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Double Bass Required Listening

C

clokwise

Sep 7, 2012
76
1
#1
Hi!

I have been a bass player for a while. I've recently picked up an Ergo electric upright, to try my hand at upright. So far I like it. I realize its not a true upright, but I picked it up used for a couple hundred bucks, so figured that was a good starter way to find out if I liked it or not instead of dropping $1,000 and realizing I hated it.

I digress. I work at a place where I can listen to music all day while I work. What is some good required listening for upright? I am open to any styles. I live in Nashville and would love to become proficient enough to sit in with some local talent. While there is a lot of country and bluegrass around this town, I'd still love to have a well rounded ear and skill set.

Thanks ahead of time!
 
#2
Certainly, you're free to do what you want. But even though the Ergo is touted as being "bowable" (since it has a fingerboard curvature) , the bridge doesn't look as if it has an analogous presentation to an actual double bass bridge. So pizz on one of these things is going be a lot different than on a double bass.

I'm not sure anyone's required to listen to anything, my suggestions are going to be guided by what I like to listen to and what I'm aware of; I'm pretty sure I'm not aware of everything out there, especially if it's music I don't play a lot. Bass players I like and listen a lot to are:

Sonny Dallas, Paul Chambers, Ron Carter, Charlie Haden, Neal Miner, Sam Jones, Red Mitchell, Scott LaFaro, Steve LaSpina, Don Thompson, Doug Watkins
 
#3
Well I guess i should have mentioned, I do not plan on using a bow.

Sorry, I sound like I may have borderline offended you there, but wasn't my intention. I am simply new to the upright game and trying to find some solid suggestions for listening.
 
#6
No offense taken but, if as you said "...to try my hand at upright." and "...figured that was a good starter way to find out if I liked it or not...", you should know that anything that doesn't approximate that relationship (bridge and overstand) is going to feel different than an actual bass. So if you're expecting a double bass to feel like that bass when you play it, you will be surprised, and not in a good way.
 
#7
With youtube and other online sources, it has never been easier to browse through new-to-us recordings. Just type in a query, and start clicking and browsing. When you get to something you like, and want to listen to it repeatedly, please put some money into the system and buy a CD, LP (on a comeback), or digital download. Support the music you like.

Also there is a difference in quality between passive "listen while your work" listening, and active "my full mental focus is on what I'm hearing" listening. The former is good to browse an check out new things, but the latter is needed to learn new things. If you want to become "proficient enough to sit in with some local talent", you'll need to learn.

Good luck. Go browse and search on youtube, deezer, rhapsody or whatever other service is running nowadays.
 
#8
I agree with that. I am a long time musician so I understand the process, just new to this particular instrument. Just looking for something to be playing to get my ear more familiar. I'd just prefer to do that than listen to a random online station of an artist I've listened to a million times or modern pop of some kind. Which is usually what happens.
 
#9
Names that haven't been mentioned yet.

Arni Egilsson
Gary Karr
Ray Brown
Michael Moore
Lee Rocker (I prefer the older Stray Cats material)
Drew Gress
Willie Dixon
Wellman Braud
Pops Foster
Jimmy Blanton
Oscar Pettiford
Bob Haggart

That there is a crazy list of names. Still jazz heavy but wth.
 

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