Double Bass open string legato

[barend]

when I play an open string in a sequence of notes with legato bowing the open string does not sound not right, it sounds a bit harsh. If you play for example this passage on the g string:
BG, CG, DG, CG (in the 4th position with the G being an open string, using legato bowing).

I think this is because when you lift off your finger and then play the string the string is not pushed down anymore and therefore 'jumps' to the hairs of the bow.

I hope you understand this, it is hard to describe.

Anyone familiar with this phenomenom or has some tips to prevent this?

 

[Square Bear]

i think i get what you're saying... you should talk to your teacher about this, but in general i would say that any note you play on the bass must be properly prepared by the bow hand before the moment of execution (this goes for separate or legato). an open string requires a different kind of preparation than a stopped note... i think it's just an issue of finesse with the bow.

also, consider bow placement. i know that when i'm not getting the sound i want, changing how close or far from the bridge i am playing often fixes it.

when you experience problems like this, ask yourself if you're using the right bow placement for the sound you want in the range of the instrument that you're playing in. also play in front of a mirror and make sure your bow is staying straight, (the tip not pointing up or down) or sliding vertically on the string.

hard to address these things without being in the room with you and your bass, but maybe this helps.

 

[Eli_Upright12]

Try to play with slow bow speed on the open string and faster (not necessarily fast) bow speed on the fingered notes. That will help, but the other thing is that open strings will always sound different than closed notes.

 

[barend]

I am not talking about that. I mean fast 16th note equal lenght passages with legato bowing which involve open strings and fretted notes. Like for example the passage in my first post.

 

[CT DB]

Maybe the frets are getting in the way?

 

[barend]

frets on an upright bass?