Double Bass How much humiliation is appropriate?

[E4R104]

I appreciate that Michael. I bought Ray Brown’s book. I’m also going to take an actual look at the Simandl text as my impressions are mostly second hand. I can read the grand staff from doing online piano classes and playing note games on my iPhone Translating it rapidly to fingering is the issue with reading and perhaps some traditional study will be the ticket. I guess that’s an inexpensive Xmas gift I can get myself. I want to find a teacher when I can afford it to really learn the posture and physical form properly. It’s hard to do that from videos. Plus, it would be naive of me to think it’s a totally self teachable skill. Good instructors in all things are so important.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

 

[Ed S]

Played a blues gig last Sat w/ a couple of amazing guitarists. Went pretty well, tho I'd never played at least half of the tunes. It was a joy to play w/ these 2 guys, whom I had previously played with in bluegrass/country jams.

The one guy said he had some other gigs coming up and asked if I played jazz. I said no. Have never been a big fan of jazz - other than the shallowest, most accessible big band/Charlie Brown's Christmas end of the pool. And when I see those crazy key signatures and chord descriptions with numbers other than 7 and dim/aug, I basically laugh thinking, "Those aren't real chords!" But a root is a root, no?

I readily acknowledge the complexity and beauty of what so many jazz bassists do. But it just hasn't been what moves me. And I'm working hard enough just being solid and working on my arco to learn.

But this thread has made me reconsider whether I might be willing to sit in on 1 or 2 of this guy's gigs. We know we play well together, and if I can lay down a groove with him in bluegrass, country, and blues, there's no reason I shouldn't at least give myself the opportunity to throw up all over myself in jazz!

Thanks for the discussion! You MIGHT have cultivated yet one more hep jazzcat!

 

[Leigh_D]

Played a blues gig last Sat w/ a couple of amazing guitarists. Went pretty well, tho I'd never played at least half of the tunes. It was a joy to play w/ these 2 guys, whom I had previously played with in bluegrass/country jams.

The one guy said he had some other gigs coming up and asked if I played jazz. I said no. Have never been a big fan of jazz - other than the shallowest, most accessible big band/Charlie Brown's Christmas end of the pool. And when I see those crazy key signatures and chord descriptions with numbers other than 7 and dim/aug, I basically laugh thinking, "Those aren't real chords!" But a root is a root, no?

I readily acknowledge the complexity and beauty of what so many jazz bassists do. But it just hasn't been what moves me. And I'm working hard enough just being solid and working on my arco to learn.

But this thread has made me reconsider whether I might be willing to sit in on 1 or 2 of this guy's gigs. We know we play well together, and if I can lay down a groove with him in bluegrass, country, and blues, there's no reason I shouldn't at least give myself the opportunity to throw up all over myself in jazz!

Thanks for the discussion! You MIGHT have cultivated yet one more hep jazzcat!

Give it a try! Aim for the chord root on the down beat and worry much less about the other beats. Have fun!

**Leigh

 

[E4R104]

I’m also an Ed (Edward)

I’m not as much a bluegrass guy but I do the jams periodically, along with some Americana etc as my mom is in a bluegrass band and the bluegrass community lent me a double bass and has been very friendly and supportive. While it’s not music I listen to regularly, I have fun playing and it’s helped reinforce that simple and accurate timing is so important. I tend to overdo everything and the friendly RI bluegrassers gently remind me to dial it back. Over the last month that’s really hit home and I’m trying to do the same with the Jazz stuff.

The preceding messages, the podcast I recently listened to on the importance of groove, and the help of my instructor and band mates may finally be getting through my thick head!

I guess, from this beginner,
enthusiastic jazz amateur, I can say that the bluegrass has helped me in ways I wouldn’t have expected. I’ve also enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

BTW, how the hell do people sing and play double bass at the same time? I sure can’t!

Played a blues gig last Sat w/ a couple of amazing guitarists. Went pretty well, tho I'd never played at least half of the tunes. It was a joy to play w/ these 2 guys, whom I had previously played with in bluegrass/country jams.

The one guy said he had some other gigs coming up and asked if I played jazz. I said no. Have never been a big fan of jazz - other than the shallowest, most accessible big band/Charlie Brown's Christmas end of the pool. And when I see those crazy key signatures and chord descriptions with numbers other than 7 and dim/aug, I basically laugh thinking, "Those aren't real chords!" But a root is a root, no?

I readily acknowledge the complexity and beauty of what so many jazz bassists do. But it just hasn't been what moves me. And I'm working hard enough just being solid and working on my arco to learn.

But this thread has made me reconsider whether I might be willing to sit in on 1 or 2 of this guy's gigs. We know we play well together, and if I can lay down a groove with him in bluegrass, country, and blues, there's no reason I shouldn't at least give myself the opportunity to throw up all over myself in jazz!

Thanks for the discussion! You MIGHT have cultivated yet one more hep jazzcat!

 

[Ed S]

...

BTW, how the hell do people sing and play double bass at the same time? I sure can’t!

That's funny. I recall one of my instructors expressing amazement that I could (to the extent you can call what I do singing!) Like anything, you just start simple and work on it. And you always have to fight the urge to emphasize your singing words on the beats. "GOING down the ROAD feeling SAD..." I made a point of developing that ability b/c it was so frustrating to not be able to lead anything at jams, and to just have to ask, "Can anyone lead xyz?"

 

[E4R104]

My familiarity with bluegrass tunes is pretty limited so I wouldn’t be able to lead very many songs anyways! I can barely talk while I play let alone remember lyrics and sing!

That's funny. I recall one of my instructors expressing amazement that I could (to the extent you can call what I do singing!) Like anything, you just start simple and work on it. And you always have to fight the urge to emphasize your singing words on the beats. "GOING down the ROAD feeling SAD..." I made a point of developing that ability b/c it was so frustrating to not be able to lead anything at jams, and to just have to ask, "Can anyone lead xyz?"