In search of the perfect bow by Jason Heath

On http://doublebassblog.org, Jason Heath has some useful tips on choosing a bow. This post is written for students who are learning a string instrument.

The article is titled In search of the perfect bow. In this article, one of the tips that was offered is that the student should always have your teacher try the bow. Another thing is that one must realise that the process takes time. To find out more, please read Jason's In search of the perfect bow.

Standing versus sitting for the double bassist

Jason Heath discusses about the advantages and disadvantages of various types of standing and sitting stances for the double bassist in his post Standing versus sitting for the double bassist. This is worthy to check out.

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Also refer to this link for follow-up posts:
-news-from-the-music-blogosphere-2.html

Holding the German bow: article by Robert Oppelt

Special thanks to Jason Heath for recommending Robert Oppelt's online article about the various German-bow grips used by professionals.

Robert Oppelt is the principal double bassist of the National Symphony Orchestra, the resident orchestra of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (source: http://www.robertoppelt.com/index.html)

Jason Heath has aptly summed up the various German-bow grips that Robert Oppelt has identified as follow:

1. Two fingers on top, free thumb
2. Like the previous, but only the first finger applies the weight
3. Two fingers on top, assisted by the thumb on the stick
4. One finger on top and thumb on top
5. Fingers on top, thumb buried under first finger
6. Side of the thumb on top along stick, fingers on side (or tip of first finger on top)
7. Similar to (6), but the thumb is less on its side, more on its tip
8. Thumb on top along stick, frog deep in hand
9. Thumb along stick, frog very deep in hand, wrist very bent
10. Straight thumb, bow further out in fingers and thumb
11. Thumb wraps over stick at about 45 degree angle, stick not completely deep in the hand

To find out which is his preferred grip, please read Robert Oppelt's article here: http://www.robertoppelt.com/page8.html

No fret on the double bass, but fret not

"How do you play a double bass without the frets?". This is one of the questions that audience who came for d'Bassists' performance, Esplanade Presents: At the Concourse: Basso Bravo! would ask.

Yes, there is no fret on the double bass. Like this webpage says, it takes practice to learn where the notes are. Please check out the video found on the webpage. It gives a brief introduction to how one can develop a sound left-hand technique to play the double bass.

To establish a sound fingering technique, I find it helpful for myself to use some kind of established double bass method. Jason Heath has a few posts that discuss on a few of the known double bass methods. Please do read them here:
Rabbath versus Simandl – a comparative study
Follow-Up to Rabbath versus Simandl

Where researching on this topic of playing on the fretless double bass, I came across a double bass fingering chart. (This chart seems to be best viewed using Internet Explorer.) Do check it out and get an idea of how to play without the frets.

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Also read:
Getting a hold on the double bass
How is the double bass tuned?

Getting started to play the double bass

How does one get started on learning to play the double bass? How does one hold the double bass?

I have known of folks who play the electric bass who have keen interest in learning to play the double bass. There are also people who are simply curious or interested to learn how to get started on the double bass.

If you would like to be enlightened on these issues, I would like to point you to a multi-part series of video podcasts with Lyric Opera of Chicago and Grant Park Symphony bassist Andrew Anderson. He teaches at Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts.In the series, Andrew Anderson teaches concepts, ideas, and techniques for this double bass.

Check out the first of the series here at Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog: Virtual Lesson with Andrew Anderson part 1.

If you like it, please visit Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog regularly for more of the series.


Sources: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ4ctFAe7r0,
Virtual Lesson with Andrew Anderson part 1

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Others in the series:

• Virtual Lesson with Andrew Anderson - part 2 (holding the bow; concepts and exercises to aid in the development of a solid bow technique)
• Virtual lesson with Andrew Anderson - Part 3 (the French bow hold)
• Virtual Lesson With Andrew Anderson - Part 4 (developing smooth bow changes)
• Virtual Lesson With Andrew Anderson - Part 5 (techniques used in articulation and connecting long notes)
• Virtual Lesson with Andrew Anderson - Part 6 (developing articulation in the bow)
• Virtual Lesson with Andrew Anderson - Part 7 (developing spiccato)
• Virtual Lesson with Andrew Anderson - Part 8 (deep analysis of the spiccato stroke)
• Virtual Lesson with Andrew Anderson - Part 9 (different spiccato strokes for different situations)
• Virtual Lesson with Andrew Anderson - Part 10 (developing left hand efficiency)
  

(Updated on 22 Dec 2007)

Holding the bow

How does one hold a double bass bow?

Michael Hopkin's String Pedagogy Notebook gives an interesting and easy-to-understand guide to holding the bow.

In particular, readers who are interested to learn how to hold the bow of the double bass, may like to visit the following pages from Michael Hopkin's String Pedagogy Notebook:

• Bow Hold
• Bow Hold Precursor Review
• Bow Hold Movie
• Bow Hold for Cello and Bass
• Common Problems for Cello and Bass Bow Hold
• Thumb Problems for Cello and Bass Bow Hold
• Double Bass German Bow Hold
• Conclusion on Bow Hold

It is hoped that you will find the above resources helpful.

