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Double Bass New technique

#21
I play in a dance band. We do some 2-step selections as well as the broad base of ballroom dancing repertoire. (Where I live, it is a necessity) The arrangement of one of the 2-steppers is in Eb instead of D or E to make it easier on the horns. With the 1 - m3-M3 - 5 - 6-5 bassline, I'll be damned if I'm going to play that in Eb. So out comes my ancient Hamilton clamp capo, chomp down the 1st fret, and go in open D.

Is there anything like a capo for a double bass?
 
#24
Actually, Gaston Brohan Principal Double Bassist of the Detroit Symphony for 30 + years used a removable false nut in half position for some solo pieces. On a bass with an Eb neck and 42 inch string measure, it would make it a D neck with approximately a 39.75 string length in Orchestral tuning. I do this tuned down a half step and my bass plays much easier for what I do than at a 42 incher. The capo posted would require a thin material underneath the strings to protect the fingerboard.
 
#25
ChuckCorbisiero said:
Actually, Gaston Brohan Principal Double Bassist of the Detroit Symphony for 30 + years used a removable false nut in half position for some solo pieces. On a bass with an Eb neck and 42 inch string measure, it would make it a D neck with approximately a 39.75 string length in Orchestral tuning. I do this tuned down a half step and my bass plays much easier for what I do than at a 42 incher. The capo posted would require a thin material underneath the strings to protect the fingerboard.
Click to expand...

Now that's something I'm going to look into. Any ideas as to what kind of backing tape would be soft on the fingerboard, thin, yet durable?
 
#26
iiipopes said:
Now that's something I'm going to look into. Any ideas as to what kind of backing tape would be soft on the fingerboard, thin, yet durable?
Click to expand...
I use a thin cut piece of hard plastic. I leave it on all the time in half position which is equivalent to 1st on electric. My E is not capoed but tuned to Eb. I retune to A D G in half. I think it's too difficult to move a capo on the fly like is done on guitars because of the tuning of a fretless instrument like the double bass. That is the reason I haven't explored other positions for the capo. Esentiallly the way it is now, it's a 39.75 double bass with a Eb extension, Eb A D G. I'm using starks and the bass can hang just fine without an amp. It's got alot of grab and I like it that way. I personally don't like a growly tone. It's loud and punchy.
 
#27
Hmm. Let's see. 5/8 scale is @ 102cm or 40.16 inches. That, multiplied by 2^(1/12) equals @ 108cm or @ 42.5 inches, or 7/8 scale. Now that's an idea as well, especially if playing with horns, to get the low Eb.
 
#28
My bass uncapoed is tuned Eb Ab Db Gb at around a 42 inch string length. My after bridge strings ring at those pitches exactly not in 3rds or 4ths or 5ths. Yeah in flat keys it really resonates. I like having the low Eb flat. I tune my guitar in Eb (ala Jimi and Stevie) and for solo use Van Eps 7 string baritone tuning G D G C F A D. I also use a tuning Tal Farlow used for solo 6 string guitar D DROPPED-G-8va C F A D. He said he got it from Eddie Lang or George Barnes. Tal originally used a capo in 1st position tuned to concert on some early recordings. Barnes tuned F Bb Eb Ab C F.



EDIT- Mr. Brohan, likely tuned his bass up a half step from orchestral tuning BEFORE FITTING THE REMOVABLE NUT FOR SOLO PIECES. This achieved 3 things. Firstly, now in OPEN position the tuning is F# B E A with the removable false nut in place IN HALF POSITION. Second. The note at the heel becomes an E if it started as a Eb neck. Thirdly, it is likely that he didn't have to change strings since he was raising it only a half step in tension.
 
#29
I tried tuning my bass half a step lower last week and sounded n played well but just out of habit I guess I tuned it back to normal. I still play piano in Db Eb and Ab from learning to play along with lps on a cheap record player that played slightly slow lol Still can't play piano in major keys lol
 
#32
horstenj said:
For other reasons I'm considering to buy an Eventide Pitchfactor for my EUB. Recently, I realised I also could use it as well as an "electronic capo" to shift the pitch up and down....
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I got my Pitchfactor today. The "electronic capo" function works brilliantly. Without apparent loss of sound quality I can now easily "re-tune" by shifting a few notes. Purists will despise this of course. But I like it! And could also make the need for a 5-string bass less ;).
 

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