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Double Bass Need Help Convincing!

#21
VitaminC said:
I live Nashville, Tennessee... yea probably one of the best places for music.
Click to expand...

You live in Nashville? Great! I do too! Anyway, check out the W.O. Smith Music School: http://www.wosmith.org/ They give absolutely free lessons and instruments to loan for people ages 9-18. It's a beautiful new building with large practice rooms, a performance hall and various other areas like a music library and instrument room. I was just in the instrument room last week (the Nashville Philharmonic practices there) and saw 2 double basses sitting there lonely. That might be the way to start... and a cheap way to start too!

I forgot to mention that they have somewhere around 400 students.

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#23
* why learn upright?

The main reason has to be love of the instrument. But there are some practical or commercial motivations as well. Virtually every band needs a bassist. Upright players are in better demand than electric players, relative to the number of people who actually play each instrument. It's still competitive, but you don't see upright bassists climbing over one another to play in multi-band shows for free.

* how does it very from bass guitar?

Aside from the obvious difference in technique and tone, upright tends to be taught from more of a "classical" than a "folk" approach. This means that on upright, you have a decent chance of learning sight-reading and a smattering of theory, which are valuable on either instrument.

* Will it help me along the ways of playing guitar?

Due to the "classical" training, the answer is yes. In fact, the background you gain -- especially in reading -- will give you an advantage in situations where most electric bassists can't compete, such as freelance and studio work. The exposure to classical and jazz will expand the range of musical ideas that you can draw from in any genre.

* is it still in use like easy to find a band.

In use, and probably gaining ground. When I was younger, I formed the impression that many jazz groups were equally happy with electric or upright bass. Today, the preference for upright is very strong. Also, I think that traditional styles have had somewhat of an upswing in the jazz scene, plus a number of great upright players are demonstrating the technical ability to challenge the electric bass in contemporary styles such as fusion. It's an exciting time to play this instrument.

I never went to music school, and am at best a part-timer today. Still, my extensive classical lessons and jazz experience allow me to hang with real working bands. I am still going out and playing when lots of guys with careers and families had to hang it up, in no small part due to the onerous rehearsal and travel obligations of rock bands. Of course I am biased by my love of this instrument, but it is more of a lifelong affair for me than the electric bass was.

There's also something about a purely acoustic instrument with such a diverse repertoire, when it comes to just picking it up at home and just playing for myself. Now I am even enjoying the supreme pleasure of passing my love of music on to my kids, ages 6 and 8, who have both begun string lessons.
 
#24
i could write an essay persuading you to join. but the bottom line is:

if you have the spark, try it out. you never know.

i started when i was a senior in high school after 10 years of piano and 8 years of violin. i haven't looked back at those instruments and now am playing in New York.

looking forward to posts on your adventures

cheers
Kevin
 
#26
VitaminC said:
Alright here's the deal, I am 16 and I have a secret love for Uprights :ninja:. I want to learn how to play one really bad. I love jazz and classical music too. I predict that I may have a small maybe unnoticeable head start from playing a fretless (lined) bass all the time. The deal is my parents are on the fence with the idea of me getting one.

They want to know:
* why learn upright?
* how does it very from bass guitar? (this is form them not me)
* Will it help me along the ways of playing guitar?
* is it still in use like easy to find a band. <- again for them
etc...

Also, do you guys have any other points that you can think of?

As far as aquiring one, I am thinking about renting one (rent-to-own deal) from a Music & Arts store. They "guaranteed student level instruments and are rated on an orchestra level." I assume they mean a student orchestra.


Thanks in advance.
VC
Click to expand...


Upright is more original, if that matters...
Its a bowed instrument, not plucked
Sound is really really different
More challenge
You cant really play classical on electric
You can join string orchestras with it
It will help with guitars as learning more instruments help develope music sense
Not only that, some techniques developed on one instrument can work on other instruments
For jazz band, if your school has it, then yeah
For rock band, not really...
For orchestras, yes it does, trust me on this
That's all i can think of right now
Other questions, PM me
I play cello, double bass, and electric bass
Oh n btw, my parents don't get why i need a guitar
When i have an electric guitar :crying:
 
#27
Double bass is a wonderful instrument. In my case, when I switched from 'cello and EB, at 16, I had no parental financial support for my interest.

So what does one do? I worked, saved, and rented, then bought a bass myself. Of course, my instruments were very modest, but they did get me playing.

So, here's a small, quiet vote for putting one's money where one's mouth is; the idea of earning/saving your cash and doing with it as you see fit.

All the previous posts re: renting first to check it out are good, sensible advice. My first available bass was a beater from my high school; when I outgrew that is when I started spending money...
 
#30
Let me try to convince you not to play upright. Its difficult, its a bitch to haul around, once a drummer shows up you've got a problem, it requires a practice commitment along the lines of a classical guitarist, its expensive, so are strings, alot of tunes sound better on slab. Did I mention its a bitch to haul around? Mind you I am typing this on a break from practicing my upright.
 
#31
I have played Trombone Piano a little bit of guitar and now double bass. Learning the Double bass ( something I will never complete) has been the most significant and rewarding of my musical experiences. While the bass guitar has many plus points the DB is a much more versatile instrument. It so much more organic. The range of music available to Dbassists is huge. I feel privileged to have been part of so many different ensembles. Yes it has many drawbacks but the pays off are immense. What other instrument gets to control and dictate the performance in so many subtle ways.
Nowadays musicians have to do it all so you should learn to read. Learning the Double Bass will help your bass guitar but learning the bass guitar won't have the same benefit for your Double Bass playing. Try the instrument. See if you like it. and good luck.;)
 
#34
I have played electric bass for over 30 years now - yikes!!! Where has the time gone???

Anyhow, I always loved the sound of upright bass, and whenever I saw one being played I would think "oooh, that looks so cool!". Anyhow, when I was in my teens I was playing a gig at a school theatre near to where I lived. The changing room was in the school's music class.

The room had an old upright bass in the corner. Really poor condition - the fingerboard actually had a countersunk screw holding it in place! However, it was the first time I had an opportunity to play one of these instruments. The sound was so much deeper than anything on the electric, plus the vibration through the whole instrument was incredible. Also, there was a bow beside the bass. I tried using the bow, and was shocked at how the whole instrument resonated when it was used with the bow. Needless to say, I was sold on getting one!

I never actually took the plunge to buy one until around 15 years later! Sure, it is a pain lugging it around, but I have to say that whenever I have brought one to a gig, the audience always pays attention. I guess that it is such a visually imposing instrument, that people seem to appreciate that the instrument is being used. I then got a Yamaha SLB100 Silent Bass (which I later sold to Corinne Bailey Rae's bassis Oroh Angiama). I had to sell my upright as well following a split from my ex.

I am currently without an upright, but am saving for a new one as we speak. The cost of decent uprights really hammer home how affordable electric basses are in comparison huh?

If you decide to go ahead with the upright you'll find it a completely different beast to the electric. After playing teh upright and then going back to the electric, you'll e thinking "where has the bottom end gone?". I hope you make the decision you feel is best for whatever path your taste in music requires - happy hunting!
 
#35
*update*

I am 100% for sure I will go through with learning.

Parents won't help because they don't deem my musical abilities to be active ( I am bandless :crying:) so they won't help me out on the Upright deal. So this means I will need to buy one myself... which I had a feeling would end up happening. So I probably won't be getting one till June but thats cool I guess it means I'll enjoy it more:). I haven't given up though because I'll see if my BG teacher might have some influence on my parents. Anyways thanks so much I will save this thread and hope for the best to come :hyper:.

VC
 

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