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etn69
Registered
User
Posts: 6
(5/28/01 2:39:13
am)
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Moving to double
bass
Hello,
I currently play the cello in an amateur
orchestra
and I just have been asked to move to double
bass
since there is definitely a lack of double bassists
in
this orchestra !
As you can imagine, I never played
double bass
before, hence could you give me some advice
about
the points I should take care of as a cello player ?
I
expect the biggest difficulty to come from the
fingerings and the
tuning in forths.
Oh by the way, i don't even know yet how
this thing
is tuned - i mean, which note on which
string.
Thanks for any advice ;-)
Happy
playing,
Etienne
|
drcello
Registered
User
Posts: 403
(5/28/01 4:15:11
am)
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| Edit
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Perhaps you
should "just say no."
If I were asked to play double bass instead of cello in an
orchestra, I think I would say "no" unless it meant being expelled
from the orchestra. The cello, as you know, has a great sound, is
fun to play, and has a great repertoire. The bass is very difficult
to play well, and is not very useful, except as a "ground bass" in
the orchestra, or giving a bass line in a jazz band, etc. I think I
would carefully consider just saying "no thanks!"
On the
other hand, it is broadening and educational to learn to play ALL
the other instruments of the orchestra. But I wouldn't want to drop
the cello.
Marshall C. St. John
drcello@vei.net
Wayside Presbyterian Church
|
cellochris99
Registered
User
Posts: 198
(5/28/01 5:12:33
am)
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|
Re: Moving to
double bass
I would have to agree with drcello on that one. I'm actually an
ex-bassist, but today, if I were asked to switch to double bass,- on
the spot, I would probably respectfully decline, if possible. It's
not easy to switch back and forth, not necessarily because of the
tuning, but because of the feel and fingering. On cello, as you
know, we use fingers 1-4 independently, but on bass, fingers 3&4
are combined into one unit for strength, so you're really using
three big fingers instead of four smaller ones. For example, on the
cello, a d scale beginning on open d, you can play the entire scale
in one position...but, on the bass, it would be: open d, 1st finger
on E, but F# would be 3&4!. That's hard to do on the
spot,..trust me! One other thing, playing cello doesn't require as
much pressure on the string, so you'd have to really work on
pressing the string firmly in half position to get tone on
bass.
But if you decide to switch, and it is possible if you
really want to, the tuning is: Lowest-E,A,D,G like bass guitar. And,
the note zones on the respective strings are the same up and down as
on cello, for example: an A up on the D string(1st finger 4th
pos.)is still right over the heel of the neck, ala cello. D on the G
string is also over heel, and relative harmonics are also the same
as on cello. I would suggest that you ask to take a bass home with
you so you can experiment on it, and get used to it for a few days.
But, having said all of this, in my opinion, everyone
would be alot happier, especially you, if you just got the bass
parts and play THAT very "sonorously" on your CELLO rather than
trying to pull a stunt that you've never had a desire to do anyway.
Chris
|
etn69
Registered
User
Posts: 7
(5/28/01 8:12:25
am)
Reply
|
Re: Moving to
double bass
I assure you, I do *not* intend to drop the cello !
(it is still
the instrument of my love anyway ;-)
I actually play in 2
orchestras, one with a very good
level where i enjoy (and i'll
keep) playing the cello !
The other one plays much easier
music, hence I thought
it could be a good opportunity to learn
another instrument
at low cost (they'll give me the double
bass).
Another purpose of my learning double bass indeed
would be
to play in a rock/jazz band as well - a few friends of
mine are thinking about creating something like that.
By
the way, do you think that learning double bass
could affect my
cello playing ?
I know a few people who play both and they do not
seem
to have much trouble with it.
Thanks,
Etienne
|
jekerry
Registered
User
Posts: 258
(5/28/01 8:51:41
am)
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|
becareful
I used to play both string bass and cello and found it was very bad
for my cello playing. If you are very talented, you could get away
with playing both, but if you are like me, you'll have problems. The
forths tuning really hurt my ear, the difference in fingerings, the
strings, the feel of the bow. The two instruments are similiar
enough to really make a mess of your playing!
Of course I
really loved playing the bass. There are a lot more opportunities
(jazz band, rock band, folk, orchestra, band music, pitband, country
music, etc). As soon as people find our you play, you'll be getting
phone calls from all over. So, it's not a bad thing to take up. . .
. But be aware it could hurt your playing on the cello.
Big
hint -- find a good teacher to get you started right. Don't think
things are the same -- particularly the bow. Remember, your whole
angle is different. I always liked the German bow -- lots of power
and a completely different feel then the French.
Best
luck,
Jane
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etn69
Registered
User
Posts: 8
(5/28/01 10:00:14
am)
Reply
|
Re: Moving to
double bass
Since the very beginning of my decision to learn double
bass, it
was pretty clear for me that I would drop it
completely if i
notice a decrease in my cello playing
ability - which is indeed
probably not good enough to
play both instruments correctly at
the same time.
(there is only one way to know it anyway
;-)
As I said in my former post, cello is definitely
the
instrument i prefer, but i am also interested in
new
opportunities such as jazz playing (which might not
sound so
great on a cello). But even in that case,
there are more things
to do to achieve this - for example,
learn saxophone ?!?
(another of my dreams indeed)
Etienne
|
Gablety
Registered
User
Posts: 78
(5/28/01 1:22:23
pm)
Reply
|
But you could
play rock- or jazz- CELLO!!!
|
RebeccaCello
Registered
User
Posts: 54
(5/28/01 4:17:44
pm)
Reply
|
Re: But you
could play rock- or jazz- CELLO!!!
I think the jazz bassist Charlie Mingus started out on the cello
and might even have recorded on it with Duke Ellington.
|
Sasha
A M
Registered User
Posts: 45
(5/29/01 11:56:28 am)
Reply
|
bassic
instinct
hello etienne!
this cello-bass thing seems to be very
individual. i play cello professionally, and started to play double
bass three years ago.
changing to bass was very easy. tuning
is no problem for me, nor the fingering. i found out, that i could
reach approximately the same amount of the notes of the scale in one
position.
my vibrato was envied among the conservatory bass
students, as well as intonation and singing quality of tone (on
french bow of course).
bass playing has done only good to my
cello playing. first of all, after playing 30 minutes of bass, cello
feels so light and easy. it is very easy to draw powerful tone on
the lowest strings after playing bass. the strings feel just like
low-tension steel wire under the fingers, compared to the bass
"ropes". real advantages come with the shifting - my cello shifting
is very fast after i have played shifts on bass (the swan f.ex). of
course i aim to get as clean shifts on the bass that i do on the
cello.
only one thing you could beware. dont be satisfied to
your bass playing until you can play at the same level as your cello
playing. bass players, who know the difficulties, seem to be quite
lazy with the intonation, sound etc. it is possible to play bass as
fluently as cello. also someone complained about the fingerings.
dont use bass fingerings if it isnt neccessary! bassists have a very
bad fingering tradition. in 4th, 5th position you can use cello
fingerings, as well as in the high thumb positions.
good luck
both to your cello and bass playing,
sasha
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