Double Bass Going from pianissimo to fortissimo, how?

[quiji]

Hi! I'm having some trouble with my playing. Now my tone has improved by working on my wrist and arm technique, as well as working on the different speeds that every string needs to produce the tone.. my problem now is that I can't get the dynamics of the music I have no idea how to master the volume of the doublebass, how do you do to go from pianissimo to fortissimo and viceversa? Music is all about details on my opinion, and mastering volume is a very important topic when talking about details!!

any help will be appreciated

 

[Phil Smith]

Are you saying you only play at one volume?

Try just bowing one string, long strokes and focus on how quiet you can make your bass sound and how loud you can make your bass sound. Pay attention to what you physically need to do to make this differences in sound happen.

 

[quiji]

Ooo I see.. right now i have noticed that the speed of the bowing has something to do with the volumen... but I can't get that distinctive sound I need for passages that are in crecendo or diminuendo... I was wondering if the technique of the volumen had something special that I didn't know!

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Andrew McGregor]

Speed, pressure, distance from the bridge, intensity or otherwise of vibrato, intensity, style and angle of left hand pressure... you can vary them all. Work through what each does and then you'll find a combination for any particular crescendo (they're all different).

Generally, you want slightly faster speed, much less pressure, and further from the bridge for pianissimo, and higher pressure, slower speed, closer to the bridge for loud. But that's just a guideline.

 

[quiji]

Thanks for the guide!!!! I'll be working to improve, thanks a lot!

 

[markfoley]

I've got a lot of bow ideas at my blog: http://markfoleybass.wordpress.com/
There's a couple which deal with dynamics. Check Nov. 30 and Dec. 2.
Happy bowing!