Double Bass right hand nails on upright

[DJ Bebop]

Check
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This!

 

[DJ Bebop]

"Sometimes, you eat the barr, sometimes, well, he eats you.." - the Stranger.
It might be a moment to commit to one or the other. Ask yourself how get the guitar to work for you with your nails optimized for double bass - if you can't imagine that, then you may have your answer. Both the classical guitar and the double bass are instruments that best when you focus on only that instrument.

Is it just about getting called? People need double bass players, normally there is not enough. If it isn't something deeper beyond the calls, I'd consider putting more of yourself into the guitar.

 

[damonsmith]

If people don't want the advice of a professional double bassist, they can not ask on here. More often than not people are not asking the right question.
I have met very fewer bassists who practice enough to double on bass guitar, much less a whole other instrument. Being unwilling to cut your nails is a symptom of lack of commitment to the instrument, as does basing the situation on the "calls" you are getting. It is not an instrument that brings much joy with a serious commitment.

There is a going to be a limit to the pizzicato tempos you can play without making that full commitment - no "work round" is going to get you there. The choices are: commit to the double bass, commit to the guitar or accept the limitations of the situation as is.

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[DJ Bebop]

 

[Rich D]

I am doing what I can and accepting the situation. I will continue to be happy and play both. Thanks.

 

[damonsmith]

Should read "without a serious commitment"

If people don't want the advice of a professional double bassist, they can not ask on here. More often than not people are not asking the right question.
I have met very fewer bassists who practice enough to double on bass guitar, much less a whole other instrument. Being unwilling to cut your nails is a symptom of lack of commitment to the instrument, as does basing the situation on the "calls" you are getting. It is not an instrument that brings much joy with a serious commitment.

There is a going to be a limit to the pizzicato tempos you can play without making that full commitment - no "work round" is going to get you there. The choices are: commit to the double bass, commit to the guitar or accept the limitations of the situation as is.

 

[james condino]

I wrote a very large, very detailed response about my half century as a gigging multi instrumentalist and tone and committment and technique and snobbery. Then I chopped and deleted and edited and reformatted it all up for 20 minutes until I was left with just this:

Remind me who said I can only have one and how much are they offering for the gig this week???

 

[turf3]

Rather than seeing long fingernails on the right hand as a failure to commit to DB, perhaps it should be thought of as an existing constraint. As a rough analogy, I'm missing most of the first joint of my RH index finger. As a result, I've had to modify my RH technique a bit from the standard methods used by people whose RH index finger is of normal length. My damaged finger is a pre-existing constraint.

 

[klyph]

I used fabric tape quite a bit when I was young and nursing the kind of blisters you get trying to be heard in a big band on an Engle with Red Label strings. Is there any chance you could wrap your fingertips tight enough to press your tip past the end of the nail? Maybe in combination with cutting the nails back a little? Just a thought…

 

[damonsmith]

I wrote a very large, very detailed response about my half century as a gigging multi instrumentalist and tone and committment and technique and snobbery. Then I chopped and deleted and edited and reformatted it all up for 20 minutes until I was left with just this:

Remind me who said I can only have one and how much are they offering for the gig this week???

Some people can do it just fine, even fewer can do it well. There is a reason for that. The drive and commitment really has to be there, which is why it is the most important question.
I am not in any way saying it cannot be done. I know it is a very common thing in your world. Probably my biggest project right now is a quartet with Roscoe Mitchell, multi-instrumentalism is central to his concept.

 

[turf3]

Well, I play saxophone and double bass. On neither do I approach the highest professional level. Every hour I spend practicing DB is an hour I'm not practicing sax and vice versa. Even worse, I play all the major sax voices so when I'm practicing baritone the soprano isn't getting attention.

I have accepted that this is the way my musical life is going to be. I envy those who can say "hey, I play only this instrument, that's all there is, there isn't any more" - but that's not where life's taken me. There are pluses and minuses.

I don't believe OP wrote that he wants to pursue both DB and classical guitar at the highest professional levels, for which you're right, almost anyone needs to make a commitment.