Double Bass Switching from Electric to Upright

[92FIGMO10]

Hey there. I've been playing electric bass for a little over three years now and am finally getting a chance to pick up the upright.

I played only fretted at first but about five or six months ago I began playing fretless and I've been loving it. I've been playing in big band style jazz bands for the past couple of years the urge to play upright is impossible to resist anymore.

So, my real question is how hard is the switch? Really? I've held an upright a couple of times and it seemed quite intimidating but I've heard varying accounts of what it's like.

Any thoughts or opinions are welcome so help me out. Thanks.

 

[Anonymatt]

It's easy, do it.

 

[fdeck]

Check the stickies, and get a teacher. Upright bass is a lot more physical than electric, and there are right ways to play it that reduce the risk of injury. On the other hand, with good training, it can be quite rewarding to play.

 

[Andrew McGregor]

+1 for the teacher... the physical approach is very different, and if you try to apply the usual EB approach you WILL hurt yourself. That said, your general musical knowledge transfers, the notes are in the same relationship across the strings, so there's a lot you already know. It's a great instrument, go for it.

Also, be aware that the story with instruments and gear is very different: brands and models of instrument mean much less in the upright bass world.

And finally, learn to use the bow. It's important.

 

[92FIGMO10]

Thanks all. I'm a music major so I've got a teacher at the school. I'll just be borrowing the bass from the school and taking lessons with him. I'm looking forward to it. I know my jazz band director will be thrilled even if I suck, haha.

 

[Stick_Player]

Piece o' cake! Even easier than ukulele.

 

[plangentmusic]

I found it pretty easy but I play the upright with electric technique for the post part. (Though I use the ring finger assisted pinky for 5ths). I shift like an electric player and never use thumb position. Then again, either does Charlie Haden.

And you don't want to hear me bow! Still, I've complimeted on my touch, my sound and my swing. And when it comes to upright, thats what I care about.

So if you want to be as legit as possible, take lessons. But if you just want to play, then play. The more you do, the better you'll get.

 

[Andrew McGregor]

Let me say it again: the advice about lessons is to avoid injury. Better technique also gets you more options musically, but the real focus is your health; hand injuries suck and might prevent you playing anything, so you really do not want to go there. It only takes a few lessons, maybe a couple or three months worth, so there really is no reason not to. The previous poster has been extremely lucky, and is giving very poor advice.

That said, absolutely the more you play, the better you get.

 

[Herbie 80's]

I agree. The consensus is always the same - get a teacher who teaches DOUBLE BASS. Not an electric teacher that delves into double bass, get one that is primarily double bass and focuses on it a lot.

Also, be prepared to not use your ring finger until thumb position. The sticky notes have great tips for newbies.

It can be intimidating at first, and get ready for an ear challenge. 40 - 42" of fingerboard is a lot of space to be flat or sharp very easily.

 

[92FIGMO10]

Thanks a lot for all the advice, especially about avoiding injury. The instrument I have access to is not set up as good as it could be so emphasis on the correct technique will be very important so I don't hurt myself.

I've looked through the forums on this side of TB and I've definately got a lot of reading to do, haha.

 

[MIKMAN]

Just my $0.01.
Almost ten years ago, after many years of playing fretless bass guitar (and many other instruments) i decided to try the double bass.For the moment i believed that my background in violin and fretless bass guitar would make my venture in the DB world easy.
My first mistake is that i had a DB teacher for only five lessons. I thought that in those five lessons i learned all i needed, so i continued my study alone. A carpal problem and a thumb injury taught me that i was wrong. I lost almost four months trying to heal my injuries. Then i started againg, under the supervision of the same teacher. He taught me jazz bass and soon i developed a good pizzicatto sound. Needless to say that my experience from the bass guitar helped me enormously in constructing bass lines etc. Yes, a serious music background really helps.
But my intonation suffered a bit. I was not as perfect as i was with the fretless bass guitar. Then a friend suggested to start lessons with the bow. It seemed a bit funny to my fellows but i enrolled in my city's Conservatoir, in the same Conservatoir that i was serving as President of the Executive Council for the last six years. These lessons improved my intonation to almost perfection and definitely it is a must for any DB player. Only a few gifted individuals can master a perfect intonation without any bow lessons and, alas, i'm not one of them.
Now, in my 51 years, after a four and a half decades dealing with music, i continue my bow lessons once in a forthnight, in order to be at best shape. My students never stop teasing me when they see me in the student's chair but the truth is without
these lessons i would never be a real double bassist.
I hope that my little story can help any aspiring DB player!
Mike