Double Bass Intonation help

[damonsmith]

I'm not a bassplayer but a fretless guitar apprentice and I have to admit that I'm lurking around here regularily for all topics about intonation. Time to give a little 2cents back...

I found that singing the note in my head clearly just before I finger it makes the difference between so so intonation and almost spot on.

Thats how I often practice scales: my PC plays me the scale and I play in unison with it. After each note I leave a little silence and aurally visualize the next note, then I play it. Works wonders. As Soon as I stop doing it I have to rely on "muscle memory" and the intonation is hurt badly. Needless to say that I don't have the concentration required for keeping it up it at all times....

I think that the inner ear can guide the finger to the right spot even before the note is physically sounded. This is the connection between mind and fingerboard.

Any one answer to the question at hand is wrong, all the answers together adjusted for for individual strengths and weaknesses is right.

 

[jsbarber]

+1
I begin my practice routine by singing scales/modes along with playing them on my bass guitar, for about 5 minutes. It helps dial in my ear, and creates more familiarity with the scales/modes. Then I put away the bass guitar and tune up my DB.

It really helps me to tune up my voice first before I even tune up my instrument. Once I'm in tune I can hear much more clearly when I playing out of tune of the bass.

 

[Bassist4Life]

I didn't read all of the previous posts, but I saw a lot of great ideas.

One thing that helped me was to play along with a midi file I created of the melody. You can change the tempo so easily. If you have the right gear, you can record yourself playing along with the midi file. Then you can hear where you're off and isolate those intervals for further practice.

Another thing is to be able to sing it. I honestly don't like to sing, but I know that it does help.

Joe

 

[damonsmith]

Singing not only helps intonation, it helps phrasing and general musicality. Even just trying to sing it.
On the other hand if I could sing everything I play or want to play on the double bass I wouldn't carry this thing around, I'd just sing.