Lower Strings Beginners' Thread, Cos I'm sure I can't be the only one! Options

[jojo]

It is such a cool instrument - anything that huge has got to be fun hasn't it?!

I went on a 'google sprint' after I posted, to look into double bass rentals. I have emailed a couple of music shops asking them for their cheapest rental (even if it's a used double bass).
But double bass teachers are far and apart near where I live, loads in london (central/north/east and west) but only a couple further south in greater london where and they are far enough not to be able to travel to my house, once I sort out a rental i will contact them seeing if perhaps I can go to them and have the lesson on their double bass (as lugging mine won't be fun) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)
so, lower strings beginners, what books would you reccomend I start on?

[miss sooky]

It is such a cool instrument - anything that huge has got to be fun hasn't it?!

I went on a 'google sprint' after I posted, to look into double bass rentals. I have emailed a couple of music shops asking them for their cheapest rental (even if it's a used double bass).
But double bass teachers are far and apart near where I live, loads in london (central/north/east and west) but only a couple further south in greater london where and they are far enough not to be able to travel to my house, once I sort out a rental i will contact them seeing if perhaps I can go to them and have the lesson on their double bass (as lugging mine won't be fun) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)
so, lower strings beginners, what books would you reccomend I start on?

When my daughter was thinking about the Double Bass a few years ago (she actually ended up playing the bass guitar instead), we found a teacher in the Surrey/SW London area - PM me if you would like the details.

[jojo]

Ok I have gone and thrown myself into it, now there's no going back!!!!
Am excited and nervous at same time!!!!
Am going to buy a stentor 2 double bass ( all in solid carved maple and ebony fingerboard) tomorrow!!!!!!
This will be on an interest free term paying 20% deposit and monthly payments of £30. No obligation, any time I want to opt out I can return instrument and won't have to carry on with payments but I won't get any money back so I think it's worth to finish instalments!
Found myself a teacher too!!!!!!!
Going for my first lesson this Saturday morning! 1 hour!!!
She is lovely and is an experienced bassist (classical), her husband runs/owns a luthier shop and also plays and makes double basses. I have been a customer of theirs with my violin for past 2 years (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Will go to her house for lessons, which is 20 minutes drive from where I live. Will do lessons on her bass and leave mi e at home.
I can't believe I'm doing this as strictly speaking I shouldn't have committed myself to more 'spending' but I think this will be worth it!!!!
So now I will officially be a 'lower strings beginner thread poster/member' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[false_harmonic]

Yay another recruit! How exciting Jojo! (sorry, I'm finding your username quite amusing - did you ever see the French documentary film "Etre et Avoir"?).

I wonder if the shop I hired my cello from will let me pay in installments at the end of the rental period - I'm not fancying playing out £440 at once!

Best of luck and let us know how your first lesson goes!

(Just saw your post on the other thread - how long have you been playing violin? I'm finding on cello the space between the pegs and where you put first finger is HUGE - I imagine it will be even more exaggerated on bass!)

[jojo]

Yay another recruit! How exciting Jojo! (sorry, I'm finding your username quite amusing - did you ever see the French documentary film "Etre et Avoir"?).

Best of luck and let us know how your first lesson goes!

(Just saw your post on the other thread - how long have you been playing violin? I'm finding on cello the space between the pegs and where you put first finger is HUGE - I imagine it will be even more exaggerated on bass!)

hi there!
just got home with my new double bass!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)
picked it up from central london, walked 10minutes to bus stop, got on bus (during rush hour), to victoria station, got on train, on the other side got on bus again and another 5 mins walk, am knackered now! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
Am soooo excited, today felt even better than the day I picked up my new violin! The better part with the double bass is that I can hug it!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) I hugged up to it on the bus and train the whole way home!! It's taller than me!
Anyway, going to be up late looking at it, dusting it (it's got dust on it!!!), learning how to tune it I think. And boy, you were right about those gaps!!!
on G string I press with my 1st finger to get an A and have to use my 4th finger for the B!!!!!!!!! what?????? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

Anyway, thank you for the welcome in the 'lower strings party' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

I've been learning violin for just over 2 years now and I 'think' I am about grade 4 to 5 on that.

Some people tell me I might only need grade one on double bass for some amateur orchestras to let me play with them?? surely they were exaggerating???
surely you have to be at least grade 5 if on violin they want you to be 7 or 8??
anyone know??
of course I'll ask the orchestra direct (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

There were other basses in shop I really liked but boy what a price tag on some of them!!! something to look forward to one day hey?

they only had one book in shop which is team strings, so bought it as I want to get started on ANYTHING right now, then on saturday my teacher can tell me what other book to buy!!


