Double Bass Playing high on low strings

[AMUNC]

Hello,
I am working on the dragonetti concerto and having tone problems. My thumb position intonation is fine, but i start having tone problems as a get onto the D string in TP and they become more severe as i reach the A( lets not even talk about the E). I know about bowing closer to te bridge, but my sound still gets ugly and stuffy. Is this a gear issue, or can someone offer some advice to help me solve my problem?

 

[AClark]

Hello, could you please be specific on where exactly you are having trouble in the music (which section?). Perhaps you should just change the fingerings if that is possible.

 

[mcnaire2004]

Simple solution.

Everyday, the begining of practice, do open string exersizes near the bridge on all four strings. Lots of long tones with a metronome.

This isn't something that will fix in one day, but just keep practicing and everything will come around.

 

[MartinBorgen]

Although, due to physics, a thicker string played high (shorter lengt) will be more stiff and make a different sound, and the higher you go, will resist more.

 

[AMUNC]

It's really just the second section right after tge intro, that run from high B to low A( normally 1st pos. G string). Im just doing 2-1-T om all three strings, it just seemed logical

 

[AClark]

It's really just the second section right after tge intro, that run from high B to low A( normally 1st pos. G string). Im just doing 2-1-T om all three strings, it just seemed logical

Ah yes. I know what you are talking about. I had the same issue when I was first learning it. The way I fixed it was 1) practiced it slowly until it was completely user my fingers, 2) practiced it with a metronome. I had an issue where my bow arm wasn't taking control and my left hand would speed up and my right arm would slow down. Make sure you slow it down and get a good solid tone out of each at a very slow pace.

 

[Les Fret]

I know what you mean with that passage. It is hard to get all notes rhythmically even in that passage when played in one TP. Especially with the legato.
It is harder to get a good tone in TP on the E and A strings (and even the D string). Curious what some people have to say on this.

 

[weary gill]

If you haven't played in that particular area of the fingerboard until now, you may just need to "break in" those notes.

 

[AClark]

You might also want to adjust your string height. If it's too high, playing those notes on the lowers strings at such a fast pace would be a b****.

 

[eerbrev]

If you haven't played in that particular area of the fingerboard until now, you may just need to "break in" those notes.

this. I thought it was a weird idea until i did it. not sure what is exactly taking place, but it's almost as if you need to get your bass used to playing there.

 

[weary gill]

I always assumed it had something to do with the bass not being used to the particular vibrations of certain notes but that's just a guess.

 

[Les Fret]

this. I thought it was a weird idea until i did it. not sure what is exactly taking place, but it's almost as if you need to get your bass used to playing there.

Is that really so? is it not that yourself have to get used to that area instead of your bass?

 

[eerbrev]

Is that really so? is it not that yourself have to get used to that area instead of your bass?

that's also a likely case, learning to draw a good sound in that position. I feel like there's more than that. I suppose that's arbitrary, but it seems other people have had a similar experience, so maybe there is something to it.

eerbrev

 

[Les Fret]

Can it also have something to do with wolf tones? they are often seated around the A harmonic on most basses. That can make the the A in TP harder to speak.