srselby - Posted - 02/01/2011:  04:01:01

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Now that double bass is off the Hangouts, anyone still interested enough to keep up some discussion through the new group feature?

Swing - Posted - 02/01/2011:  13:05:02

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While I do not play the bass, Ic ertainly appreciate playing with a good bass player... if I wan't playing the fiddle I would more than likely try one...there have been a couple of really nice older basses for sale locally....hmmm, nah

Play Happy

coelhoe - Posted - 02/01/2011:  14:31:07

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Easy to play, easy to play, very important in a group, lots of old ones around. Cheap ones and expensive ones sound about the same. Easy nylon and hard steel strings also sound about the same.

I've had (actually my wife has had them) several over the years. Using an electric now, however.

Sassafrassa - Posted - 02/01/2011:  15:08:57

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Are they easy to play? I have always liked them...but have absolutely no experience. If the universe sends one my way..I might accept. Though it won't travel as easy as my fiddle! ;)

John Gent - Posted - 02/01/2011:  15:12:37

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I love playing the bull fiddle. I won't buy one until I have a big enough vehicle, though. Then I'll be too broke to buy one. sigh

leroyleroux - Posted - 02/01/2011:  15:27:35

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When I was a kid, we'd travel around with the big bass in the car. With our Caprice Classic, it was at least livable. With our Gremlin, it was downright hilarious.

Chuck Naill - Posted - 02/01/2011:  16:24:25

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I have a '41 Kay that needs a neck reset. I bought it circa 1971. I plan to buy a bow and quiver as soon as the repairs are finished.

chuck

tonyelder - Posted - 02/01/2011:  16:25:15

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quote:

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Originally posted by Sassafrassa

Are they easy to play? I have always liked them...but have absolutely no experience. If the universe sends one my way..I might accept. Though it won't travel as easy as my fiddle! ;)

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Easy? Yes, it's easy to learn a few straight foward 1,4,5 songs with an alternating bass in common keys.

But much harder than some might have you believe the more you move outside of the straight forward stuff. Just like any other instrument. Obviously, you will need to have a steady beat, and good intonation - or it will tell on you when you stray to far off bass (pun intended). And know that the upright will reveal the sissy in you after playing about 3 songs in a row in closed positions. It takes a lot of forearm & hand muscle strength to keep it going.

Some will say that there is not a significant difference in tone between steel and nylon stings - but your fingers will sure be able to tell the difference.

I've got a sweet old 64 Kay that is fun to play. I will sit in on bass when asked, but I would never volunteer to be a regular. Too much work for me.

coelhoe - Posted - 02/01/2011:  19:15:04

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For most hobby uses, I think the synthetic strings are just fine, and for most stage uses the bass is into a mic anyway. Many people never think to have the action on the bass adjusted to make it easier to finger.

I bought a lovely blond Kay bass once from an ad. I called while eating dinner and the woman who answered said that since they'd lost the bow they really couldn't ask full price, so would I mind paying $50 for the bass (with a padded case). Left dinner on the table.

tonyelder - Posted - 02/01/2011:  20:26:41

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quote:

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Originally posted by coelhoe

For most hobby uses, I think the synthetic strings are just fine, and for most stage uses the bass is into a mic anyway. Many people never think to have the action on the bass adjusted to make it easier to finger.

I bought a lovely blond Kay bass once from an ad. I called while eating dinner and the woman who answered said that since they'd lost the bow they really couldn't ask full price, so would I mind paying $50 for the bass (with a padded case). Left dinner on the table.

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Boy howdy... I would have been out the door so fast - I probably would have forgotten hang up the phone too! What a find. How long did it take for the smile to wear off?

edit to add - in answer to the OP - I would probably join the group, but I probably wouldn't be very active.

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Edited by - tonyelder on 02/01/2011 20:29:46

TimK - Posted - 02/02/2011:  05:21:26

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[/quote]Easy? Yes, it's easy to learn a few straight foward 1,4,5 songs with an alternating bass in common keys.

