help with upright bass....

wouldn't this do better in DB?

 

This will probably get moved to the double bass forums, but I'll answer so you guys think I'm cool.

4/4 is full sized. 3/4 is 3 quarters of a full sized. I play a 3/4 and I think most players do, too. I don't think there's much advantage in a 4/4 over a 3/4. I'd only get a 1/2 if you're really small or have small hands or want it to actually fit in your car.

 

I wouldn't particularly call 4/4 full sized. They're not fractions, they're just sizes as as women's pant sizes are totally random. Size 0 shouldn't exist, and what's a 00?

3/4 is what most players play, 4/4 is bigger, and there's a 7/8 in the middle. Jack was right that there's almost no advantage, I believe the scale length is about 3 inches longer.

 

Wow! I was right. And a mod even called it. This may be the best day of my life.

 

Haha, not much of a mod over in DB, just been playing for about two years. No biggie.

 

I'll drop in my .02

Anyone can play any size bass. I had a bass teacher who was just shy of 5' (I think she said 4'11 and 3/4") and she played the biggest 4/4 size bass I have ever seen. I play a 7/8, most (read: almost-every-one-in-orchestra-and-everyone-who-is-fooling-aroud-on-it) plays a 3/4. It is considered a 'full-sized' bass.

Actually, if your friend is planning on buying an upright and does not know what size she needs, she may need to take a couple of steps back. It takes a lot of time to play one, much less play it well. Not even mentioning that the ABSOLUTE cheapest upright that is passable is near the $1k mark. Not to discourage, but to warn.

 

And you won't want to get the cheapest upright either. That's what I did. I wouldn't advise it. It sounds crap and no matter how much work I put into it it will always sound crap.

 

+1


I had a teacher (Todd Baker) that was 5feet5inches and he played a full scale with C extension... with ease. Granted, his technique was so impeccable, it made me sick!

 

Impeccable technique makes me sick, too.