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Double Bass I give up!
- Thread starter ptg
- Start date
I started on electric bass, played that for about 15 years before picking up the double bass. I've been playing DB since 1999 and I still struggle with it. I wrestle with giving up the DB and going all electric, but when I play the DB I realize I just don't want to (or can't) give it up. Between the occasional back pain, lousy intonation, and a feeling like I will never be able to play it as well as I want it gets hard to stay with it. What keeps me going is the sound and feel of the DB, and the realization that even if I went back to electric only, I'd still never be as good as I want to be.
As far as your bass is concerned, good luck getting it fixed.
As far as your bass is concerned, good luck getting it fixed.
Stick with it. I have played off and on for years now and regret the years I didn't play cause it can take a lot of time to get back to where you left off. Also, take the DB at your own pace has been key for me and sticking with it these past 12 months.
I get frustrated sometimes when practicing things at levels beyond where I'm at but I stick with my practice routine slowly and in baby steps. I find the pay off is when I'm playing with my bands, stuff I know really well and I know I've nailed it.
- Apr 19, 2004
- 808
- 42
- 48
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Conklin Guitars (Basses)
I hadn't seen a couple of the below concepts red flagged for you. People had mentioned/hinted, but I wanted to make things blatantly obivious for you.
Lets Address the Pain First. This is an area i have studied quite a bit. The reason your back and hand hurt is because of bad posture.
Im assuming your an older gentleman because you have a wife who bought you a bass. Most young kids couldnt find an awesome woman like that if they tried, but i digress.
Do not lean forward, The bass must lean into you. If this causes you to have control problems with your hand, go to walmart and buy an 18 dollar wooden stool. You will have two to choose from, Most people on here would suggest the taller of the two, but i ended up using the shorter one. (Im a really big guy.)
If this doesnt work, troll the forums or use the search function and look for information of the Rabbath bent endpin. If you look in the jazz section there is a thread on rabbath that i think has information on it in the conversation.
Relieving the back pain is the first step to better playing health. Look at how you hold the bass in a mirror and adjust your posture. Then go do this for your electric bass.
Hands hurting. Not good!
Lets assume the bass is properly setup, or will be soon, as you recently posted.
This is caused by some different possible problems, starting with leaning into the bass. Segue-way time.
The body is an interconnected system. The power you generate from your fingertips doesnt come from your hands, it comes from your arms, shoulders, and hips and ultimately feet, as any martial artist, basketball, baseball, golfer, boxer, or any athlete can tell you. Generating power, control and what bassist's call "weight" comes from using the whole system together.
Tap your fingers on the desk, right now.
now roll them, 1234,1234,1234.
Now think about the muscles involved. Feel where they are located. Feel that near your elbow? Those are the muscles you play bass with. not the silly little meatless things in your digits!
When you press down the strings, if you use these muscles without putting some weight from the upper arm, the shoulder, and a good anchoring support of the back and hips, your gonna hurt yourself. You dont run into this problem on electric because the angle you hold it at, no the tension on the strings.
Try this: Take your left hand and grip the end of your desk, with the tips of your fingers and thumb. Grip it moderately hard. Now grip it really hard. Now grip it moderately and use the torque and weight of your arm to apply pressure to your pinky. Feel the difference? There is way more power in it.
On a side note, if what you did just hurt in any way, GO SEE A DOCTOR.
Now use the same technique to generate more (Lets call it grip) with the index finger by rotating the opposite way.
Now that we have generated some power let me make some suggestions about your fingers and hand posture.
When playing electric guitar or bass, a lot of people play with their thumb behind their first finger on the neck of the instrument. I used to do this until i got deep into upright playing. It changed the way i played everything and i got better almost overnight when i changed my grip.
Go back to the desk gripping exercise. Try it with your thumb under your first finger. Now your second. Feel the difference in stability and power? Again, you have more than all you need to play upright bass.
Lets talk about support. In the lower positions make sure you always, always, always support the middle and pinky/ring fingers with the ones behind them so that you have the maximum ammount of grip on a string. This will alleviate pain and fatigue and promotes great technique.
Finally, do not let the height or the power of the strings trick you into thinking you have to really press down harder than you have to. Get the string good and seated on the fingerboard, but dont squeeze it to death. This may or may not adjust with time, but just get it down.
Hopefully these ideas help you physically.
Mentally you have to take it one day at a time. You cant give up or use excuses. There is no esteem in bass playing, good or bad, just doing the work every day. If i can do this, you can do this! Its not hard.
If you have any questions contact me. I notice a lot of times the above concepts are overlooked when someone is having trouble with a bass on the internet.
Good luck and Just keep playing.
