I have been playing the upright bass for about a month now. I started at school because we had a long term substitute orchestra teacher who is a professional bass player, so I took the opportunity. I previously played the violin. When I am at school, I can bow perfectly fine. Obviously it doesn't sound incredible and I have trouble staying on one string, but I can actually make a full sound. Well, when I play at home with the bass the school gave me to keep at home, I am unable to make a full sound. I can pluck just fine, but bowing makes a very hallow, bad sound. I bought Pops rosin, I applied rosin many times, but I still can't seem to bow. It was my understanding that the strings were nylon, but after doing research I see that they are not. If I get any replies on this I will attach photos, I just don't want to go to all the trouble for no one to see this.
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Double Bass Why can't I bow?
- Thread starter uprightbassplay
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- bow help forum
No offense, but you should read the thread a little more carefully before you give dismissive advice.
My money's on the strings. I'm totally a beginner but I had no idea how much difference strings make until I took the recommendation of my teacher and put Belcantos on my bass. Sooo much easier to not sound like a I was strangling a chicken.
Agreed, probably strings, or bow-hair/rosin
@sean_on_bass
Student reports a dramatic difference in bow-abillity between their school and home basses, which is probably down to strings, the bow, or perhaps the bass. (It could be as simple as a rosin issue)
Practicing for a year before double checking their setup is terrible advice. That will be discouraging, and will probably lead to technique issues from overcompensating, and possibly even injury.
Double checking the setup on the other hand, would take about 5 minutes.
--
Example of rigid, judgemental thinking:
The other day, I was practicing some Bach, and after a while my tone was getting worse. My instinct was to blame my lack of skills, which is absolutely true--i need a lot of work.
But the actual issue was that I lost track of time and needed to re-rosin my bow. Without enough rosin, I was having to overcompensate by putting too much weight on the bow, which choked the tone.
Practicing through this setup issue would have been counterproductive and possibly injurious.
@sean_on_bass
Student reports a dramatic difference in bow-abillity between their school and home basses, which is probably down to strings, the bow, or perhaps the bass. (It could be as simple as a rosin issue)
Practicing for a year before double checking their setup is terrible advice. That will be discouraging, and will probably lead to technique issues from overcompensating, and possibly even injury.
Double checking the setup on the other hand, would take about 5 minutes.
--
Example of rigid, judgemental thinking:
The other day, I was practicing some Bach, and after a while my tone was getting worse. My instinct was to blame my lack of skills, which is absolutely true--i need a lot of work.
But the actual issue was that I lost track of time and needed to re-rosin my bow. Without enough rosin, I was having to overcompensate by putting too much weight on the bow, which choked the tone.
Practicing through this setup issue would have been counterproductive and possibly injurious.
It seems there is a learning curve even to applying rosin. I believe I was being way to gentle with the bow and rosin at first. I was barely making scratch marks in the rosin and felt like I would hurt the bow or pull too many hairs if I did it too hard. At one of my first lessons my teacher took my bow and rosin and really dug into it putting a nice stripe in the rosin and she said, "that's what you want to see." My bow sounded a lot better! lol
OP has twice stated that they intend to post pics - but they haven't yet. (Yeah, it has only been 2 days. But posting pics ain't exactly overly difficult or time consuming.) Hell, they could even post a vid of them being unsuccessful at home.
This isn't the first time a relatively young person has posted, yet has been reticent in providing necessary info.
This isn't the first time a relatively young person has posted, yet has been reticent in providing necessary info.
It's no extra effort for me to be me, and I'm glad I don't need to calculate whether my effort is reciprocated. Sounds exhausting.
You're putting some emotional energy into being annoyed at a student for not putting in enough effort..
So, what's the issue? We might not be able to conclusively identify the issue for this student?
That's okay. They can post more details, or not. There's no injury here either way.
If we are offended that they aren't fulfilling our expectations somehow, that sounds like an 'us' problem.
You're putting some emotional energy into being annoyed at a student for not putting in enough effort..
So, what's the issue? We might not be able to conclusively identify the issue for this student?
That's okay. They can post more details, or not. There's no injury here either way.
If we are offended that they aren't fulfilling our expectations somehow, that sounds like an 'us' problem.
Sorry to trigger you. I did say they should get lessons which would be the most direct way to help them. Not sure about you, but when i was a month in i did not know up from down on what success even looked like. Everyone here is free to totally disregard my comments.
Looks like you joined Talkbass pretty recently, so welcome!
Geez, guys, don't scare the kid off before they post pics, I'm dying to know what strings are on that home bass!!
@sean_on_bass
Not triggered. I was helping other people disregard your comments, as you suggest.
Thanks for the welcome. I used to be on these forums 15 years ago, but took a break for a while.
There were grumpy dudes telling newbies to practice for a year before asking important questions back then too.
My favorite poster, who I miss a lot, was Paul Warburton. He was a legend. And he was super kind to new bassists, myself included.
I remember once, in a thread with a new bassist, him offering to get on the phone to work up a beginner friendly happy birthday tune for the bassist's young relative.
That's what success looks like.
Not triggered. I was helping other people disregard your comments, as you suggest.
Thanks for the welcome. I used to be on these forums 15 years ago, but took a break for a while.
There were grumpy dudes telling newbies to practice for a year before asking important questions back then too.
My favorite poster, who I miss a lot, was Paul Warburton. He was a legend. And he was super kind to new bassists, myself included.
I remember once, in a thread with a new bassist, him offering to get on the phone to work up a beginner friendly happy birthday tune for the bassist's young relative.
That's what success looks like.
Except for Don... Don can be grumpy...
the difference between a bass that bows well, and one that does not, is vast.
IME much more so than what you would expect coming from violin.
I was shocked how easily the notes spoke (compared to my student plywood), when I first tried a really well setup high quality bass.
Setup, the bass, bow strings all contribute.
just use the bass you have to practise, try your best to get a decent sound, and don't worry if it's not concert quality... yet
IME much more so than what you would expect coming from violin.
I was shocked how easily the notes spoke (compared to my student plywood), when I first tried a really well setup high quality bass.
Setup, the bass, bow strings all contribute.
just use the bass you have to practise, try your best to get a decent sound, and don't worry if it's not concert quality... yet
