I was thinking about making the jump from electric to upright. I have been messing around with a frettless and getting used to the no frets. I know the upright is a different story but I am willing to go through with any difficulties. My question being, my sister-in-law is a very good violinist. Would she be a good teacher for bowing technique even though they are different instruments? Some of you will say get a teacher, but she is willing to teach that for free.
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Double Bass violinist good teacher for bowing technique?
- Thread starter basstoven
- Start date
Hello!
There is a lot you can learn from other instruments in the violin family. I would say go for it. The principles of sound production are the same and it would be interesting to hear a violinists approach to playing their instrument. Of course, you will have to adapt some things to the bass (especially if you choose to play German bow over French).
I used the Sevcik bowing book while I was in college, which was adapted for bass from the original violin book.
Have fun!
There is a lot you can learn from other instruments in the violin family. I would say go for it. The principles of sound production are the same and it would be interesting to hear a violinists approach to playing their instrument. Of course, you will have to adapt some things to the bass (especially if you choose to play German bow over French).
I used the Sevcik bowing book while I was in college, which was adapted for bass from the original violin book.
Have fun!
- Jan 24, 2002
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Fundamentally, most of the concepts are the same. Practically, however, they are very different instruments which have developed very different techniques. I do not play the violin, but I think the bass requires a much more efficient method of weight transfer. Your body's position in relation to the instrument is crucial and is not something a violinist will be able to show you.
It's probably as fine a place to start as any, but at least one or two lessons with a professional bassist would be advisable to see what a proper bass bow hold looks like and find a comfortable way to hold the instrument.
It's probably as fine a place to start as any, but at least one or two lessons with a professional bassist would be advisable to see what a proper bass bow hold looks like and find a comfortable way to hold the instrument.
A violinist can help a little bit, but you really need the input from a good bass teacher as well.
I think the connection between cello and upright bass in terms of bowing is much more applicable (I play both). I'm now learning violin and it's a different animal, very different touch and hand positioning required.
Having said that, as was posted here earlier, learning something from the other members of the violin family doesn't hurt at all, but from my own experience I'd say cello would be more relevant, I've found it very helpful for my bass bowing and vice versa. FWIW....
Having said that, as was posted here earlier, learning something from the other members of the violin family doesn't hurt at all, but from my own experience I'd say cello would be more relevant, I've found it very helpful for my bass bowing and vice versa. FWIW....
I`ve been playing violin for over 30 years. I`m sure that a lot of the concepts of bowing the violin are similiar to bass, like bow speed and pressure, etc, but without even playing bass I can tell you they are two very different animals. There`s two kinds of bows, French and German. Two very different ways of gripping the bow there. There`s one area we can`t help without possibly giving you some wrong information and then you might develop a bad habit that`s harder to fix later on than if you just learned it right from the beginning. Not to say you can`t gain something from a violinist but to get the real skinny I`d find a good bass teacher.
Also, you mentioned that you have played fretless bass to get used to the upright. They are two very different instruments and you will need to learn new left hand technique as well. Bass guitar technique will not work.
I think early on it would be better to study with a bass teacher to lay a good technical foundation. Once you are more secure on the instrument, then concepts from other teachers would be a little easier to apply or ignore.
Ross Kratter
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The same basic principles apply to all the strings (violin, viola, cello and bass) to produce quality and quantity of sounds with the bow. Your violinist sister-in-law has a useful role musically as an educated pair of critical ears. But the bass is a different beast when it comes to techniques!
+1 or more for finding a bass teacher, extra especially if you opt for the German bow!
Best wishes
DP
+1 or more for finding a bass teacher, extra especially if you opt for the German bow!
Best wishes
DP
I played 'cello for many years, as a kid, before switching to bass.
Having played 'cello gave me a little start with the bass, but it didn't make it as if I didn't need to learn new things.
Those two instruments are about as close as one can get, but they are still very different, even playing French bow.
Some basic concepts are similar, but if you are really asking, I agree; get a bass teacher. The ratio between bow mass and string mass/tension are very different, especially between violin and bass; in addition some similar concepts, they involve some pretty different "feels" and strategies, IMHO.
Playing is as much about the minute, specific details of motion, for each instrument, as it is about the broader concepts...one needs both, in my limited experience.
Having played 'cello gave me a little start with the bass, but it didn't make it as if I didn't need to learn new things.
Those two instruments are about as close as one can get, but they are still very different, even playing French bow.
Some basic concepts are similar, but if you are really asking, I agree; get a bass teacher. The ratio between bow mass and string mass/tension are very different, especially between violin and bass; in addition some similar concepts, they involve some pretty different "feels" and strategies, IMHO.
Playing is as much about the minute, specific details of motion, for each instrument, as it is about the broader concepts...one needs both, in my limited experience.
A good violin, viola, or cello teacher would be better than a bad bass teacher, but a good bass teacher would be ideal. Look for a teacher who is an experienced, professional orchestral player and knows what they're talking about. It can take a long time to unlearn poorly taught concepts, which is a real waste of your time and money.
I've been playing bass orchestrally for 5 years now, and my teacher was not altogether familiar with the bass. He actually started out playing trumpet, and then went from that to violin, viola, cello, and then bass, meaning that he wasn't nearly as helpful as I would have liked. Unfortunately I've picked up some bad habits, namely that my fingers "cave in" when pressing a string and the fingers I'm not using tend to stick straight up in the air. Yes, a violinist can help you, especially if you use a French bow like I do, (actually my hand is better suited to the German, but I'm not allowed to switch now that I've been playing so long.) but in the long run it is better if you get lessons from a bassist.
I think Edicson Ruiz is studying with Anner Bylsma (cellist) but he's pretty far along as far as playing is concerned
