Double Bass Rotating the bass

[Rob Sleeper]

Hi everyone,

When I sit in the orchestra, I try to keep the bass in the same position as if I was standing when playing. However, this involves rotating the bass a little in order to play on the e string. I personally don't mind have to rotate the bass to play on the e string or hopefully on the b string- (future 5 string player). How does everyone else play? I'd like to see what everyone else thinks. I have watched the Berlin Phil bass section extensively and they seem to play the same way. This is actually how my playing technique is based from.

Thanks so much.
Rob

 

[Cory Palmer]

Sometimes I'll rotate the bass if I need to play fff on the E string but for the most part the bass is stationary when I go down there.

The contact points for the bass and my body are my left knee, right thigh, and lower right abdomin. The bass is completely in front of me like this.

I used to hold the bass with the back resting completely on my left thigh which required a lot of rotating to play on the E string.

 

[Rob Sleeper]

Thanks Cory, Anybody else? This subject is really interesting to me.

 

[lloccmttocs]

I've been trying alot of new stances lately. One of which is strange but works well for me, is to cradle the bass inbetween your knees. You have to lock your right knee into somewhere on your bass where ever fits best. It makes it more of a cello position where you're really behind the bass.

 

[velvetkevorkian]

I use that seating position, either with both feet on the floor or (preferably) both feet on the rungs of the stool. I find it much easier on the back than the traditional one foot up method, and I don't have to rotate the bass at all.

 

[jdapodaca]

I try and sit with both feet on a rung or footstool thingy when they are available at the venue. In our city orchestra, we have those nice conductor type stools and those allow you to put both feet on the footrest. Also I try to buy stools that have round rungs instead of the normal square type stools. It's almost impossible to get both feet off the ground with the square stools.

The bass touches my body on my left inner-knee, my right inner thigh, and on the right-ish torso sort of on my belly.

I don't have to move the bass around to play on any string, cause the bass is about 98% in front of me. If I need to play FFF on the A or E string, I move the bass a little forward with my left knee.

I don't like the idea of moving the bass around to get to a certain string. This could get to be a problem with intonation. Also, if you're moving the bass around, I would bet that you don't move it to the same place every time you need to get to the E string, which is not good for your right hand.

I would recommend trying to find a position that you can comfortably sit in for long periods of time (a 3 hour rehearsal). Moving the bass around during rehearsals for something with lots of E string work will end up getting you pretty worn out very quickly and you may end up doing some harm to your body.