Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass Whats the oldest someone has started double bass?
- Thread starter icehead
- Start date
I have figured that I would focus on the bass guitar until I was 60 and then I would give the double bass a try. (I'm in my mid50s now, so 60 isn't that far away)
It never occured to me that 60 might be "too old"
It never occured to me that 60 might be "too old"
[*] I personally wouldn't recommend an Electric Upright Bass because to me they sound like electrics not real uprights, and if I want that sound a fretless is easier. Besides, nothing better than holding that great big upright body
I started with an Eminence because I live in an apartment. I will get a regular, full-bodied DB soon. But I'll never regret having the Eminence, because it lets me practice at any time of day without worrying about booming out the neighbours.
I keep it set up upright on a stand, with a suitable stool in front of it -- it's so _ready-to-go_ that it entices me to play at the merest hint of inspiration.
And with its custom Realist pickup it really sounds quite decent -- if somewhat short of a trad. upright DB.
Different tools for different situations.
If you don't know what a Doublebass is why are you on a Doublebass forum. Just askin'?
The electric bass guitar (popularized by Fender, and commonly heard starting in the 1960s) was new in the 1950s (but already a fringe/crackpot invention in the 1930s, before any commercial use, I believe).
Before that what we had was the Double bass/Upright bass/String Bass/Contrabass/Bass viol.
I'll save you the trouble of Googling:
Double bass - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Welcome to the Talkbass forums!
I played jazz standards for 30 years on double bass as one of a number of instruments I learned (former instrumental music teacher and a clarinet major in university) but I decided I really wanted to concentrate on one instrument and see where I could go with it. So I took my first lesson from a friend in the Toronto Symphony one week after I retired and haven't looked back. It is hard work but as someone has already stated, it is also a blast. Finding the time to put in the 10 000 hours on the bow is difficult but you reach a plateau and then move up to another one. This keeps my brain going at almost 58 and I am playing in two community orchestras now. You need a teacher because you don't have time to unlearn bad habits!!!! I also know a teacher (not a music teacher) who had never played and he started when he retired and has been studying for 10 years. The difference is that you will not learn as fast a young person. (Check out a book called the Talent Code and you will realize why.) Go for it and enjoy. I hope to buy an even better bass next week. I chose to get a good bow first!
I may not be my teacher's best student but I am certainly his oldest!!!
I may not be my teacher's best student but I am certainly his oldest!!!
pbasswil said:
No argument. The Eminence Is kind of in the middle and that or a CzechEz are on my "might want one" list for compactness.
Besides my comment was personal preference.
Your point about quiet practice is a good one.
:^) Thanks for the acknowledgement, fingerbun.
I used to play some keyboard -- as a teenager I started with classical piano.
I heard tell of silent keyboards that organists used to practice on, many decades before electric organs or electronic keyboards were available. Back in the day I'm sure they were grateful to have such a practice aid.
Well _any_ electric upright bass is way ahead of a silent practice instrument, cuz it makes the notes.
Anyway, whatever works for you is great. There's a guy on TB -- françois something -- who only plays some electric upright. He's a bit of an authority on DB strings around here.
I love a trad. acoustic, wooden DB sound; but if anyone likes the pickup's sound off of their electric upright, more power to them!
I'm 54 and had played DB before in a group that had one, also have had a Palatino upright for a few years but just bought my first DB a few months ago. I've sung and played alot of instruments pretty much my whole life tho. Self taught on everything, tho there are some good (and some not so good) beginner DB instructions online
I am 50 and dusted off my 77 Fender Precision Fretless (two years ago) after 32 years and just bought a db about a year ago. I don't feel too old. I am sure many will tell you this, no matter your age get an instructor to help you through what will hopefully be a long journey.
I hope to wake up one early morning walk my dog come back play my bass lay down and peacefully pass from this world... hopefully 30+ years from now. Oh, I guess I should say bye to my wife and two boys too
I started double bass a little over a year ago at age 55 after 39 years of EB. I wish I had started at your age. I'm loving it.
I played guitar professionally when I was a 20-something but switched to bass as an adult because I had "topped out" on guitar. The bass has been good for me. I've improved my musicianship tremendously and love playing the bass now. I think it takes about 10 years of dedicated work to play the bass well, but you've got plenty of time!
My oldest student has been about 65. He's come from cello. Like so many of the adults I have taught he comes part trained. He has played in a group, can read music and has a brain in his head. These are all shortcuts to success and he has quickly been able join an amateur orchestra.
As an adult, even a total beginner, the most important distance in the world is the 6-8 inches between your ears, ie what goes on inside your head. Learning music is like the acronym HEE. Your HANDS are taught to find notes and sound them, your EARS are trained to hear and adjust them, and your Eyes are taught to read them.
Much depends on whether you want to play jazz or orchestral music. A good grounding one-on-one with a teacher will ensure good shapes and uses of the hands and is the fastest, surest way of success.
Go forth and conquer!
Best Wishes to all oldies like me!!
DP
As an adult, even a total beginner, the most important distance in the world is the 6-8 inches between your ears, ie what goes on inside your head. Learning music is like the acronym HEE. Your HANDS are taught to find notes and sound them, your EARS are trained to hear and adjust them, and your Eyes are taught to read them.
Much depends on whether you want to play jazz or orchestral music. A good grounding one-on-one with a teacher will ensure good shapes and uses of the hands and is the fastest, surest way of success.
Go forth and conquer!
Best Wishes to all oldies like me!!
DP
I guess I'm the one of the youngest old beginners here, having started on my 40th birthday last August. Now it's the only thing I practice, although I gig on electric.
I'm a fairly decent electric bassist. On the upright I feel like a complete imbecile. Fortunately, all I can really do is improve.
I'm a fairly decent electric bassist. On the upright I feel like a complete imbecile. Fortunately, all I can really do is improve.
I started last year at 20, i kind of wish i started 10 years before that, but it hasn't stopped me carrying on.
I remember that story. I read it on an old Apple 2E in big green letters over the 14K phone modem. He was from Kumbhalgarh, in the west of India. He grew up playing Theramin but quickly tired of playing covers, so he switched to electric bass. After about 80 years, he was walking in the market by the Ebhayh river and saw the Thomann, which was selling for 17,777.77 rupees with bow, bag, and ebonized fittings. Once this seed was planted, it was all over but the shouting. Shortly thereafter, my modem crashed and I never found out whether he was able to find a teacher, or more importantly, whether he became a legitimate bassist by studying Simandl with the bow... or whether he ended up as an untrained jazz or rockabilly bassist doing it wrong and angering the internet bass gods. Wherever he is now, and whatever he's doing, I trust that he's having fun and still searching for the perfect string.
In light of this story, I must agree that it's never too late. I started at 35 and have never looked back.