AM SO HAPPYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

[kenm]

[...]And boy, you were right about those gaps!!!
on G string I press with my 1st finger to get an A and have to use my 4th finger for the B

Using 1, 2 and 4 for semitones (eg A, Bb, B) is normal in the lower positions. Past the shoulder, the orthodox fingering is 1, 2, 3 for semitones. Just below the shoulder, I can use all four fingers with semitones between them (like 'cello fingering) but that's unorthodox.

Some people tell me I might only need grade one on double bass for some amateur orchestras to let me play with them?? surely they were exaggerating???
surely you have to be at least grade 5 if on violin they want you to be 7 or 8??
anyone know??
of course I'll ask the orchestra direct (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

There are certainly orchestras that would accept a Grade 1 bass player. It's still a scarce instrument. Unfortunately, they are not too thick on the ground. The East London Late Starters' Orchestra is one, and Da Capo (west of Reading) is another, but neither is near the area served by Victoria station. Google searches should find them, and ELLSO may have information about something nearer you. Your teacher may have contacts.

P.S. I don't have any qualifications on bass.

[jojo]

Best of luck and let us know how your first lesson goes!

Well well well
had my 1st lesson today! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

Now, it went well, we did 4 scales (a minor, e sharp minor, b flat and f major) and one grade one piece.

She was well pleased by how well I hold the bow and how well I 'bow' and my posture and everything apparently, she went onto saying that I will be doing grade 5 in 6 months (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) !!!
Now, on one side I was thinking 'no, she's only being nice to me', on the other I thought, actually, she's an experienced teacher, why would she give me such high hopes to then only 'shatter them' later? so maybe there's some truth in there???

She gave me the book: Double Bass Solo 1 and ticked loads of things for me to do before next lesson!

As I took the stentor 2 double bass I bought 2 days ago to her house for her to see, she took a good look and a try, she asked me what other basses the shop had and I said that this stentor was top in the price I could afford, I said to her they had a Zeller which was £155 more expensive BUT came without bow and case unlike the stentor and if I had to buy a bow and case I'd spend another £100 to £150 on top, bringing the price tag £300 more than the stentor.

BUT the zeller has spirocore strings on it and the stentor I have has cheap £40 chinese strings on!

So, she said I should have gone for the Zeller as I will 'outgrow' the stentor way too quickly and then I won't be satisfied with it, but with Zeller I may keep it indefinitely, also, she said the Zeller will sell at a higher price in future if I want to trade it off against another one.

I highlighted I could not afford the zeller, not especially without a bow/case, so she rang the music shop as she knows the people in there who play bass, apparently I have entered a 'very selected group' now with playing the double bass, they all know each other!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

She spoke 5 minutes on the phone, put the phone down and said: ok if you go to the shop now they will give the Zeller with free bow and case!

I was ecstatic! especially as I have heard the zeller and the stentor being played in the shop and the zeller sounded heaps better!!! and I did want that one, I didn't buy it as I could not afford to fork out extra then even more extra for bow and case!
So went up to London and swapped the stentor for the zeller with spirocore strings, all in all an excellent day and an excellent start to my double bass career!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

party on (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

[Flossie]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif) Well done.

Sounds like you've got an excellent deal on the double bass. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[jojo]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif) Well done.

Sounds like you've got an excellent deal on the double bass. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

YEP, thanx Flossie

by the way:
how many double bass players are out there in this strings forum? are you all hiding? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif)
or is Kenm the only one apart from me? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[rosfrog]

I will not buy a double bass, I will not buy a double bass, I will not buy a double bass....

Well, looking wouldn't hurt would it? Perhaps I could even touch, as long as I put it back afterwards.

Arrrrgh, *rocks and repeats* I will not buy a double bass, I will not.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[jojo]

I will not buy a double bass, I will not buy a double bass, I will not buy a double bass....

Well, looking wouldn't hurt would it? Perhaps I could even touch, as long as I put it back afterwards.

Arrrrgh, *rocks and repeats* I will not buy a double bass, I will not.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) rosfrog, I tried that one for 3 years, must say I did well to last this long, but succombed at the end, to 'the power from the opposite side' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[miss sooky]

Aha! You have found the teacher I had in mind - the person I remembered when you first posted about learning the double bass and saw your location. Glad you managed to track her down. And even better news that you have had such a positive first lesson - I love hearing about first lessons, they are so important and memorable. Welcome to the world of lower strings!

