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Double Bass studying with a cello teacher

P

Peter_00

May 8, 2003
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Sydney, Australia
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#1
I've taken up studying with a cello teacher after toughing it out on my own for the past year and a half. (Shes's the only person that is close to a bass teacher within about 200km) She is a brilliant cellist and I was wondering if anybody had any advice for me/us? At the moment I am working on the grand march for aida and amazing grace for my exam, and am getting very frustrated technically. I know how the music should sound, but its really difficult for me to feel like I have 'mastered' anything. Some days I can play well and others it's like everything is impossible. Any advice?
 
#3
It's definately normal to have days where you feel like you can't play; heck I've had months like that. I find the biggest key is continual inspiration; get out there and hear as much live music as possible, talk to other musicians, listen to records... whatever it takes. And as faras studying with a cello teacher goes, I wouldn't really reccomend it unless you had a solid background in tradition bass technique. I think bass players in general can learn a lot fro cellists, but without a solid foundation you're setting yourself up to learn some very bad habbits that will be difficult to break down the road, which is where they will start to limit you. I say this from personal experience, having played cello for some number of years before picking up the bass and also being somewhat self taught as far as bass technique goes. So anyway, I guess if that's your only option it's better than nothing, but do what you can to get with a good bass teacher soon. Even if it's just once a month or something, if you have to drive to the next city or whatever. Good luck...
 
#4
thanks for the advice. I'm going to try and find a bass teacher to go to for at least once a month. Are there any bad habits in particular you can think of? I have an ok understanding of hand-position and where the positions are on the neck (1/2,1st,3rd etc.) from play electric bass for a few years. Im 17 now and I feel that I've left to late to make a go of it.
 
#6
About the only difficulty I had from a cellist (double on bass) was that they don't swing their arm quite the way bass players do when bowing, and tend to work more from the elbow, yet still with the arm also. If you are a sit-down bass player you may not notice the diff. It's noticeable if you do stand up stuff. Not a real problem, though. Watch out - you might learn to use four fingers of the left hand. And thumb half way up the fingerboard. Ha?
 
#9
The four finger thing is definately a cool technique, if you happen to have the proper anatomy for it. I'm fortunate enough to be able to use my third finger all over the place, and it drives other bass players nuts... I've also had teachers who wanted to slap me for doing it out of habbit, because apparently there's something in the bible that says 'thou shalt not use thy third finger' or something...
 
#10
Ray Parker said:
17 is when I started. Joe Pass was 19 and Ray Drummond was in his late 20's if I recall right.
Click to expand...

Are you saying that these folks are your contemporaries ? I had the notion that you were around my age - mid/late 30's.


EDIT: and a look at the old " Grey Marker" Profile confirms my notion.
 

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