But much harder than some might have you believe the more you move outside of the straight forward stuff. Just like any other instrument. Obviously, you will need to have a steady beat, and good intonation - or it will tell on you when you stray to far off bass (pun intended). And know that the upright will reveal the sissy in you after playing about 3 songs in a row in closed positions. It takes a lot of forearm & hand muscle strength to keep it going.

This is right on the money! Playing bass for an entire evening takes stamina. If you are playing a blues or swing tune walking the bass in closed position, you'd better know what you are doing. I've always considered the bass the most overlooked and under appreciated instrument in the group, until he stops playing and the bottom falls out of the tune.
My father played bass with Tommy Dorsey, Charlie Barnett and Sammy Kaye so I grew up with one. It was my first instrument. I am the lucky owner of a 1946, blond , Kay Swingmaster.

hanknc - Posted - 02/02/2011:  14:01:23

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I like playing bass for about three choruses. God bless all bass players.

Hank

PS What happened to the bass player who locked his keys in his car?

VivianW - Posted - 02/02/2011:  16:35:41

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The hardest thing about playing bass is the responsibility to get every note on time (and hopefully in tune, although that's less important). The bass is the one instrument in a group that you can hear all the time.

ucalldatmusic? - Posted - 02/02/2011:  18:56:06

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If you have any aspirations to be a musical conductor, or just love to control large groups of people, take up the bass. The bass player can have near total control over many aspects of a group's musical performance. Tempo, feel, arrangement, dynamics, style...
I took up the fiddle after playing bass for over 30 years. My greatest difficulty is not the actual playing of the fiddle (which is plenty difficult and I am a long way from having it mastered) but NOT playing the bass. Most occasions where I play music, most of the folks request, ne, demand that I play the bass. If the band is playing as a group and listening to one another, including the bass, I will gladly play ALL night. If the music is good enough to compel white folks to dance, it is better than s#x.
But as has been mentioned, it takes commitment. You must have a vehicle and a place at home to accomodate it. BTW, if you can find one, a Pontiac Vibe hauls a bass (and a hammer dulcimer and a guitar, all at once) quite well and still gets 30 mph +.
But, alas, I don't see a 'bass' hangout being a happening place. Bass players tend to be do'ers, not talkers, or bloggers. And few people commit to playing bass.

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Edited by - ucalldatmusic? on 02/02/2011 18:57:53

FiddleJammer - Posted - 02/02/2011:  22:50:59

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Hardest thing about playing a standup bass is hauling it around. :-)

For tunes in the key of D, you can sound reasonably competent (not fancy, not finessed), but reasonably competent playing all open strings with your bottom hand on the down beat and damping with your top hand on the up beat. The bass is tuned EADG from low to high. So, your D chord is the 2 middle strings open, the A chord is the two lower strings open, and the G chord is the two high strings open. The other comparison is that it's tuned like the bottom 4 strings of a guitar. If you know some bass runs on a guitar, there you go.

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Edited by - FiddleJammer on 02/03/2011 19:10:59

coelhoe - Posted - 02/03/2011:  14:57:52

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Here's a great bass back up with a Peter Rowan version of "Rain and Snow." Wait for the solo at 2:56.

youtube.com/watch?v=5p0AryAE6Bw

shadygrove - Posted - 02/03/2011:  21:35:31

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quote:

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Originally posted by coelhoe

Here's a great bass back up with a Peter Rowan version of "Rain and Snow." Wait for the solo at 2:56.

youtube.com/watch?v=5p0AryAE6Bw

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That's Bryn Davies, and yes she does provide very capable backup and vocals as well as the occasional solo. That song is on the Peter Rowan - Tony Rice "Quartet" CD (with 4th member Sharon Gilchrist on mando) . The whole CD is great and I especially like Bryn's solo on Shady Grove. Last I heard she was playing bass with Uncle Earl with Rayna Gellert on fiddle.

Unfortunate the bass hangout didn't make it, but the reason it lost me pretty quick was there wasn't a separate forum section for upright players and I didn't like having to sort through all the stuff on electric basses and amps to get a little relevant info here and there.