Lets Address the Pain First. This is an area i have studied quite a bit. The reason your back and hand hurt is because of bad posture.
Im assuming your an older gentleman because you have a wife who bought you a bass. Most young kids couldnt find an awesome woman like that if they tried, but i digress.
Do not lean forward, The bass must lean into you. If this causes you to have control problems with your hand, go to walmart and buy an 18 dollar wooden stool. You will have two to choose from, Most people on here would suggest the taller of the two, but i ended up using the shorter one. (Im a really big guy.)
If this doesnt work, troll the forums or use the search function and look for information of the Rabbath bent endpin. If you look in the jazz section there is a thread on rabbath that i think has information on it in the conversation.
Relieving the back pain is the first step to better playing health. Look at how you hold the bass in a mirror and adjust your posture. Then go do this for your electric bass.
Hands hurting. Not good!
Lets assume the bass is properly setup, or will be soon, as you recently posted.
This is caused by some different possible problems, starting with leaning into the bass. Segue-way time.
The body is an interconnected system. The power you generate from your fingertips doesnt come from your hands, it comes from your arms, shoulders, and hips and ultimately feet, as any martial artist, basketball, baseball, golfer, boxer, or any athlete can tell you. Generating power, control and what bassist's call "weight" comes from using the whole system together.
Tap your fingers on the desk, right now.
now roll them, 1234,1234,1234.
Now think about the muscles involved. Feel where they are located. Feel that near your elbow? Those are the muscles you play bass with. not the silly little meatless things in your digits!
When you press down the strings, if you use these muscles without putting some weight from the upper arm, the shoulder, and a good anchoring support of the back and hips, your gonna hurt yourself. You dont run into this problem on electric because the angle you hold it at, no the tension on the strings.
Try this: Take your left hand and grip the end of your desk, with the tips of your fingers and thumb. Grip it moderately hard. Now grip it really hard. Now grip it moderately and use the torque and weight of your arm to apply pressure to your pinky. Feel the difference? There is way more power in it.
On a side note, if what you did just hurt in any way, GO SEE A DOCTOR.
Now use the same technique to generate more (Lets call it grip) with the index finger by rotating the opposite way.
Now that we have generated some power let me make some suggestions about your fingers and hand posture.
When playing electric guitar or bass, a lot of people play with their thumb behind their first finger on the neck of the instrument. I used to do this until i got deep into upright playing. It changed the way i played everything and i got better almost overnight when i changed my grip.
Go back to the desk gripping exercise. Try it with your thumb under your first finger. Now your second. Feel the difference in stability and power? Again, you have more than all you need to play upright bass.
Lets talk about support. In the lower positions make sure you always, always, always support the middle and pinky/ring fingers with the ones behind them so that you have the maximum ammount of grip on a string. This will alleviate pain and fatigue and promotes great technique.
Finally, do not let the height or the power of the strings trick you into thinking you have to really press down harder than you have to. Get the string good and seated on the fingerboard, but dont squeeze it to death. This may or may not adjust with time, but just get it down.
Hopefully these ideas help you physically.
Mentally you have to take it one day at a time. You cant give up or use excuses. There is no esteem in bass playing, good or bad, just doing the work every day. If i can do this, you can do this! Its not hard.
If you have any questions contact me. I notice a lot of times the above concepts are overlooked when someone is having trouble with a bass on the internet.
Good luck and Just keep playing.
Thanks, so much, everyone for your support and input!
The bass has been repaired and Jeff did a wonderful job.
I am in the process of looking for a teacher. I put an ad on my local Craig's List and received 2 responses. One that seemed great but never got back to me after I contacted him (very odd as his initial communication was very positive) and another from a guy with whom I had a good phone conversation with only to have him finish up by saying he was going on tour and would be gone at least all of next month. I'll either try to work something out with him or start a thread on TB (which I did years ago and found a great guy but, ultimately was too far away).
Violen, wow, what a helpful post. I will definitely heed your advice! Thanks for taking the time to post! (And, yes, my wife is awesome!)
Once again, this community is priceless and I appreciate all of your concern and good wishes!!!
The bass has been repaired and Jeff did a wonderful job.
I am in the process of looking for a teacher. I put an ad on my local Craig's List and received 2 responses. One that seemed great but never got back to me after I contacted him (very odd as his initial communication was very positive) and another from a guy with whom I had a good phone conversation with only to have him finish up by saying he was going on tour and would be gone at least all of next month. I'll either try to work something out with him or start a thread on TB (which I did years ago and found a great guy but, ultimately was too far away).
Violen, wow, what a helpful post. I will definitely heed your advice! Thanks for taking the time to post! (And, yes, my wife is awesome!)
Once again, this community is priceless and I appreciate all of your concern and good wishes!!!
