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Double Bass Tips for joining orchestra
- Thread starter anonymous123
- Start date
Very, very bad idea about the amp.
There is no circumstance where an amp is called for. Listen to a good recording of the music to hear how the whole piece(s) sound, and try to play musically.
There is no circumstance where an amp is called for. Listen to a good recording of the music to hear how the whole piece(s) sound, and try to play musically.
This is excellent advice. Forget the amp and concentrate on playing the basics as well as you can.
I think it's very unlikely that using an amp will be acceptable. This is something you need to discuss with the conductor of the orchestra; as it's not your call.
All of my formal training was classical. I can't imagine using an amp in a orchestra playing standard repertoire. However I did use an amp in professional military concert bands and we played quite a few orchestral transcriptions. I used up to three volume levels, but typically only two. For more classical type music I adjusted the amp to blend in with other low frequency instruments. Two levels were sometimes used for the same show, depending if I needed to blend primarily with the low brass or low woodwinds. Sometimes with a woodwind feature I turned the amp completely off.
The intent of using the amp was so my audibility in concert band was similar to what I would have acoustically in an orchestra. However in concert band I mostly added a stringy texture and a bit of woody resonance to the sound, rather than providing cushion to the low end as the upright does in an orchestra.
The third volume level was much louder. This was used for show tunes, jazz, or any other type of commercial music where the bass functions as part of the rhythm section and carries the entire ensemble. Some bands use arrangements where the bass part is written out and played by tubas. We did not typically use this type of arrangement very often in professional military bands.
All of my formal training was classical. I can't imagine using an amp in a orchestra playing standard repertoire. However I did use an amp in professional military concert bands and we played quite a few orchestral transcriptions. I used up to three volume levels, but typically only two. For more classical type music I adjusted the amp to blend in with other low frequency instruments. Two levels were sometimes used for the same show, depending if I needed to blend primarily with the low brass or low woodwinds. Sometimes with a woodwind feature I turned the amp completely off.
The intent of using the amp was so my audibility in concert band was similar to what I would have acoustically in an orchestra. However in concert band I mostly added a stringy texture and a bit of woody resonance to the sound, rather than providing cushion to the low end as the upright does in an orchestra.
The third volume level was much louder. This was used for show tunes, jazz, or any other type of commercial music where the bass functions as part of the rhythm section and carries the entire ensemble. Some bands use arrangements where the bass part is written out and played by tubas. We did not typically use this type of arrangement very often in professional military bands.
in a big orchestra you don’t wanna be there with your super long extension lead and ‘excuse me, can I put my amp next to you’ or have the cellos being ‘why is that bass sounding so weird and loud’. It’s the conductor’s job to balance the orchestra - a bass amp won’t be welcomed unless asked for or discussed beforehand.
That makes sense I’m just going off of what the director usually does. honestly I would prefer not to use an amp, it’s too complicated.
If the director wants you to use and amp, use and amp.
Comments:
1. Using an amp will not allow one bass to authentically create the sound of an actual bass section.
2. Getting a good arco sound through an amp tends to be somewhat challenging IMHO. With the right knowledge and gear the sound can be more authentic, but it's never going to be perfect. I suggest doing the best you can with what you have and learning from the experience.
3. An amp does not radiate sound like an acoustic instrument. This is but one of multiple factors for why an amp will never sound exactly like an upright right.
4. The bass, pickup, amp, cab, and acoustic environment form a feedback loop. The louder the amp is run, the stronger the feedback loop, the more the feedback loop tends to degrade the sound. Basically as gain is increased, the various resonances in the system tend to be exaggerated, which can distort the dynamic envelope of notes and degrade the frequency response contour. These problems can be mitigated somewhat with EQ.
5. I find it really difficult to bow with any sort of finesse/nuance if the amp is too loud. Not so much a problem with pizz with commercial music though.
6. It's very common to have level imbalances between pizz and arco. I used the Realist Copperhead which balances pizz and arco better than most pickups. Other than that I tried to set my volume at a level that allowed me to manage the problem with technique. It's been quite a long time, but my memory is I had to pluck a bit hard and bow a bit soft. IMHO the Realist would not be my first choice for a good jazz pizz sound. It tends to exaggerate rumble from the bass's body (low mids). IME this gives the tone sort of a boxy quality that may not respond to corrective EQ.
If your conductor seriously wants you to use an amp, give me his contact info and I'll talk to him.
...and "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse."
Let's all hope it doesn't come to that
.It'll take time. Be patient, there are a lot of skill you will develop over time.
1. Make sure you're bass is tuned properly.
2. Learn to watch and react to the conductor. Count rests, know where you are in the music.
3. Play in tune.
4. Probably more important to know where you are in the music than to try and play every note.
5. If in doubt, leave it out (at first)
Good luck, enjoy, persevere and you should find it a very rewarding experience.
1. Make sure you're bass is tuned properly.
2. Learn to watch and react to the conductor. Count rests, know where you are in the music.
3. Play in tune.
4. Probably more important to know where you are in the music than to try and play every note.
5. If in doubt, leave it out (at first)
Good luck, enjoy, persevere and you should find it a very rewarding experience.
I totally agree.. but with 3... A further x100.. as we sound like B17s without it.
