I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for right hand technique while playing pizz on the E string? I've been trying to practice it lately because I never felt like I had a proper technique down. Now I'm discovering that I can't play anywhere near as well on that string. Other than just practising, does anyone have any advice for what to work on with this? I'm practising with two fingers by the way. Trying to play even unswung quavers.
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Double Bass Right hand technique on E string
- Thread starter Kitschead
- Start date
For me my thumb is kind of on the edge of the fingerboard, but still underneath that bottom corner of it. It's a different feel than the other strings but I would say don't overthink it, see how you naturally want to play that string, and adjust til you get the best sound, comfort, and ease of playing there.
Good discussion. Besides all the good things said in the previous E string topic I would like to add:
The E string is the hardest string to handle because:
-there is no string to fall on with your fingers. Falling on the fingerboard (like you do with the other strings) is harder because there is very little room to fall on.
-On most string sets the E string has less tension and is therefore harder to control rhythmically.
-On many basses the E string sounds weaker by nature
The E string is the hardest string to handle because:
-there is no string to fall on with your fingers. Falling on the fingerboard (like you do with the other strings) is harder because there is very little room to fall on.
-On most string sets the E string has less tension and is therefore harder to control rhythmically.
-On many basses the E string sounds weaker by nature
Thanks for the responses guys. I'll check out that other thread. (Apologies, I should've put in a search before I made a new thread.)
I guess I just find that I have a lot less control over that string than the others. Reasons being the ones listed above, that there is no other string behind it for my finger to land on. I also find the thicker diameter makes it more difficult.
I've been playing the instrument for about 4 years now and I just finished my first year in a jazz performance degree at a conservatorium in Australia. The reason I've just recently twigged on this problem is I've started playing in an originals band with a few other mates. The tunes are mainly riff based jams in a reggae, rock, misc style. Pretty much any and every style that isn't swung. The drummer brought in a chart which has a strong bass line involving lots of straight 8th notes on the E string. It's a really cool tune but when we were jamming on it I never felt I got it to sit nicely in the pocket. The reason for this was because of my lack of control over the lower register of the instrument. It was just a combination of me being unable to properly lay down the time as well as an inability to produce a consistent and strong sound from that string. The rest of the band were sounding pretty killer on their parts so I left the rehearsal with the knowledge that this was really something which I needed to work on.
Any help is appreciated!
I guess I just find that I have a lot less control over that string than the others. Reasons being the ones listed above, that there is no other string behind it for my finger to land on. I also find the thicker diameter makes it more difficult.
I've been playing the instrument for about 4 years now and I just finished my first year in a jazz performance degree at a conservatorium in Australia. The reason I've just recently twigged on this problem is I've started playing in an originals band with a few other mates. The tunes are mainly riff based jams in a reggae, rock, misc style. Pretty much any and every style that isn't swung. The drummer brought in a chart which has a strong bass line involving lots of straight 8th notes on the E string. It's a really cool tune but when we were jamming on it I never felt I got it to sit nicely in the pocket. The reason for this was because of my lack of control over the lower register of the instrument. It was just a combination of me being unable to properly lay down the time as well as an inability to produce a consistent and strong sound from that string. The rest of the band were sounding pretty killer on their parts so I left the rehearsal with the knowledge that this was really something which I needed to work on.
Any help is appreciated!
I should actually add that I'm practising this stuff with two alternating fingers. I've never been one to use more than one finger very often in the past. For swing stuff (excluding supersonic tempi) I've always found one finger to be more effective in producing a nice even tone and volume for each crotchet. The stuff I'm wanting to practice is an entirely different style though and an two finger technique seems to be the best approach. Not in the style of electric bass but with fingers more vertical (as most two finger players generally play.)
My second finger does really need some work in terms of building strength and callouses.
My second finger does really need some work in terms of building strength and callouses.
Probably I understood your problem.
Well the first thing that you have to improve, is the independence on the left hand and the crossing (fingering on different strings) on the right hand.
You can try with these starting (but not easy) important exercise:
on your left hands you have to play, starting from the first fret (just the first four frets for each string)on the E string this sequence:
Note
F-F#-G-G# then A#-B-C-C# then D#-E-F-F# than G#-A-A#-B
Left Hand
1-2 -3-4 so 1 -2 - 3-4 etc .....
after you play the combination on G string switch back on the D A and E with this combination on the LH 1243. Here the same; after you finish to play the last combination on the E string switch to the A-D-G playing the next one: 1324 etc etc.
So the summary for the full exercise is:
The 1st combination move down starting from E string to the D and playing the first 4 frets for each string.
The 2nd combination move up starting from the G to the A string.
Exercise 1
1234 - 1243
1324 - 1342
1423 - 1432
Exercise 2
2134 - 2143
2314 - 2341
2413 - 2431
Exercise 3
3124 - 3142
3214 - 3241
3412 - 3421
Exercise 4
4123 - 4132
4213 - 4231
4312 - 4321
When you work with this on the LH on the RH you have to play one note with the first finger and the next with the 2nd.
It's pretty important that you always alternate the fingering and give to the all notes the same dynamic. It will make your crossing more accurate with less "strength use".
This exercise is more electric bass but it's fit good also on the double bass. I hope you'll find this helpful. If you need more just let me know.
Cheers. Enrico
YouTube
WebSite
Well the first thing that you have to improve, is the independence on the left hand and the crossing (fingering on different strings) on the right hand.
You can try with these starting (but not easy) important exercise:
on your left hands you have to play, starting from the first fret (just the first four frets for each string)on the E string this sequence:
Note
F-F#-G-G# then A#-B-C-C# then D#-E-F-F# than G#-A-A#-B
Left Hand
1-2 -3-4 so 1 -2 - 3-4 etc .....
after you play the combination on G string switch back on the D A and E with this combination on the LH 1243. Here the same; after you finish to play the last combination on the E string switch to the A-D-G playing the next one: 1324 etc etc.
So the summary for the full exercise is:
The 1st combination move down starting from E string to the D and playing the first 4 frets for each string.
The 2nd combination move up starting from the G to the A string.
Exercise 1
1234 - 1243
1324 - 1342
1423 - 1432
Exercise 2
2134 - 2143
2314 - 2341
2413 - 2431
Exercise 3
3124 - 3142
3214 - 3241
3412 - 3421
Exercise 4
4123 - 4132
4213 - 4231
4312 - 4321
When you work with this on the LH on the RH you have to play one note with the first finger and the next with the 2nd.
It's pretty important that you always alternate the fingering and give to the all notes the same dynamic. It will make your crossing more accurate with less "strength use".
This exercise is more electric bass but it's fit good also on the double bass. I hope you'll find this helpful. If you need more just let me know.
Cheers. Enrico
YouTube
WebSite
That is a nice exercise but is not specifically addressing the TS' problem with the E string.
Also if you want to practice independence of left and right why do you always use sets of 4 notes on each string? That is easier for the right hand. You might want to use sets of 3 notes (or mixed sets) for the left hand for example. Or just scales. That is more difficult for the right hand.
Also if you want to practice independence of left and right why do you always use sets of 4 notes on each string? That is easier for the right hand. You might want to use sets of 3 notes (or mixed sets) for the left hand for example. Or just scales. That is more difficult for the right hand.
