Double Bass Strategies for a working with a new bass

[basscleff94010]

I am an amateur who just started to relearn the bass after a (too) long hiatus. I am mostly interested in orchestral playing. And I have discovered great workshops in Europe that are oriented to orchestral playing for amateurs like me.

So here is my challenge: I end up playing on basses that I rent or which are provided by friends. And they are always different from my own bass. Often the differences are very significant, such as, much short string length. (Why am I playing "too sharp" all the time?) Why is this low A buzzing on the E string? Or, worst of all, why does this D sound like E flat? You get the picture.

I am sure other more experienced musicians have this problem. Is there a strategy or process of working through the issues that may arise from an unfamiliar bass? Trial and error is too painful. (Or do all good musicians travel with their instruments?)

 

[jaff]

I'm kind of in the same boat....started bass later in life. Love to go to workshops, etc. and have found that bringing my own instrument is best for me. Thus, I got a bargain on a Steinberger WAV4 bass and it is perfect for the times I have to be away from home playing bass. See what Golihur.com has to offer.

 

[dsamudio]

If I could not bring my bass and had to get acquainted with a new bass. I would schedule a few hour to practice with the bass and would do the following:

1. Use a Peterson strobe tuner app on my phone or bring a good chromatic tuner.

2. After carefully tuning the bass, I would work on a D maj. scale.
Start with my hands down, Touch the nut, close my eyes, Slide my hand into first position, play open D, then play E, open my eyes and check my pitch against the tuner. If it is out of tune, Repeat Step 2.

3.If it is in tune, Close my eyes, play F#, open my eyes and check it against the tuner. If it is in tune continue the same process for the scale for 2 octaves. If it is out of tune star the process over at Step 2.

4. I would then move to Eb major and Ab starting on the E string. I fine that once I am constantly hitting the Ab after touching the nut, I'm in pretty good shape in 1st and Half position.

I do not rush this process, because I want my ears and muscles to get use to the new spacing, sound and feel of the bass.

When I have not played for awhile I start with these exercises and I may do this exercise for 2 - 3 hours. What you do will be different from what I do ( Because we are different people with different practice needs).

I hope that this helps.

Dimitrius

 

[basscleff94010]

Dimitrius, this is exactly what I am looking for and it makes perfect sense.
I should have added a little more detail on one problem: the "D sounds like E flat". The "D" is the one I find exactly at the crook of the neck on the G string on my bass. I was surprised how much I rely on finding that the D (and E) based that neck position. (And A and B on D, etc.) This one really threw me off for the whole workshop.