Double Bass Having Trouble hearing myself in band

[Ross Kratter]

It's clearly their loss, in all sorts of ways. Walk out with your head (and middle finger) up.

Edit: I'd like to reiterate my club suggestion.

+1000000

 

[Ross Kratter]

So there are still conductors out there in 2012 that still believe jazz swings best when keys and bass double the bass line? Well, maybe the Mayans were onto something.

+1

 

[ThingsAbove]

Liberal application of a sugary drink spilled into the bottom two octaves of the keyboard will do wonders.

 

[longfinger]

Sidenote: yes, I am out of there -- music to be returned this week. But want to say that a year ago this program lost a chunk of funding through this community college even though it was made up from non students. It was going to fold for lack of funding. I, anonymously donated a chunk of money to the program. Then a few months ago, the program was again on the fritz and needed to find its own source of funding entirely. Everyone was moaning about the malice of this. In a few days I researched a grant that the band could apply for and my husband and I talked this conductor through the grant process, proofreading her proposal and encouraging her all the way to meet the grant deadline a few days later. So, (toot my horn!) My involvement in this organization brought in over $10,000 with potential to receive this kind of money yearly. Not too shabby when you live in an area of small towns with limited resources.

If you're good with the funding paperwork, think about going after this year's 10K grant by starting your own band! Let the other band go bankrupt.

(Curious, but was this a "jazz big band" or was it actually a "concert band"? Did the group play marches, military music, Holst, Elgar that stuff?)

 

[alicebc]

This was a jazz Band. We tended to do things in eras. This year's theme was to be 60"s. Last two years, 50's, 40's. Written basslines. Old stuff. kansas City. Choo Choo chboogie, Watermelon Man.. Mack the Knife, etc etc. Basie stuff. Other stuff: Feather Report... I should write down all the titles before I send it back.
I was also playing clarinet in the Community Concert Band -- same conductor, same place -- same problem with funding. Got 10K (or actually a bit under that so as not to look greedy) for that band too! My husband, son and I were all in the concert band. They will walk with me!! Feels great now that the decision has been made. We're actually looking for a new town in a new state to move to. One of the criterias is whether they have a community band and jazz band opportunities or pit orchestras would be even better. Along with a fantastic highschool for my son and more temperate weather. I'm excited now that I'm out of there! This was an insane week but at least now I know that I wasn't the one who was insane.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

D.A.R.K. Your response made me laugh. Thanks. Arco, in jazz? Was that a joke? And, I am aiming the amp at my head, but I'm wishing it were a gun. Conductor tells me to turn up my highs to "cut through"....

Arco in jazz? Study up, son....
(or daughter, in your case. It's just something my history of jazz teacher would say to me when I had silly preconceptions)

 

[D.A.R.K.]

It's always a pain in the ass trying to balance with someone who's doubling you. Plus if you're truly improvising bass lines and not reading written lines, then they would conflict with each other. IMHO, there should never, ever be two bass players in a big band, playing at the same time, unless, in a special circumstance, one is comping and the other is soloing. Ever. EVER. End of story. Don't be afraid to stand your ground, man.

You should have told Duke Ellington about that. And many more...

 

[SVT4001]

You should have told Duke Ellington about that. And many more...

 

[SVT4001]

Arco in jazz a joke?

IDK- but when I hear Michael Moore, Lynn Seaton or Terry Plumeri I aint laughing...

Joe

 

[alicebc]

Sorry! I have a lot of learn! I just searched the forums and read up on this. Thanks!
I was able to play adequately in this band without much background on jazz itself. Now I will get back to learning to bow. I can take all this music I have and learn to play it arco. Thanks again.

 

[SVT4001]

Honestly, we all have a lot to learn. The minute one closes their mind they become "unteachable"- when that happens they cannot grow.

I participate in Talkbass because I see it as an opportunity to learn from people that know more than I do, and a chance to share what I've learned with people who have less experience than I do.



Namaste,

Joe

 

[abaguer]

I would quit. It's definitely their loss.

 

[Jason Hollar]

Wow - just read this entire thread. My advice is to take that Clevinger, quit that jive @ss big band, and start a trio.

 

[Audiophage]

It's really easy for frequencies in the bass range to clash so unless you and the keyboardist are willing to compromise a little you're both going to sound bad.

 

[gnjpowell]

1) Monitor speaker closer to your ear
2) Stop playing whenever "She" is "playing", for as long at it takes.....

 

[donnercruz]

I'll take a different position on this one. Yes the situation does suck a bit, but what a great learning experience. You got to read jazz charts on a new instrument without being solely responsible for the bass line. Kind of bass playing with training wheels. The best thing you could do now would be to find a community college with a great Jazz program ( we have one here in Santa Cruz). You want improv, combos, big band, Latin ensemble, and jazz arranging. Not that you need to take them all, but a good program would have all of them.

Good luck!

 

[tornadobass]

I suppose they keyboard player also changes your lightbulbs with her left hand?

 

[RSBBass]

Unless you are doing it for money, and then only if you really need it, there is no point in playing in a situation in which you are not respected. Clearly this is their loss. With the dedication you have shown, you will find other, and better, gigs.

 

[daveevans35]

Try standing in a different spot and get a small slave. Turn of the mid bass on the slave so you can hear it and as its pointing at you it shouldn't feed back.

You can also feel the bass from the main amp.

You pickups could Br failing and also your strings my be going dead?

At the end of the day, the db unless pa direct needs the balance matched to it as you are limited if not via a pa.

Enjoy and sack the keyboards.

 

[BawanaRik]

You best advice is to look for another gig. Generally volume issues like this are the result of a power stuggle. When ever the best interests of the band are put behind things like this it's no fun. Keep in mind that if the conductor is paying you they are the boss and like they say." The boss may not always be right but the boss is always the boss."

The advice to not burn brigdes is golden.

Eden makes a small 1 10" amp that get's louder than you would believe. Many other manufactuers are doing the same thing. If you put your ear on the bass you'll hear much better.

If you were playing a "string bass" my advice would be to stand close to a wall or better yet in a corner. A variant of this might still work.

And lastly don't look at this as a test of your ability to urinate higher longer etc than anyone else. Learning how to deal with people in a constructive manner is an important lesson in life. It looks like the conductor is giving you a free lesoon.

Volume and has a history going back to day one. Bass requires much more power to be heard. A guiatr player can show up with a Deluxe Reverb and never have a shortage of volume. Heck a Champ works. Mean while I can remember carry two large cabs, a Daul Showman and a converted Bogen around. The bogen weighed more than a DR.