BTW ucalldatmusic? I have to disagree with this comment :
"But, alas, I don't see a 'bass' hangout being a happening place. Bass players tend to be do'ers, not talkers, or bloggers. And few people commit to playing bass."
Drop by the talkbass.com double bass forums sometime. There are a lot more classical and jazz players than oldtime and bluegrass, but it is a thriving community with great newbie links for anyone thinking about taking up double bass.
bassgrass.com is more focused on bluegrass players and then there's doublebasschat.com for the rockabilly folks.

MikeyBoy - Posted - 02/04/2011:  06:22:50

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quote:

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Originally posted by hanknc

I like playing bass for about three choruses. God bless all bass players.

Hank

PS What happened to the bass player who locked his keys in his car?

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I'll bite - what happened?

edkarch - Posted - 02/04/2011:  10:35:39

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quote:

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Originally posted by shadygrove

Unfortunate the bass hangout didn't make it, but the reason it lost me pretty quick was there wasn't a separate forum section for upright players and I didn't like having to sort through all the stuff on electric basses and amps to get a little relevant info here and there.

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Yes shady that is why I was never active over there

longstring

fishingcat - Posted - 02/05/2011:  00:49:12

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quote:

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Originally posted by srselby

Now that double bass is off the Hangouts, anyone still interested enough to keep up some discussion through the new group feature?

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I doubt I'd be contributing much, but I'd be an avid reader.

jehanna - Posted - 02/05/2011:  07:42:58

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Interesting topic. Bass being my primary instrument I am interested. I tell people it is easy. I have taught many the basics needed to play first and fifth in G, D, A and C. That, and reasonable rhythm, is all you have to have to play in a general blue grass or old time jam. I also tell them not to expect to play it like I do without several years practice and hard work. I keep supernils and a low action with a custom cut bridge on my jam/camping bass. Makes for less work and more fun.

Jethro Aberdeen - Posted - 02/07/2011:  20:39:00

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I'm in the process of building a smallish double bass for my Gospel Bluegrass Band, It will be easier to hual and take less space on stage. Electric but the same 41" scale so a regular bass player can play it. Hopefully "still taste great but less filling" Check out sites like this. cyrguitars.com/ElectricUpright...Page.html



Kevin

mudbug - Posted - 02/08/2011:  02:03:06

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Bass is definitely underrated and appreciated, as are the drums. With playing jazz on bass, it seems like you have to think 2 changes ahead so you can decide how you're going to get there and how to shade your choices.

catty - Posted - 02/13/2011:  01:19:01

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Me play upright in one bluegrass band, and one contradance band, and electric bass guitar in salsa band.

I use steel strings as I enjoy bowing occasionally.

fiddleblissed - Posted - 02/19/2011:  00:56:49

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During a particularly contagious Instrument Acquisition Fever, I bought an electric upright bass. I played it a couple of times, and then it sat in the corner. When Brian Wicklund and his bass player came to town and did a workshop, I went to the fiddle workshop and my partner went to the bass workshop with my bass. Next thing I know, she bought an acoustic from the daughter of an old guy who couldn't play anymore. Her "new" old bass is a beautifully beat-up instrument, with tasteful cracks where it has been banged against narrow staircases. Fitting it into our tiny Toyota Rav4 has been... interesting. She slammed the door shut on the bass a couple
of weeks ago and cracked the plastic on the door. Luckily, the bass was unharmed. It is difficult to haul around, and there is no room for it in our cabin. But she loves it, so whatcha gonna do?

I would definitely be interested in a group for bass players.

bluemandolinman - Posted - 02/19/2011:  10:49:20

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Forgive me for veering a little off topic but I really enjoy this video of The Rising Fawn String Ensemble. It looks like Nancy is plucking a cello which I guess would be a little more portable than a standup bass. Anyway, great playing by some very talented musicians. youtube.com/watch?v=UEkVkJax2Co

fiddleblissed - Posted - 02/19/2011:  11:52:00

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srselby, I think you have your answer! There are several of us interested in a bass group. I know one person who I can recruit to become a member of the group. What's our next step?

Beth Wellington - Posted - 12/05/2011:  21:03:31

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For those of you who knew Bob Thomas of No Strings Attached, here's a bit on him.  We'll sure miss him...

bethwellington.blogspot.com/20...ying.html