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Double Bass Tips? Critiques? Criticisms?

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DILYSI Dave

Jan 26, 2013
42
1
#1
Played out for the first time in years last night, and someone happened to shoot video. Just ignore the part about not a single video capturing an entire song... :) But I figured I'd put it up here and let you guys throw out suggestions. Mostly thinking bass, but other is appreciated as well.

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#5
What Paul said, especially the right hand. You might consider taking some lessons to get your left hand squared away if your musical ambitions go beyond bluegrass. If not, and you can play the right notes in tune with the fist technique, then go for it.
 
#6
I agree with the above. For about the first 15 years of playing in a bluegrass band I used a very similar style to yours. Then I started playing out more, and with other types of music. My tone and intonation have improved greatly from a more classic left hand technique, plus it opens up more of the fingerboard to add variety and color to your playing. I think Todd Phillips has about the best DVDs for bluegrass and beyond. If you haven't seen them, it might be worth a look. Congratulation on being out and playing; I have a regular Thursday night gig playing everything from Buffet to Eagles to Zac Brown and more. I really look forward to it each week.
 
#8
Think about leaning into the bass rather than leaning it back to you. +1 on moving your right hand farther down toward the end of the fingerboard. Your plucking technique looks pretty good to me. The left hand looks kind of awkward and uncomfortable, particularly on the E string. Get your elbow up more (a battle I fight all the time) and try and keep your thumb more in the middle of the neck. My bass teacher way way back used to tell me that my left hand should be "C" shaped with the thumb more or less centered behind the middle 2 fingers.

All that said, if you get a good tone, play in tune, keep time and have fun, you're probably doing just fine!
 
#9
What do you think of this guy?

He's supposed to be giving a lesson but to my ears and eyes it's like a lesson in what not to do.
Am I wrong?
It does seem like a lot of good players use the claw style .
...and a lot of real good players bring their thumb around.

Sorry for the hijack but I don't went to start a thread that slams somebody and hand position is being discussed here.
 

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