens on the stage that you needs your attention. Good communication makes for good music. I tend to watch singers mouths, guitarists, pianists and drummers hands, horn players breath etc. I would miss all of that if I was trying to "see" where an A notes was on the fingerboard. Learn the bass then play the bass....
 
#18
Markers aren't all bad. They just get you in the ballpark. If your intonation sucks, no amount of markers are going to help you. You will still be off.

They're better left to experienced players who don't use it as a crutch. If you are just starting, then go without until you've had more experience.
 

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