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Another helpful resource to refer to on this topic would be Dr. Mark Morton's Double Bass Technique: Concepts and Ideas.

The difference between the guitar and the double bass

"What's the difference between the guitar and the double bass?"

QH told me that this is one of the most popular questions that people would ask her during the hands-on session after the performance, Esplanade Presents: At the Concourse: Basso Bravo!.

For the benefit of our readers and friends who also have this same question to ask, here are the differences between the guitar and the double bass:

1) Double bass, unlike the guitar, has no fret. "The double bass's strings are stopped by the finger directly on the wooden fingerboard."

2) "The double bass is an acoustic instrument with a hollow body that selectively amplifies the tone of the plucked or bowed strings. In contrast, bass guitars are often made with a solid wood body, and the sound is produced by electronic amplification of the vibration of the strings, which is "sensed" by magnetic pickups that also add to the characteristic tone." (View source)

3) The strings of the double bass are generally thicker than those of the guitar.

Photo source: http://www.daisyrock.com/products/pixie/px_acoustic.htm

While searching for a photo of a guitar, I thought of Daisy Rock Guitars. I wonder if I would like my double bass to be in bright colours. Coloured guitars look cool. I am not sure if I would like coloured double basses, however. Woody-looking double basses seem more lovely to me. What do you prefer?

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_bass

Also see:
http://www.8notes.com/f/34_60436.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_guitar

Double basses for the young

Emily wrote: Children - the hope of humanity! Photo taken by XM.


Photo courtesy of Cool Insider.

It was observed that many of the children who have came forward for the hands-on session after the performance, Esplanade Presents: At the Concourse: Basso Bravo!, were intrigued by and excited about playing the 2 metres tall double bass.

If I were a child, I would probably imagine the double bass as an awfully tall, giantic monster. Afterall, it would be at least twice my height. Hey, but this double bass "monster" does not bite. In fact, it is a gentle soul. One can pluck its strings to make different kinds of sounds. One can pull the bow at various parts of the double bass to make different sound effects. It probably feels good to be able to "conquer" and play interesting music on such a big instrument. A double bass can be an enormous, gentle and huggable good friend.

For myself, it was a humbling and fun experience sharing the double bass with children during the hands-on session. The children had unknowingly taught me some new ways to explore and look at the double bass.

I was reading up on the subjects of Training Programs for the Young and Basses for the Young from Paul Brun's New Histrory of the Double Bass. Interestingly, I learnt that as early as the 1950s, Pierre Delescluse taught the double bass to young children on cellos fitted as double basses. Such instruments he called cellobasses. A bass in cello form however proved awkward to handle.

Much later, makers have been building miniature 1/4 size double basses. Such double basses would indeed, in my opinion, make the double bass much more accessible to the young ones who want to start learning the instrument at a young age. Gosh, it makes me feel that I have started out too old for the double bass. Then again, one is never too old (or too young) to play the double bass.


1/4 size double bass. Image taken from Music Corner Ltd.

At this point, I recall a brief conversation that I have had with dear Emily a year or two ago. I remember that she has a vision, if resources and opportunities permit, to start pedagogy double bass classes for children. If I were a parent, I would feel well assured to have my child learning the double bass from Emily. She is firm yet so engaging and fun. I wish her dreams come true.

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For related online information and resources on learning double bass for the young ones, you may visit:
http://www.promenademusic.co.uk/details.asp?sku=4187
http://www.yorkedition.co.uk/bio.htm
http://www.bassclub.org.uk/CarolineEmery.htm
http://www.bassworks.com.au/store/category8_1.htm

Reference:
Brun, P. (2000). New History of the Double Bass. (ISBN:2-9514461-0-1)

Your chance to play on the double bass

Audience to last night's Esplanade Presents: At The Concourse: Basso Bravo! were treated to a hands-on session on the double bass, the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in use, after the 30-minutes performance.

Many who are unfamiliar with the double bass may have the misconception that this bulky-looking instrument could only play slow, unexciting music and play a supporting role in any form of ensemble. In the above-mentioned performance, d'Bassists seeks to share with our audience that the double bass can play beautiful melodies too. What's more, it is fun to play on the double bass.

Photo courtesy of Eastcoastlife.

Several bloggers came to support Esplanade Presents: At The Concourse: Basso Bravo! last night. Let's see what one of them says about the performance:

Eastcoastlife:

My hubby and I enjoyed ourselves at the concert. It was fun trying out the double bass!

(Please click here to read Eastcoastlife's post on her experiences at the performance held on 30 May 2007)

If you have missed last night's performance, there is still one chance to do so tonight. Here are the details:

Esplanade Presents
At The Concourse: Basso Bravo!
Esplanade Concourse, Singapore
30 and 31 May 2007
7.30 p.m. - 8.00 p.m. and
8.45 p.m. - 9.15 p.m.
Free.

Now, let me end this post by introducing you to some of the parts of the double bass. Enjoy:

Scrolls, pegs and peg machines.

f-hole: This is the hole where the sounds come out from the instrument.

Bridge.

Also visit:
Parts of the Double Bass (About.com: Music Education)
The double bass: parts and names (By Jonas Lohse)
The double bass - Wikipedia