[jojo]

Aha! You have found the teacher I had in mind - the person I remembered when you first posted about learning the double bass and saw your location. Glad you managed to track her down. And even better news that you have had such a positive first lesson - I love hearing about first lessons, they are so important and memorable. Welcome to the world of lower strings!

HAHA that is funny miss sooky (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
I rang her shop and asked the italian woman who works in there if 'they knew any double bass teachers' I could contact to learn (I knew the owner's wife is a bass teacher, I just didn't want to be 'pushy' just wanted to see if 'she wanted me'). The lady took my details down and I got a phone call the next day.
She was lovely on the phone and I could see she is a kind hearted person with a genuine love to help people and pass on her experience, I knew I was going to like her as a teacher.

Learning the bass is taking me back to those early days on the violin.....sore fingers, sore shoulder/arm (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

The bass strings are SO hard to push down in half position it's a real 'schwarzenegger job!!!' and I have to get used to keep all my fingers down on fingerboard when I do 4th finger or 2nd, whereas on violin I may or may not have all my fingers down, depends. AND the GIGANTIC gap from 1st finger to 4th in half and first position: BOY!!!

Today I made the mistake to practice the bass BEFORE the violin, a mistake I will never make again!
As I had sore fingers/arm/shoulder and worked on a MASSIVE instrument, when I got to the violin half an hour later I could not play it! I would be on A string, thinking I am going to D string, but would land on G!!! my fingers were leaving gaps too big! being sore as well it was difficult to get re-accustomed to the TINY violin.

BUT I was also amazed by how EASY the violin strings are to press down compared to the bass, they feel like melted butter in comparison! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Anyway will give you another update soon (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) off to bed shortly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif)

[miss sooky]

Aha! You have found the teacher I had in mind - the person I remembered when you first posted about learning the double bass and saw your location. Glad you managed to track her down. And even better news that you have had such a positive first lesson - I love hearing about first lessons, they are so important and memorable. Welcome to the world of lower strings!

HAHA that is funny miss sooky (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
I rang her shop and asked the italian woman who works in there if 'they knew any double bass teachers' I could contact to learn (I knew the owner's wife is a bass teacher, I just didn't want to be 'pushy' just wanted to see if 'she wanted me'). The lady took my details down and I got a phone call the next day.
She was lovely on the phone and I could see she is a kind hearted person with a genuine love to help people and pass on her experience, I knew I was going to like her as a teacher.

Learning the bass is taking me back to those early days on the violin.....sore fingers, sore shoulder/arm (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

The bass strings are SO hard to push down in half position it's a real 'schwarzenegger job!!!' and I have to get used to keep all my fingers down on fingerboard when I do 4th finger or 2nd, whereas on violin I may or may not have all my fingers down, depends. AND the GIGANTIC gap from 1st finger to 4th in half and first position: BOY!!!

Today I made the mistake to practice the bass BEFORE the violin, a mistake I will never make again!
As I had sore fingers/arm/shoulder and worked on a MASSIVE instrument, when I got to the violin half an hour later I could not play it! I would be on A string, thinking I am going to D string, but would land on G!!! my fingers were leaving gaps too big! being sore as well it was difficult to get re-accustomed to the TINY violin.

BUT I was also amazed by how EASY the violin strings are to press down compared to the bass, they feel like melted butter in comparison! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Anyway will give you another update soon (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) off to bed shortly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif)

I am so impressed - it sounds like you are making terrific progress. To state the obvious, the bass is HUGE! And those strongs are monsters. I had trouble with the C string on my cello to begin with and that is a baby compared to the Bass. And the dexterity required must be tremendous. I guess little and often will be the name of the game as your body adjusts and the muscle memory develops? Are there any really tiny/petite bass players?

[Tomo]

Nice one Jojo, well done. Have you named it? Lol.

I brought home a couple of cellos to try and had my first cello lesson last Monday! Woo hoo.

As previously mentioned I played sax for 12 years but stopped about 6 years ago.

Once I managed to remember which string was which I did OK. I have to get used to the Bass cleff now after not having to think too much about the treble for so many years!

I've been away on holiday for a week and can't wait to get practising. If I can remember the lesson!

I think I will be without the bow for a while, we are using "a flying start" which is basic stuff but I know how important it si to get the basics right early on. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)